The Unique Experiences and Challenges
Women's health encompasses the unique challenges women face and challenges that affect everyone but present and affect women differently.
Some challenges include:
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Having medical providers not take you seriously
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Carrying the mental load in relationships
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Navigating the complexities of reproductive issues and family planning
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Having medical conditions that are not well-researched or understood
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Having your pain dismissed
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Making time for yourself in a world that demands too much of you
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Unlearning messages society says about your body and your worth
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Breaking generational cycles
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Misdiagnosis of mental health issues due to gender
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Grieving expectations for what life would be like
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Not feeling like yourself after having a child
Special Focuses in Therapy
Issues related to women’s health that we can focus on in therapy:
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Hormone cycle-related concerns (like PMDD or worsening anxiety and depression throughout cycle)
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Adjustment to parenthood
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Issues with medical conditions and/or medical care
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Pregnancy loss
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Infertility
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Postpartum mood disorders
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Boundary setting and advocacy in relationships
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Traumatic labor and delivery experiences
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The toll of trying to conceive
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Self-care
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The intersection of gender and your life experiences
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Proactive emotional wellness in preparation for pregnancy and postpartum
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Effects of menopause
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ADHD presentation and management in women
What We Can Do About It
Therapy can help you feel more like yourself. By acknowledging your life experiences and societal expectations and demands and then processing how these affect you in the present, you can determine what direction you want to take your life in and live life more authentically and unapologetically.
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My experience working at Penn's Women's Behavioral Wellness Center in Philadelphia allowed me to work alongside physicians, psychiatrists, researchers, psychologists, and other therapists. This experience helped me gain a deep knowledge and understanding of the relationship between women's health and mental health. Since that time, I have worked with women in all stages of life who are coping with issues related to women's health and wellness.
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Therapy will be tailored to your specific needs while keeping in mind the context of what it is like to live as a woman. So much of the medical world, including psychology, has based treatment and conceptualization through men’s lived experiences. By integrating a women’s health lens into therapy, you will feel better understood and listened to and see more progress.
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Treatment approaches will be dependent on your specific concerns. Here are a few approaches I use with clients:​
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
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Self-compassion
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Body-based interventions, including mindfulness and relaxation, based on my knowledge of the autonomic nervous system regulation from biofeedback practices.
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Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
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Internal Family Systems (IFS)
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
There are concerns that are specific to being a woman that impact all aspects of our lives. It is important to have a space where you can be understood and supported during difficult times. I want to help you navigate the complexities of these experiences and help you feel confident in your ability to cope.
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Fill out the form below to schedule a free 15-minute consultation call. You can also learn more about topics related to women's health on my blog.