Therapy for Postpartum Depression in Seattle, Bainbridge Island, and Throughout Washington State

This isn’t what you expected to feel like as a new mom

  • Postpartum Depression (PPD) is an experience that impacts more women than most people realize. Nearly 15% of women, or 1 in 7, experience PPD in the first year after having a baby.

    PPD is different for every mother, and it’s different than the baby blues and it can happen anytime during the first year postpartum. It is common for it to show up after you’ve stopped getting regular postpartum care, which is why many moms struggle without realizing they are experiencing PPD.

  • Here are some signs and symptoms of PPD that you may notice if it’s impacting you:

    • Feeling disconnected or like you haven’t bonded with your child

    • Being anxious, angry, or irritable

    • Crying and sadness

    • Feeling hopeless

    • Not being interested in things you used to enjoy

    • Trouble sleeping

    • Wondering if you made a mistake by having a child

    • Recurrent thoughts about death or suicide

    • Being overly tired, even if you’ve slept

    Maybe you’re experiencing all of these things. Maybe you’re experiencing one.

    Whatever you’re feeling, I’m here to assure you that motherhood doesn’t have to feel this way. PPD is treatable. You can feel better again with support.

My Approach to Therapy for Postpartum Depression

One of the main experiences I treat is Postpartum Depression (PPD). Being a new (or new again!) parent is complex. It’s full of change, growth, and unexpected transitions. You’re becoming a new person alongside your baby. It’s not easy for any mother, but for moms who experience PPD, it can feel especially hard.

Motherhood is hard.

Maybe you’re feeling sad or guilty because you aren’t connecting with your baby or your intuition in the way you thought you would. Or you’re really, really tired - like way more tired than you’ve ever felt in your life. You know it’s different than the exhaustion of caring for a newborn, and it’s making it incredibly difficult to feel like the kind of parent you expected to be. Or you might be wondering if you made a mistake by becoming a mom, because it’s that hard.

I totally get where you are.

When you work with me, you’re met with compassion and understanding. From the moment we talk, you know that you’re not alone. The specialized treatment I provide for PPD is highly individualized. I draw on my training and expertise in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and motivational interviewing (MI) to come alongside your goals & your situation. Together we will explore your symptoms and come up with.a treatment plan that helps you find connection, confidence, and relief.

And want you to know there’s hope.

I want you to know that there is hope. What you’re experiencing sounds like Postpartum Depression. I want you to know that it’s much more common than most people realize.

You don’t have to keep living this way. It is possible to start feeling the joy you were expecting in motherhood. With the support of a therapist in Seattle or Bainbridge Island, you can start feeling better. Please connect with me today so we can get started.

Postpartum Depression FAQs

  • Many women learn that their experience goes beyond the baby blues when they meet with their OBGYN or midwife at the 6-week or 8-week postpartum visit. It is routine practice for medical providers to screen women for PPD at that time.

    Other women do not start experiencing symptoms PPD until later in the first year postpartum. It is common for PPD to show up at 3-months postpartum, 6-month postpartum, and even later.

    Rule of thumb: if you think you are experiencing PPA, you probably are.

    Here are the common signs and symptoms of PPD:

    • Feeling disconnected or like you haven’t bonded with your child

    • Being anxious, angry, or irritable

    • Crying and sadness

    • Feeling hopeless

    • Not being interested in things you used to enjoy

    • Trouble sleeping

    • Wondering if you made a mistake by having a child

    • Recurrent thoughts about death or suicide

    • Being overly tired, even if you’ve slept

    As you can see, this lists general and doesn’t capture the nuances of your personal experience.

    When you start working with me, we will discuss the specifics of what’s happening for you. Together we can decide if postpartum depression is impacting you.

  • This is not your fault. Nothing that you did or didn’t do caused this. You are not alone, and you will feel better with support and care.

    We don’t have a clear answer for why one woman experiences postpartum depression (PPD) or postpartum anxiety (PPA) while another does not. But we can identify risk factors that make I more likely for a woman to experience PPA or PPD. These include:

    • experiencing depression or anxiety during or before pregnancy

    • medical conditions such as diabetes or thyroid issues

    • a history of PMS

    • a history of sexual trauma or abuse

    • a family history of postpartum mood disorders

    • pregnancy loss or infant loss

    • Being a parent to multiples

    • Having a baby in the NICU

    • Relationship issues

    • Financial struggles

    • Being a single mother

    • Not having a support network

    • Challenges with breastfeedig

  • Yes, many women experience both postpartum depression (PPD) and postpartum anxiety (PPA) at the same time.

    These two experiences can feed into each other.

    If this sounds like you, I’m here to support you. I can help you learn more about where your anxiety and depression symptoms come from, how they’re connected, and how you can feel better.

THERAPY SERVICES FOR WOMEN IN THE MESSY MIDDLE OF INFERTILITY, PREGNANCY, POSTPARTUM, AND EARLY MOTHERHOOD

Hi! I’m Dr. Julie Franks

YOUR MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST in seattle, wASHINGTON and on bainbridge island, wA.

I’m here to help you navigate the highs, the lows, and the unexpected moments in between. First, I’m so glad you’re here. I know how hard it is to admit that you’re struggling emotionally. The fact that you’re here shows me that you’re ready to commit to your wellbeing.

You’re not alone, and I’m here to help.

My name is Dr. Julie Franks, and I go by Dr. Julie. I’m an experienced therapist for women, a social work educator, and a toddler mom. Even though I have a pretty snazzy education, I consider my experience as a mother to be my most important credential. Even though I had supported women and families for nearly a decade before having my son, I had to go through it to truly get it.

I specialize in maternal mental health and exclusively serve women who are facing infertility, pregnancy loss, or who are pregnant, postpartum, and in the early years of motherhood. Most of the women who work with me have children who are elementary school aged or younger.

My virtual office is located on Bainbridge Island. I .offer online therapy sessions to women who reside in Washington State + in-person groups and workshops in Kitsap County, WA.

Ready to get started?

Even though postpartum depression is more common than most people realize, many new mothers don’t get the emotional support they need. I understand how isolating, exhausting, and invisible it can be. You don’t have to do this alone; we can do it together.