Coping Strategies for Managing Postpartum Intrusive Thoughts
Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C

Coping Strategies for Managing Postpartum Intrusive Thoughts

Intrusive thoughts are incredibly common. They’re often the brain’s way of responding to stress, hormonal changes, or heightened vigilance—a natural byproduct of the postpartum period. These thoughts are not indicators of your character or intent; they are fleeting mental events. Understanding this can help you detach from the guilt and shame that often accompany them. Having a new baby is a time of great vulnerability. Your brain in trying to manage keeping a tiny human safe. The magnitude of this task can create difficulties for an overwhelmed mind.

Read More
Mom Rage: Understanding What It Is and How to Cope
Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C

Mom Rage: Understanding What It Is and How to Cope

Struggling with mom rage? You're not alone. This blog explores the causes of mom rage, from hormonal shifts to emotional exhaustion, and highlights how postpartum therapy can help. Learn how a postpartum therapist can support you in managing anger, breaking the shame cycle, and reclaiming balance in motherhood. Read more and find the tools you need to thrive!

Read More
Postpartum Depression vs Baby Blues: Understanding the Differences
Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C

Postpartum Depression vs Baby Blues: Understanding the Differences

Struggling to tell the difference between the baby blues vs postpartum depression? While the baby blues are common and often resolve on their own, postpartum depression can linger and impact your well-being. A postpartum therapist can help you navigate these emotions and provide tools for healing. If you’re searching for a postpartum depression therapist in CA, know that support is available.

Read More
The 5-5-5 Rule for New Moms: What It Is and Why It’s Important
Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C

The 5-5-5 Rule for New Moms: What It Is and Why It’s Important

As a postpartum therapist, I often see new moms who feel overwhelmed and unsure about how to prioritize their recovery. One concept that can be extremely beneficial during this period is the 5 5 5 rule. This simple guideline is designed to support physical recovery, emotional well-being, and maternal mental health. Let’s explore what it means and why it’s essential for new moms.

Read More
What Causes Postpartum Depression?
Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C

What Causes Postpartum Depression?

Are you struggling with postpartum depression? Discover some of the possible causes and learn how therapy can help in our latest blog at Shameless Mama Wellness. Learn how hormonal changes, sleep deprivation, and birth trauma can contribute to PPD. We specialize in compassionate, evidence-based postpartum depression treatment in CA aimed to empower new mothers.

Read More
What Does Postpartum Depression Feel Like?
Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C

What Does Postpartum Depression Feel Like?

Like many other mamas, bringing your baby home may not have been the experience you had imagined. It may have been accompanied by feelings of overwhelming sadness, guilt, and confusion. These emotions are not a sign of failure or a lack of love for your baby—they may be symptoms of postpartum depression.

Read More
Birth Trauma:  The Role of Shame and How to Heal
Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C

Birth Trauma: The Role of Shame and How to Heal

Experiencing birth trauma is deeply challenging, and for many mothers, the emotional aftermath is compounded by a powerful and often misunderstood emotion: shame. This shame can intensify the pain of trauma, making healing feel even further from reach. In this blog, we’ll explore the connection between birth trauma and shame, why it’s so pervasive, and practical ways to move forward and heal.

Read More
Birth Trauma: Myths and Misconceptions
Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C

Birth Trauma: Myths and Misconceptions

Do you wonder if your birth experience could be considered traumatic? Birth trauma is a personal and often misunderstood experience that affects many new moms. Despite growing awareness of maternal mental health, misconceptions about birth trauma still impact understanding and recovery. If you felt that your experience was traumatic, then you are likely experiencing birth trauma and its impact.

Read More
Intrusive Thoughts in New Moms
Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C

Intrusive Thoughts in New Moms

Intrusive thoughts are not a reflection of your character or intentions. They are a sign that your brain is on high alert, trying to protect you and your baby from potential harm. While this heightened vigilance can be useful, it can also backfire, causing your mind to fixate on worst-case scenarios. There is no feeling more vulnerable than new motherhood, and it can leave you feeling a sense of powerlessness that your brain has a hard time processing.

Read More
10 Signs You May Be Experiencing Birth Trauma
Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C

10 Signs You May Be Experiencing Birth Trauma

This blog post describes 10 signs that indicate you may be experiencing birth trauma. The piece, drawing on insights from postpartum therapists, perinatal mental health specialists, and birth trauma therapists, suggests that healing from PTSD from labor is possible.

Read More
What is Birth Trauma in Mothers?
Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C

What is Birth Trauma in Mothers?

Understanding birth trauma can be difficult. This blog describes birth trauma and shows how techniques like EMDR can help you process your experience.

Read More
A Fertility Therapist’s Guide to Addressing the Grief, Loss, and Trauma of Infertility
Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C

A Fertility Therapist’s Guide to Addressing the Grief, Loss, and Trauma of Infertility

As a fertility therapist I see how profoundly infertility impacts women, even when these wounds are not always outwardly visible. The grief of infertility is often misunderstood by those who haven’t experienced it, and this can add to a woman’s sense of isolation and shame. Through fertility counseling, individuals and couples find a space where their emotions, no matter how complex, are validated and supported.

Read More
How to Talk to Your Partner About Postpartum Depression and Postpartum Anxiety
Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C

How to Talk to Your Partner About Postpartum Depression and Postpartum Anxiety

Talking about mental health as a mama is not easy. The stigma and shame surrounding these conversations can make it feel like you're supposed to handle everything on your own. Society often paints motherhood as something that's "natural" and "effortless," but the reality is far from that. Here’s a guide on how to talk to your partner about postpartum mental health drawing on insights from postpartum therapists, perinatal mental health specialists, and maternal mental health experts.

Read More
EMDR Therapy for Birth Trauma: A Path to Healing
Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C

EMDR Therapy for Birth Trauma: A Path to Healing

If you’ve experienced a traumatic birth, the pain doesn’t simply disappear once your baby is home. Birth trauma has a way of lingering, lurking in the background of even the most joyful moments. If you’ve been here, you’re not alone. Trauma from childbirth, and the emotional and physical scars it leaves behind, are real, and PTSD from labor is common. Birth trauma therapy utilizing EMDR can be a very effective tool for healing.

Read More
A Postpartum Therapist Discusses the “Sunset Scaries”
Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C

A Postpartum Therapist Discusses the “Sunset Scaries”

Navigating the challenges of new motherhood, especially at the end of the day, can feel overwhelming. In this blog, I explore the "Sunset Scaries"—the anxiety and sadness many moms experience in the evenings—and provide actionable tips for coping. From creating a calming nighttime routine to limiting social media, I share ways to ease the emotional weight of motherhood. Learn how to recognize when these feelings might indicate something deeper, such as postpartum depression, and discover the importance of seeking support from a postpartum depression therapist. At Shameless Mama Wellness, we’re here to empower mothers to embrace their journey with grace and compassion.

Read More
Building Bonds: Fostering Mother-Infant Connections
Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C

Building Bonds: Fostering Mother-Infant Connections

Mother-infant bonding is a transformative journey that lays the foundation for a child's emotional and psychological wellbeing. The significance of this bond and the pivotal role it plays in shaping a child's development in profound.

Read More