Therapy for Parenthood

Therapy for Parenthood in NYC

Parenting can be incredibly rewarding and bring joy and meaning to our lives, while also creating challenges and stressors. Modern parenting can feel like juggling Grandma’s fine china while trying to wrestle a mountain lion. In other words, a feat of Herculean strength and coordination. Even if you’re managing to keep it all together, you could probably use some tools to help you lighten the load. All parents get overwhelmed and need a break now and then. But how do you go about making real changes that work? At The Centered Space, we offer therapy that can help parents feel more supported, skilled, and connected to their kids.

Common parenting issues that can benefit from therapy include:

  • Feeling guilty all the time

  • Anger and overwhelm with parenting

  • Feeling not good enough

  • Difficulty with work-life struggles

  • Co-parenting and parenting as a couple/team

  • Loss of sense of self

  • Difficulty bonding or connecting with your child

A family of three playing on a bed, with parents swinging a young child by the arms while the child hangs upside down, all smiling and enjoying their time together in a bright bedroom.
A family of four with two young children playing outdoors during sunset, with the adults holding the children in their arms.

What are the benefits of doing parenting therapy?

  • Therapy for parenting can help in the following ways:

  • Have space to process your own thoughts and feelings and gain more clarity

  • Learn how to communicate more effectively and calmly

  • Develop coping skills for dealing with stressful parenting moments

  • Create boundaries for yourself and your time

  • Create routines that support your family and create structure and stability

  • Become more secure in yourself and your parenting

  • Learn how your own childhood experiences affect your parenting

Q: Who can benefit from therapy for parents?

Therapy for Parents addresses the challenges and needs that parents experience, including building skills to manage stress, improve relationships, set routines and find solutions that work for the whole family unit. Working closely with parents, we help you set the boundaries you need to be a good parent to your unique child. This can include communication skills, managing your own emotions, and doing deeper work such as tending to underlying attachment needs, processing childhood traumas, or other deep work that can complicate parenting.

Q: How does parent therapy help my child?

Great question, and one worth learning more about. Simply put, the work you do on yourself has the most direct benefits for you and your family. On the surface, putting a child in therapy can seem like the straightforward answer, however lots of research shows that parents have the most direct influence over their children and that the therapy that parents do for themselves shifts patterns for the whole family, whether your child is in therapy or not. Multiple things affect children’s behavior, including genetics, environment, and parenting style. As a parent, your own therapy can help you to gain skills that improve your communication with your child, help you regulate your own emotions, and feel more connected to your child. Our clients tell us they find a new perspective on parenting through this work, and that leads to less parenting pressure and more growth over time.

Q: What treatment options are available for perinatal mental health? What treatment is available for perinatal anxiety and depression?

Our Services

  • Therapy with one of our perinatal expert psychologists consists of weekly or twice-weekly holistic, integrative therapy. We may also recommend and collaborate with other services such as pelvic floor PT, acupuncture, psychiatry as needed.

    We integrate dynamic and behavioral therapies including relational, CBT, DBT, IFS, ACT, EMDR and other techniques that best fit your needs.

  • Couples therapy is a great way to assess and treat challenges and symptoms that affect your relationship.

    When it comes to perinatal mental health, having both partners available to talk, learn, and come up with solutions can offer breakthroughs and support from another angle.

  • Dr. Cox consults on perinatal psychotherapy cases on a limited basis.

    Contact us for more information.

  • We offer group therapy for pregnancy and postpartum issues.

    Centered Pregnancy Group: Support for Pregnancy Anxiety & Stress

    Centered Postpartum Group: Support for Postpartum Anxiety and Depression

  • We now offer The Checkup, a bespoke consultation service for those looking for one on one support for pregnancy and postpartum issues from perinatal mental health specialists in a more time-limited manner.

    The Checkup consists of an assessment period, where we will work on creating a roadmap for identifying your goals, offering additional services, and connecting you with our substantial postpartum resources.