If you’re a mom then you already know that finding time to take care of yourself is a real challenge. Between your own adult responsibilities, managing your household, and making sure the kids have two matching socks every day and don’t leave the house with gum in their hair, squeezing in much needed therapy might seem impossible. But these days, it’s easier than ever to access therapy. And that’s why when it comes to therapy for moms, online therapy is really where it’s at. Read on to discover 4 reasons why online therapy for moms is so awesome!
Therapy for Moms Is More Needed Than Ever
Someone recently told me that they believed ‘moms held everything together during the pandemic’. They went on to say that not only did moms bear the brunt and keep everything from falling apart, but they endured immense amounts of stress in the process.
And I have to say, I wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment.
The Pandemic-Mom Juggling Act
From making sure your kids sat in their online classrooms while simultaneously working from home, to keeping your fears of coronavirus to yourselves while you panicked internally at every sign of symptoms, you have had to manage a LOT.
It’s too early to tell what the long-term effects of the pandemic will be on mom mental health, but one thing is certain, moms need a helping hand.
Mom Stress at an All-Time High
Raising kids was already a tough job, but now, thanks to 2+ years of lockdown, social distancing, masks, and covid tests, families are taxed! Kids are suppressed developmentally, emotionally, and socially in ways our generation hasn’t experienced before.
And that has really upped the game in terms of the parenting job duties.
You now have added stressors like:
- Managing increased family conflict at home
- Finding creative ways to make up for the lack of social interaction
- Figuring out how to help your kids cope with their newly developed mental health symptoms
- Helping your kids catch up academically
- Devising ways to survive the days when your go-to parenting tools don’t cut it anymore
And if that weren’t enough, you’ve got tend to your own exhausted mental health, too!
It’s too much for one person to bear. ?
Online Therapy Couldn’t Have Come at a Better Time
If there’s one silver lining to surviving a global pandemic, it has to be the increased access to online therapy.
Online therapy has been around for decades, but before the pandemic, words like telehealth and Zoom weren’t necessarily household names. But since the start of lockdown, mental health providers were forced to pivot and see clients online. And as the need for therapists soared under the immense stress of the pandemic, the mental health community rallied. Providers found new ways to increase access.
Thanks to this push, it’s easier than ever to get a therapist. And the rise in availability of online therapy couldn’t have come at a better time. There are so many kids, families, and adults in need of treatment now more than ever before. That includes online therapy for moms.
In fact, according to an article from the World Health Organization (2022), the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a 25% increase in prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide. That statistic is striking and definitely explains some of the surge in people seeking therapy. And with so many people trying to find a good therapist, waitlists continue to grow.
However, online therapy has been a huge help with this issue. If you could only see the therapists in your local area, you might sit on a waitlist for months. But with online therapy, depending on how you pay, you can see anyone who is licensed in your state.
5 Reasons Why Online Therapy for Moms is So Awesome
One of the best things about online therapy for moms is that you can find the the therapist that’s right for you, not just the therapist that’s right down the road. For example, if you live in Pennsylvania, you can see a therapist anywhere in Pennsylvania (depending on how you pay). Whether you live in Philadelphia, Lancaster, Villanova, or Pittsburgh, you can find an online therapist anywhere in Pennsylvania who specializes in working with moms.
Here are a few more reasons why online therapy for moms is so awesome:
- Online therapy makes finding childcare less of a barrier.
If you’ve got kids, in-person therapy means you’ve got to plan for childcare. That includes drive time, drop-off time, pick-up time and more. It’s enough to make you want to put off therapy altogether. But with online therapy, you can schedule a session at your convenience, working around your childcare schedule.
Have a session at home right after the kids head out to school. Or schedule a session during nap time and have the monitor right beside you. There are so many ways to make therapy work for your mom schedule when it’s online.
- With online therapy, you can attend sessions in a space that’s comfortable for you.
I don’t know about you, but for me and my mom life, comfort is priority number one. All day, every day.?
So when it comes to my therapy, I love being able to settle into my cozy office chair and attend my online therapy session in my hoodie, yoga pants, and slippers.
With online therapy, you can choose the space that’s right for you. As long as you’re fully clothed, upright, and ready to do the work, you can pretty much attend therapy from anywhere in your home. Online therapy lets you participate in sessions in a space that promotes safety and comfort, which in turn renders more vulnerability and openness, allowing for better outcomes.
- Online therapy is more accessible for brand new moms facing postpartum challenges.
When you are bound to a schedule that revolves around baby or multiple little ones, getting yourself dressed and driving to an office can sound super daunting. If you’ve just had a baby, the last thing you want to do is leave your baby and go out in public. Especially during a pandemic.
Online therapy allows you to stay home in your cozy, crazy-tired, needy-newborn mom nest and have sessions where it’s convenient for you. You can sit up in bed, set up your laptop, and have a therapy session while your little one sleeps in your arms.
And speaking from experience, if you’re breastfeeding, there is little time to do anything else, let alone get to a therapist’s office. Online therapy is way less disruptive to your feeding schedule. I can’t speak for all online therapists, but I have zero issue with moms taking time during session to breastfeed their baby, as long as the session flow isn’t disrupted.
Online therapy simply increases the chances that newborn moms get the well-earned therapy they need.
- Your therapist can get a better sense of what you’re experiencing as a parent when you attend sessions from the comfort of your home.
When you see a therapist in their office, they only have your description and perspective of your issues to go on. But with online therapy, you have the ability to show your therapist some of your struggles. Your therapist can meet your kids, see your household setup, and assess your routines firsthand. Plus, You can easily invite other family members to join your sessions, when mutually agreed upon by you and your therapist.
- Online therapy saves you time and money!
This might be my favorite thing about online therapy. You save time and money on your treatment, without losing any of the therapeutic benefits.
With online therapy, you save time because you don’t have to commute to and from the therapy office. You don’t have to worry about finding parking or spending time getting to the waiting room. The waiting room is in your home. You can also schedule sessions during your lunch break if that makes sense for your work life balance.
And just as important, online therapy saves you money. No gas expenses, parking fees, highway tolls, or need to take time off work to squeeze in your therapy session. You are way less likely to have to pay for childcare just so you can attend your weekly sessions.
What’s more, the pool of therapists you have to choose from is much larger, so it’s easier to find someone who specializes in your particular issue. You don’t have to spend time shopping around and trying out different local therapists until you find the right fit.
Instead to can do research online, find a therapist who specializes in working with moms, and target your issues faster. That saves you time and money!
Online Therapy for Moms in Pennsylvania
If you are a mom in Pennsylvania, you are able to see any therapist in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania as long as they are licensed in PA and they accept the form of payment or insurance you would like you use.
Whether you live in Villanova, PA or a suburb south of Pittsburgh, PA like Upper Saint Clair, you can see a therapist from Philly, Erie, Lancaster, or any other city across Pennsylvania.
The Center for Creative Counseling is able to provide online therapy to Pennsylvania residents, and that includes online therapy services for moms all over Pennsylvania. This allows moms who are looking for my areas of specialty to get the services they need.
Interested in Online Therapy for Moms in Pennsylvania?
Here at the Center for Creative Counseling, I specialize in therapy for moms. I love working with moms who have been through some tough times and are ready to tackle their stuff. My services include individual therapy, art therapy, and grief counseling. I also offer parenting support, coparenting help, and family therapy.
If you live in Pennsylvania, and you are interested in starting therapy with me, I offer a free 15-minute consultation to make sure I am a good fit for what you are looking for. Please feel free to browse my website, explore the therapy services I offer, and check out the rates for therapy.
When you are ready, click below to see available appointment times and book your free consultation to get started. ?
