173: Holding Both: When Therapists Who Are Affected Are Supporting Others

One challenge that every therapist faces is helping clients through a difficulty that hits very close to home. For instance, when you’ve experienced a personal perinatal mental health challenge, then it can be triggering to provide support for others. Today’s guest has found a way to handle those difficult moments and turn her experience into commitment and advocacy for others. Bridget Cross is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, certified perinatal mental health professional, and mom to two daughters. She lives in Savannah, Georgia, and works in private practice providing individual, family, and group therapy to new, hopeful, and expectant moms. Bridget is also a volunteer coordinator for the Georgia chapter of Postpartum Support International, and she’s a member of the Maternal Mental Health Collective of Savannah. Bridget’s passion is supporting women in all phases of life, but especially as they encounter and cope with the transition to motherhood. Bridget discusses what it’s like to work as a therapist with pregnant and postpartum moms when going through infertility, and what it’s like working with a perinatal population when going through her pregnancy and postpartum period., Therapists are human, and they have to deal with their own challenges while helping their clients. Show Highlights: Bridget’s three-year journey with IUI and IVF to have her first daughter, now 5 The crippling anxiety, anger, intrusive thoughts, and panic that set in quickly and intensely at her daughter’s birth Why Bridget felt that she “should be stronger than this” How Bridget found herself in deep, dark depression when her daughter was one month old How Bridget withdrew from everyone in her life and “hid out” The external stressors of work, moving to a new city, and career pressure How Bridget went back to work and became involved with PSI The moment of relief and recognition for Bridget that brought clarity on her next steps as a therapist How Bridget covered up and justified her feelings when people tried to help her The assumption that mental health professionals will know to ask for help if they need it How hard it is to admit to others that you need help, especially as a mental health professional When Bridget’s daughter was two, she got pregnant again with IVF, which resulted in an easy pregnancy and wonderful birth Why Bridget expected postpartum depression with her second daughter’s birth and felt better prepared; she started early medications, therapy, and returned to work in a few weeks Bridget’s commitment to becoming an advocate for pregnant and postpartum women, knowing this was part of her personal healing journey The difficult parts of seeing pregnant and postpartum clients even though some stories are triggering and painful How to handle the tendency to get angry about her own story and clients’ stories How to hold space for the anger, hopelessness, and helplessness in this community Why Bridget believes her path has made her a better therapist Bridget’s message to other therapists: “Try to prioritize taking care of yourself and your feelings. Check your boundaries and notice presenting issues that are just too much to handle. Know when you need to step away. Listen to yourself and get connected to the perinatal mental health community.” Resources: Bridget Cross LCSW Facebook: Bridget Cross LCSW Listen To Moms