Do You Feel Burnt Out From Trying To Juggle Work And Raising Kids?
Are you tired of being expected to do it all? Are you a new parent making the transition to having your own family? Do you feel burnt out from trying to juggle childcare and your career? Are you worried that you’re failing as a parent?
If you’re a new parent and just embarking on this time in your life, many conflicting emotions may be at play: You may be excited about the upcoming changes, and adding a new member to your family. And there is anxiety. You may find yourself asking “Will I be a good parent? Will I know what to do? How will this impact my relationship with my partner?”
If you’ve been a parent for a while, you might be exhausted from having to manage all your responsibilities. Each day brings a new laundry list of demands—you are the PTA mom or dad, you help out with school functions, chauffeur your kids to all of their after-school activities, manage behaviors, keep up with all their medical appointments, and bring cupcakes to their friends’ birthday parties. It’s overwhelming! As a result, you may have no time for self-care and struggle to set boundaries.
All of these parenting difficulties may have led to conflict with your partner. Perhaps you find yourself doing all the heavy lifting—taking care of the laundry, the dishes, and all the childcare duties—while your spouse does little to help.
Deep down, you probably wish you could just catch a break. If this is the case, I encourage you to connect with me. Counseling can help you parent more effectively, reduce burnout, and achieve a better work life balance, and have a better relationship with your kids and your partner.
Parenting Is A Full-Time Job That Gets Little Praise Or Recognition
In the DC Metro area where I practice therapy, parents face a ton of pressure to succeed in the workplace and raise well-adjusted kids. Dual incomes are often necessary, so most parents have no choice but to juggle full-time work with childcare. Raising kids is a full-time job, too—maybe the most important job you’ll ever have—but it doesn’t get much recognition. Many parents feel unappreciated for all the hard work they do.
To complicate matters, the world of social media is littered with mommy blogs and influencers trying to dictate what a good parent should do. This leads many parents to worry that they’re doing it wrong and measure themselves against the ideal of a perfect parent. Many clients that I see report feeling judged by the “mom culture” on social media.
Mothers Are Expected To Work Full-Time And Still Be Perfect Parents
Women in today’s world face a double standard: they’re supposed to be committed to their career and be the perfect parent and homemaker. If mothers think that they aren’t living up to these expectations, they often experience guilt and shame.
Therapy for parents can help you challenge unhealthy cultural expectations and gender roles. It’s a chance to step away from perfectionistic ideals and learn to be okay with being good enough.
Get Parenting Support For Behavior Concerns
Children don’t come with instruction manuals. Children’s behavior can be challenging and as parent, it’s difficult to know if you’re doing the right thing. If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, other learning concerns, or exhibits difficult behaviors at home or at school, it can be even more difficult. Child behavior problems can cause conflict at home and at school. Professionals, parenting blogs, teachers, school administrators, and other parents may all have suggestions about how to handle these behaviors. Navigating a 504 or Individualized Education Plan process at school might feel overwhelming as you are just trying to do the best you can for your child.
Therapy for parents can provide you with the support you need to figure it all out. Whether it’s working on parenting skills, or advocating for your child with a school system, therapy can help you gain the skills and knowledge you need to be your child’s best advocate, manage behaviors, and restore happiness in your family.
Therapy Can Help Parents Prioritize Self-Care And Create A More Harmonious Home Life
Contrary to popular belief, self-care is not selfish. It’s essential. You cannot take care of others if you don’t take care of yourself! With all the responsibilities on your plate, you deserve a place where you can detach from outside pressures and focus on yourself. This is what parent counseling provides. It gives you a space to relax, vent, and just be yourself.
I offer therapy for parents who are single, married, divorced, etc. I see parents in all stages of life, whether you are an expecting parent, a new parent, a parent of school-age children, a parent of teens or young adults. Depending on your situation, you are welcome to see me individually or come with your spouse.
What To Expect In Sessions
In parent counseling, you and I will explore your personal values and beliefs about parenting and look at where those values and beliefs came from. Oftentimes, this means challenging cultural expectations that are toxic or unrealistic. Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), I’ll teach you to question the negative and unhelpful things you tell yourself. I want you to realize that your worth as a parent is not defined by what mommy blogs and the culture at large tell you. It’s okay to do it your way.
Adjusting your expectations can go a long way toward improving your self-compassion. It can help you be kind to yourself and understand that you don’t have to be perfect. I want to help you embrace your imperfections and reassure you that you’re doing the best you can.
Additionally, I’ll give you new strategies for navigating conflict and communicating with your kids and your partner. I will support you if needed when advocating for your children outside your home. The goal is to help you create a happier, more harmonious home life and school life, where everyone feels loved and supported.
No matter how hectic things seem right now, I am confident that you can achieve a healthier work life balance and enjoy more peace in the home. You can be both a parent and a professional without sacrificing your health and your values in the meantime.
You May Have Some Questions And Concerns About Therapy For Parents…
What if I don’t have time for therapy?
I offer telehealth for parents who can’t do in-person therapy. Having sessions online or by phone is incredibly convenient—you can engage in counseling wherever you feel comfortable and you don’t have to worry about sitting in traffic or getting a babysitter.
My spouse or family isn’t supportive of me being in therapy.
It’s hard to do something for yourself if your spouse or loved ones won’t support you. The stigma against mental health treatment is very real. That said, if your loved ones needed medical treatment, they would probably see a doctor right away. Mental health is health, too, so seeing a therapist is really no different. I encourage you to think of counseling as “you” time—a time to concentrate on your needs, your values, and your relationships.
Doesn’t being in therapy mean I’m failing as a parent?
It means the exact opposite. Going to therapy shows that you’re committed to learning new things and doing your best as a parent. No one is perfect and that’s okay. People who are aware of their shortcomings are great role models for kids. They show that it’s okay to reach out for help and be honest and vulnerable.
You Deserve Time To Focus On Yourself
Instead of adding more to your plate, therapy is a chance to step away from all of life’s demands and make time for self-care. To get in touch with me, you can email me or use the contact form.
