Phone Support Lines
Postpartum Support International HelpLine at 1-800-944-4773
This free helpline is run by volunteer mothers who’ve dealt with anxiety or depression. It is confidential. Messages are returned within 24 hours.
Erikson Fussy Baby Network at 1-888-431-2229
This free line is run by infant specialists from Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. These specialists help families who are struggling with their infants crying, sleeping, and/or feeding.
MotherToBaby Ask an Expert at 1-866-626-6847
This free line is run from Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time by a variety of experts including doctors, genetic counselors, nurses, and researchers. These experts will answer questions regarding possible exposures during pregnancy and/or breastfeeding.
Intensive Outpatient Programs
Intensive outpatient programs provide patients with more frequent contact with psychotherapists and support groups that are built into their programs. Programs in the area include the following:
Reach Counseling Utah
885 West Baxter Drive South Jordan, Utah 84095 801-446-3515 https://www.reachcounselingutah.com/intensive-outpatient-faq.html
Serenity Recovery and Wellness
12447 S. Crossing Drive, Suite 13 Riverton, Utah 84096 801-984-0184 http://www.serenityrw.com/services/postpartum-intensive-outpatient-program/
St. Mark’s Hospital Perinatal Outpatient Program
1200 E. 3900 S.
Salt Lake City, Utah 84124
801-268-7438
http://stmarkshospital.com/service/perinatal-outpatient-program
Support Groups
Being a mother is not easy. Support groups give women an opportunity to discuss the challenges of being a mother and support one another. Weekly support groups in the area include the following:
The Healing Group Postpartum Wellness Group in Midvale
Wednesdays from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Free support group for moms and moms-to-be. Please contact the group ahead of time to pre-register.
6770 South 900 East, Suite 105
Midvale, Utah 84047
801-305-3171
info@thehealingroup.com
www.thehealinggroup.com
Postpartum Support International Support Group in Salt Lake City
Tuesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Free support group for women during pregnancy or postpartum
Salt Lake City Regional Medical Center
1050 E. South Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah 84102
801-707-1865
New Mom Walking Group in Park City
Wednesdays from 9:50am – 11am, Rain or Shine! (They will start gathering at 9:50am and start walking at 10am).
This free group welcomes moms of all kinds; mothers-to-be all the way up to mothers of toddlers up to 2 years old. The group meets at Willow Creek Park, 4460 Split Rail Lane, Park City, UT 84098 (meet at the water fountain outside of the bathrooms).
Please RSVP to sarah@thehealinggroup.com by the Tuesday before your first walk.
The Healing Group Postpartum Wellness Group in Lindon
Fridays from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Free support group for moms and moms-to-be. Please contact the group ahead of time to register.
275 West 200 North Suite 203 #2 Lindon, Utah 84042.
To register for the postpartum group, call 801-305-3171, option 2.
Individual Psychotherapy
The Healing Group
Postpartum Utah is conveniently located inside The Healing Group. The Healing Group is Utah’s longest running group of therapists specialized in issues commonly occurring around pregnancy and childbirth.
Postpartum Support International-trained Therapists
Postpartum Support International (PSI) is a large organization which aims to increase awareness among the public and professional communities about the emotional changes that accompany women during pregnancy and the postpartum period. It also regularly trains clinicians. Some clinicians with training from PSI can be found on the Utah Chapter website at https://www.psiutah.org/emotional-health/resources-info/ under “Utah Local Individual Mental Health Care Providers.”
Cognitive Behavioral Therapists
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the two most well-studied therapy modalities in woman with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (the other being interpersonal therapy or IPT). It is also often helpful in helping patients overcome insomnia. While many clinicians are familiar with CBT, many do not regularly employ these therapy techniques with their patients. If you are interested in finding a therapist who primarily uses CBT, consider these two listings:
Association for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapists: http://www.findcbt.org/xFAT/index.cfm
Academy of Cognitive Therapy: https://www.academyofct.org/search/newsearch.asp
Kleiman-trained Therapists
Karen Kleiman, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and author who specializes in treating women with postpartum depression. She has written many books on the subject, which can be found at http://postpartumstress.com/books/
She founded the Postpartum Stress Center in Pennsylvania and regularly educates psychotherapists regarding perinatal women. Clinicians who have received her trainings can be found at http://postpartumstress.com/get-help/professional-referrals/location/utah/
Organizations
The Emily Effect
The Emily Effect is a nonprofit foundation that raises awareness and coordinates resources for maternal mental health
https://theemilyeffect.org/
Postpartum Support International—Utah Chapter (Utah Maternal Health Collaborative)
Postpartum Support International’s Utah Chapter offers help, information, and resources about maternal depression and anxiety
https://www.psiutah.org/
Medication Safety Questions
The Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Women’s Mental Health
This Harvard-affiliated center’s website discusses psychiatric disorders during pregnancy and their treatment at https://womensmentalhealth.org/specialty-clinics/psychiatric-disorders-during-pregnancy/
It also discusses psychiatric medications during breastfeeding at https://womensmentalhealth.org/specialty-clinics/breastfeeding-and-psychiatric-medication/
MotherToBaby
MotherToBaby is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing evidence-based information regarding the safety of medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding. They have published fact sheets regarding the safety of individual medications, which can be found at https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets-parent/
Treatments for Other Conditions
Borderline Personality Disorder
A significant portion (7% to 27%) of patients seeking outpatient mental health resources meet criteria for being given a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. Postpartum Utah at the Utah Psychiatric Clinic does not treat personality disorders, as they generally require very specialized treatment.
Patients with borderline personality disorder have been shown to benefit from a form of therapy called dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT).
For more information regarding DBT, please consider visiting the website of Behavioral Tech, a company founded by Dr. Marsha Linehan, the developer of DBT. DBT is explained in more detail at https://behavioraltech.org/resources/faqs/dialectical-behavior-therapy-dbt/
A list of clinicians with DBT training in Utah is maintained at https://behavioraltech.org/resources/find-a-therapist-app/wpbdm-region/utah/
Substance Abuse Disorders
A significant portion (0.5% to 25%) of women abuse one or more substances during pregnancy. Postpartum Utah at the Utah Psychiatric Clinic does not treat substance use disorders, as they generally require very specialized treatment.
The SUPRAD (Substance Abuse in Pregnancy Recovery Addiction Dependence) Clinic, affiliated with the University of Utah treats these disorders. It is located in Daybreak, Utah. You can reach the clinic at 801-581-8425.
Books
Down Came the Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression
In this book, Brooke Shields discusses her own experience with postpartum depression.
Feeling Good Handbook
In this book, David Burns, MD, discusses the cognitive model of depression and ways to change patterns of thinking, in order to improve mood.
The Postpartum Husband
In this book, Karen Kleiman, LCSW, discusses ways men can support their partner when she is suffering from perinatal depression and/or anxiety.
Articles
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Treatment options for depression
Non-pharmacologic treatment options for depression Sometimes women ask me if they can treat an episode of depression without medication. Depending on the duration and severity of the depression, this may be an option. Several non-pharmacologic treatments have been...
SSRIs
Are SSRIs safe during pregnancy? This is a great question. Unfortunately, there is not a simple answer. SSRIs are not completely risk free, but neither is untreated maternal illness. Women should decide whether or not to take an SSRI during pregnancy after...
SNRIs
Are SNRIs safe during pregnancy? This is a great question. Unfortunately, there is not a simple answer. SNRIs are not completely risk free, but neither is untreated maternal illness. Women should decide whether or not to take an SNRI during pregnancy after...
Bupropion
Is bupropion (Wellbutrin) safe during pregnancy? This is a great question. Unfortunately, there is not a simple answer. Bupropion (Wellbutrin) is not completely risk free, but neither is untreated maternal illness. Women should decide whether or not to take bupropion...
Best time to see a perinatal psychiatrist
When’s the best time to see a perinatal psychiatrist? The best time to see a perinatal psychiatrist is sooner than you might expect. Women with a history of depression or anxiety should ideally see a perinatal psychiatrist at least a year before they think they’d like...