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Despite maternal mental health having potentially wide-ranging and deep impacts on individuals, families and society in general, constructive and supportive discussion of maternal mental health is often hampered by "myths of motherhood" and an atmosphere of judgment perpetuated on social and other media.  Drawing from her extensive clinical experience, OICBT Clinical and Health Psychologist Dr. Natasha Ballen provides a master class level overview of maternal mental health including i) the definition of maternal mental health ii) risk factors for challenges related to maternal mental health iii) common clinical manifestations of maternal mental health including postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder iv) tips for accessing social support v) challenges around infertility vi) the psychological impact around loss of a pregnancy vi) impact of postnatal period on the mental health of the partner both in heterosexual and same sex couples as well as vii) addressing issues related to use of psychotropic medication during pregnancy as well as breastfeeding.   

Dr. Natasha Ballen is a Clinical and Health Psychologist at the Ottawa Institute of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy who provides individual, group, and couples therapy treatment to adults. She uses primarily a cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) approach, however she also has training and experience in other approaches including experiential, interpersonal, and dialectical behaviour therapy. She treats a wide variety of problems, including mood and anxiety disorders, personality-related problems, health issues (e.g., coping with acute and chronic medical problems, health-anxiety), and women’s health concerns. An area of special interest and experience is in the assessment and treatment of psychological issues related to pregnancy and postpartum adjustment (e.g., postpartum depression and anxiety, “baby blues”).