Counseling for Women

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What Exactly Are “Women’s Issues”?
(and, why would I need therapy for women, specifically?)

“Women’s issues” is a tricky term because the issues female clients bring to counseling are as unique as the women themselves. There are lots of reasons women seek counseling.

Woman sitting on the couch with her head on her hand looking sad, distraught, depressed and anxious about her life | Therapy for Women | Women's therapy in Baltimore | Help for women's issues | New Connections Counseling Center | Baltimore, MD 21210" width="300" height="200
Woman sitting on the couch with her head on her hand looking sad, distraught, depressed and anxious about her life | Therapy for Women | Women's therapy in Baltimore | Help for women's issues | New Connections Counseling Center | Baltimore, MD 21210" width="300" height="200
Here are some common things that women bring to therapy:

An important part of therapy for women is considering the role that gender plays in a woman’s pain. This includes recognizing sexism and gender socialization when treating a woman’s issues.

Counseling for Women Can Help

Woman sitting on the floor with hand on her head next to toys and a laundry basket | psychologist in Baltimore | Counseling for women in Baltimore, MD| Therapy for mothers | New Connections Counseling Center | Baltimore, MD 21210" width="300" height="200
Women deserve a safe place to work through things, particularly any issues causing distress. Females are often taught from an early age to focus on others and to avoid being “selfish.” Many women experience suffering and burn-out from over-giving in relationships. Women can be so good at focusing on others that we forget to center attention on ourselves. 

Additionally, it can sometimes be hard for women to figure out who they are outside of their roles as partners or mothers. Roles can become rigid, making it hard to remember who you are and who you can be as a woman. Often, women can find meaning in places where they can focus on themselves. Especially in places where they can feel passion, creativity, and energy. Counseling for women often focuses on values clarification. For example, what is your purpose in life? How do you intentionally make decisions to create the life you want?

Woman sitting on the floor with hand on her head next to toys and a laundry basket | psychologist in Baltimore | Counseling for women in Baltimore, MD| Therapy for mothers | New Connections Counseling Center | Baltimore, MD 21210" width="300" height="200

Therapy Helps Women Understand Their Value

Self-care is a common topic among female clients in therapy. Therapy helps women say ‘no’ to what they do not want. Our skilled therapists teach women skills to respect themselves. We help women to ‘find their voice’. In therapy, we often role-play how to stand up for yourself and ask for what you want in relationships.

Therapy can help women to advocate for themselves. It can help women create the life they want for themselves, others and their families.

Counseling for Mothers

Although women can come to believe that motherhood will be a blissful and magical experience, it is often a lot harder than that. New moms can feel exhausted by daily tasks, isolated from friends who do not have children and lost trying to navigate new social norms. It is easy for mothers to become consumed with self-doubt.

Even seasoned moms can experience stress related to the pressure of measuring up to social standards, wanting to be the best for their children, and the countless expected and unexpected physical and emotional costs that result from being a mom. Many moms get stuck comparing themselves to others and harboring unrealistic expectations. Lots of women experience guilt related to not being a full-time stay-at-home parent or not wanting to be a stay-at-home mom. Society’s views of parenting can leave moms feeling unsure, afraid, criticized, and not good enough.
Therapy for women can help women create their own definition of a “good mother”. When women focus on their own definition of motherhood, they are less likely to get stuck in the what-ifs, if-onlys, and I-shoulds. Our compassionate psychologists work with women to ease their anxiety.

Therapy Is Important Self-Care for Moms

steering wheel with sticky notes all over it representing the busy life of mothers | therapy for mothers | counseling for women in Baltimore, MD | Counseling for women & help for stressed moms | Baltimore, MD 21210 " width="300" height="200
steering wheel with sticky notes all over it representing the busy life of mothers | therapy for mothers | counseling for women in Baltimore, MD | Counseling for women & help for stressed moms | Baltimore, MD 21210 " width="300" height="200
In relationships, women tend to carry a disproportionate amount of emotional labor and mental load. Women tend to hold a lot of information in their heads: staying on top of doctor appointments, managing the family calendar and the carpool, and knowing what gifts to buy, and for whom. Often women operate as the family manager. It is a largely invisible job that also includes other household tasks, and often a career. Being a mother is exhausting. 

It can be helpful to talk through the ways you can reorganize your life to redistribute family responsibilities. Therapy is a safe place to get support on how to effectively communicate your feelings, needs, and boundaries.

Our Approach to Counseling for Women

Research indicates that the most important factor in the success of therapy is the strength of the therapeutic relationship. At New Connections Counseling Center we want to build this relationship on authentic connection and equality between therapist and client.

A positive therapist-client relationship helps women discover and claim their unique identity and build on personal strengths to better their own lives and those of others. We pay attention to gender and the particular challenges that women face as a result of bias, stereotyping, oppression, and discrimination.

Young mother and two daughters reading a book outdoors | Therapy for women in Baltimore, MD with a women's therapist | Counseling for women | New Connections Counseling Center | Baltimore, MD" width="300" height="200"
Our therapeutic approach is very individualized with each client. However, we often use role-playing and assertiveness-training to help clients build their identity and self-esteem. Ultimately, the goal is to help women behave freely rather than conform to cultural expectations and gender roles that others believe are appropriate. 

Therapy for women can help! Life is short. It’s not uncommon to wake up in the middle of a life and feel like you’re on autopilot. You might feel like you have no idea who you are anymore. Therapy can help you advocate for YOU.

Young mother and two daughters reading a book outdoors | Therapy for women in Baltimore, MD with a women's therapist | Counseling for women | New Connections Counseling Center | Baltimore, MD" width="300" height="200"

Begin Counseling for Women in Baltimore, MD

If you are looking for a therapist that understands a woman’s unique mental health needs we can help! Follow these simple steps to learn more about therapy for women at our counseling clinic in Baltimore, MD:

1. Reach out to us using our appointment request form.

2. Learn more about our therapists who specialize in women’s counseling.

3. Learn how to advocate for yourself and find your voice!

Other Services Offered at New Connections Counseling Center

In addition to counseling for women, our compassionate therapists offer a variety of other counseling services at our Baltimore counseling clinic. Ultimately, our goal is not only to help you feel better but help you live better.

Therefore, our counseling services include anxiety treatment, depression therapy, grief and loss counseling, counseling for life transitions, therapy for college students, individual counseling for relationship issues, therapy for survivors of sexual assault, LGBTQ therapy, and therapy for men. Contact us to learn more about the many ways we can support you!

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