Maternal Mental Health Counseling

Let’s say it out loud together: being a mom is hard. That’s not to say there aren’t moments of it you love; aspects of it that aren’t rewarding; or that you don’t love those children of yours. 

But it IS to say that motherhood is a job that often leaves you feeling: exhausted; unnoticed; unappreciated; even unsure of yourself altogether. 

There are days you feel like there’s no way you can get to a place of feeling a bare minimum of “okay”, not even to speak of that long-forgotten feeling of “happy.”

Internal feelings of fulfillment, excitement about the future with your family, and general contentment about your day-to-day life seem unattainable — you’re too tired and just too surrounded by chaos, both in your environment and inside yourself, to believe that those aspects of life can be part of your experience.

What you’re feeling might be this thing called mom burnout. 

Mom burnout is more than just feeling tired – it’s a deep sense of exhaustion that goes beyond physical tiredness. It’s when the constant demands of motherhood start to weigh heavily on your emotional and mental well-being. You might wake up in the morning already feeling drained, wondering how you’ll make it through the day. This exhaustion isn’t just about needing more sleep; it’s a fatigue that seeps into your mind and spirit, leaving you feeling like you’re running on empty.

When burnout sets in, it can feel like a fog has settled over your life. Tasks that used to bring you joy or a sense of accomplishment now feel overwhelming or meaningless. The daily routines – getting the kids ready, managing meals, juggling work, and keeping the household running – can start to feel like an endless loop, with no time to catch your breath.

You might notice that your patience is wearing thin. Things that wouldn’t have bothered you before now trigger irritation or frustration. You might find yourself snapping at your children or partner over small things, only to feel guilty afterward. This irritability can make you feel disconnected from those you love most, adding to the sense of isolation that often accompanies burnout.

Another sign of mom burnout is a sense of detachment. You might go through the motions of your daily life, but it feels like you’re on autopilot. The joy you once found in spending time with your children or engaging in activities you love seems distant or unreachable. This detachment can lead to feelings of guilt or inadequacy, as you wonder why you can’t shake the sense that something is missing.

Burnout can also bring a sense of resentment. You might start to feel resentful of the constant demands placed on you, the lack of time for yourself, or even the roles you’ve taken on. These feelings are tough to admit, but they’re a natural response to feeling overwhelmed and stretched too thin.

And then there’s the self-doubt. When you’re burned out, it’s easy to start questioning yourself – Am I doing enough? Am I a good mom? Why can’t I handle this better? These thoughts can chip away at your confidence, leaving you feeling like you’re failing, even when you’re doing your best.

It can be normal to feel trapped as a mom.

Let me repeat that: It can be normal to feel trapped as a mom.

Motherhood is a journey filled with joy, but it also comes with challenges that can sometimes feel overwhelming. The constant demands, responsibilities, and expectations placed on moms can create a sense of confinement, as if your identity is solely tied to being a caregiver. You might find yourself longing for the freedom you once had or struggling to remember who you were before becoming a mom. 

It’s important to recognize that these feelings are valid and common. Many moms experience moments where they feel they’ve lost touch with their own needs, dreams, and desires. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day tasks, from managing the household to caring for your children, leaving little time for yourself. The sense of being overwhelmed can grow, making it hard to see a way out.

Sometimes, you just feel tired of being a mom. 

It’s okay to admit that sometimes, you’re just tired of being a mom. (Even reading that might make you feel guilty, let alone acknowledging it out loud! But we promise it’s okay! We also promise you’re not the only one who feels like that.)

This doesn’t mean you don’t love your children – it just means that the actions and demands of motherhood (which are nonstop) have exhausted you. You’re stretched beyond capacity and still called to do more. Or maybe your kids are in a development stage you really dislike. Maybe motherhood is less fulfilling than your job. Maybe you’re a little bitter at motherhood because you left your job because it didn’t make sense to take on daycare costs and work. 

The point is, it’s okay to be tired of this and to have some other feelings to unpack about it, too. 

Want the good news in all of this? There’s help just for you, because there’s therapy for moms. And it’s one of our specialties.

More formally called “maternal mental health therapy”, mom therapy exists to help with all of this: burnout; feeling trapped; feeling tired of being a mom; and so much more.

For therapy groups like ours, where “mom therapy” is one of our primary pillars, this means that the therapists that are part of our maternal mental health team have advanced training in things that apply to moms. Amongst those advanced trainings are topics like:

• perinatal and postpartum period
• traumatic birth experiences
• general overwhelm that moms face
• relationship stress when you’re a mom (kind of like “relationship counseling for one” or us helping with some marriage therapy even if your partner isn’t in the room)
• parenting challenges and stressors
• sex therapy
• child and adolescent development

With Maternal Mental Health Counseling in Missouri, we can work together to help you:

Regain your footing in this mom gig…

We explore and find ways to help you enjoy “momming” more often than not. Our therapists help you uncover your strengths and regularly apply them to your daily life so you can increase your confidence in yourself and your parenting skills. And we are dedicated to helping you gain control and influence over your emotions, instead of the other way around.

Because we have good news: there’s this thing out there that actually is “mom therapy” (more formally known as “maternal mental health counseling”)…..and we’re experts in it.

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Moms, you are multi-dimensional.
You are strong, and brave, and talented.
And it’s okay if you have momentarily forgotten that.

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Maternal Mental Health Specializations

Begin Counseling for Moms in St. Louis, MO

Moms have to start prioritizing themselves first. Or, at least putting yourself higher on the list! In our Ballwin, MO counseling clinic, we can help you feel more in touch with yourself. We can also chat via telehealth for online therapy in Missouri and online therapy in Illinois. Truly, anywhere in the state! If you’re a Chicago resident, we have in-person therapy available in Chicago, too! Taking this first step is a big deal, so you are already making great progress! Just follow these simple steps and we will get started.

Other Mental Health Services at Marble Wellness

At Marble Wellness, our goal is simple: Counseling services designed to help set you on a path of living a more fulfilled, calm, and happy life. We specialize in anxiety, depression, grief, chronic illness, therapy for men, couples, and maternal overwhelm. We can also help new moms with various postpartum concerns, moms in the thick of parenting, and moms with teens. We can also chat from wherever you are in the state with online therapy in Missouri and online therapy in Illinois. No matter where you are in your journey, we would love to support you.