|
At the Family Resource Counseling Center, we offer family counseling and healthy developmental guidance for families with infants. In addition, we offer the following groups: infant care & development, infant massage & healthy development, working mothers support group, new fathers support group, and post  partum depression support group. Please see below for more information about each group offered:
Infant: Care and Development Groups
Infants receive a sensory rich experience while parents share and learn in a supportive and therapeutic setting.
Infant Massage & Healthy Development Group
As your infant is so impressionable and dependent, you may wonder how you can enhance your child’s sense of security and love in the world. Infant Massage has been proven to foster a sense of well being, while stimulating the healthy development of an infant’s mind and body. This allows you to impact your child’s development through a sensory rich experience with soothing results.
As with most adults, massage can be invigorating to a child’s body, providing comfort and pleasure. These are important factors for your infant whose brain and body are forming and developing. This means it could positively impact your child for the rest of their life.
The facilitator is certified in infant massage instruction as well as a child therapist. This enhances the overall class experience. You will have the opportunity to massage your child in class and in addition, gain a greater understanding into the psychological development of children and healthy parenting. Each week you will meet with other families for one hour, providing support and encouragement within the group setting.
Possible Benefits of Infant Massage
(for infant)
- Improve Sleep Patterns
- Increase Neurological Development
- Improve Cardiac and Respiratory Output
- Increase Muscular Tone
- Normalize Weight Gain and Digestion
- Decrease Pain in Events Such As Teething
- Enhance Bonding Between Parent & Child
- Promote Nonverbal Communication
- Decrease Infant Stress Levels
- Increase Sensory Awareness
- Promote Self-esteem and Respect
(for parents)
- Decrease Stress Levels
- Release “Nurturing” Hormones
- Decrease Depression
- Enhance the Bonding Experience and Communication
- Many individual benefits have been found for healthy infants, as well as for those with a wide variety of special needs including:
Abuse - Developmental Delays - Depression & Anxiety – Asthma - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - Juvenile Diabetes (Type 1) - Autism - Eating Problems - Substance/Cocaine Exposed - HIV Exposed - Juvenile Rheumatoid - Arthritis – Fibromyalgia - Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder - Burns - Cancer - Atopic Dermatitis - Blindness / Deafness - Colic/Constipation
Infant Massage is a wonderful gift for your child and an enjoyable activity that you can share in together.
Here’s what participants had to say about their experience…
“It is something every new parent should do with their infant. I learned so much about my son even though he was just a baby. I could tell through the massage that we already had a special bond.” — JA
“After a few weeks of massaging my six month old daughter, she started sleeping better. We were thrilled!” — TH
Class Information
A reoccurring 6-week class
Please call for specific class times and dates.
~ Private Individual & Group Lessons Available ~
WORKING MOTHERS SUPPORT GROUP
When a working mother is better able to juggle her busy schedule, it typically improves the quality of life for herself and her family. By meeting with other working mothers, you will gain practical advice and decrease feelings of isolation. This group will help you more effectively balance the needs of your personal and professional life.
NEW FATHERS SUPPORT GROUPS
Whether you are in a relationship or a single parent, being a new father can be a challenge for any man. Joining a group of supportive new fathers may help ease the transition as you see you are not alone with your feelings of joy and confusion about your new role. Gain confidence and support in an understanding environment to increase your ability to meet your needs and your families too!
POST PARTUM SUPPORT GROUP
If you have recently given birth and are feeling exhausted, depressed, anxious or just not like your “old self,” you are not alone. Many new mothers experience a variety of symptoms that vary in frequency and intensity, but are collectively known as “Postpartum Mood Disorders”. You may hear them referred to as “Baby Blues” or “Postpartum Depression” (PPD).
- The term “Baby Blues” describes the normal symptoms of irritability, anxiety and tearfulness that 80% of new mothers experience. From this group, 20% of women will develop a more serious form of depression and anxiety that warrant more intensive professional attention.
- For those mothers with mild symptoms, support groups can be an appropriate option. For those mothers with more serious symptoms, individual therapy is recommended. Seeking help may feel uncomfortable and the Family Resource Counseling Center can assist you with making the choice towards recovery.
- While trivialized and under-treated in the past, Postpartum Depression has recently been the focus of increased attention. Research has shown that PPD is treatable, but unfortunately many new mothers choose to wait and suffer in silence, assuming the symptoms will disappear. However, symptoms usually do not resolve without proper diagnosis and treatment. Additionally, they may interfere with your baby’s healthy development.
- This is an important time for you and your child, it is a time to cherish and enjoy. If you suspect you might suffer from PPD, please remember that you are not alone and that counseling is available.
Common Symptoms of Postpartum Depression
- Feelings of sadness that do not go away
- Frightening thoughts
- Exaggerated irritability often targeted at baby or at partner
- Feelings of inadequacy, guilt, helplessness, hopelessness
- Weepiness
- Feelings of dependency
- Over-concern or no feelings for the baby
- No appetite or compulsive overeating
- Insomnia or oversleeping
- Isolation from other people
- Exaggerated worrying
Treatment Options:
- Individual and group counseling
- Marital/couples counseling
- Psychiatric services
Support Groups
- Because women with Postpartum Depression and anxiety often feel emotionally alone, support groups offer an especially important source of validation, acceptance and education for new mothers. Women have often found that the support group has the advantage of decreasing the sense of isolation that accompanies Postpartum Depression and can be a very useful addition to individual therapy.
Individual Therapy
- Individual therapy provides an opportunity to develop the ability to recognize, accept, and cope with feelings of depression and anxiety in a supportive environment. In addition, it will help in the development of healthy coping strategies to improve your relationships and self-esteem.
|
