Annette Martin MSW, RSW, CC-PMH, CC-BRT

While becoming a parent can bring joy and fulfillment, the changes and stressors that accompany the perinatal period (pre and postpartum) can also have substantial impacts on a parent’s mental health. Nothing can easily prepare parents for this significant new role, and our expectations tend not to line up with reality. New parents are often overwhelmed with how all consuming caring for a baby can be, are managing challenging shifts in their important relationships, and may not yet have the capacity, support or skills to cope.

It is so important to feel heard and understood whether you are a new parent or in later stages of parenting. I offer individual therapy and parenting support sessions to help parents navigate this significant transitional period in their lives. I will support you to make meaningful gains in addressing the unique challenges you are facing, and help to increase your sense of ease in parenting. I will help you understand and validate your own needs and assist you in accessing family and community support. I will work with you to help you understand your child’s various emotional needs, provide insight into your child’s behaviour, and help you build a sense of confidence in your new role. Together, we will build resilience and capacity to work through this challenging time.

Prior to my work in Perinatal Mental Health, I worked for many years in infant, child and youth mental health. This work with children focused on parent-child relationships, which led to my strong interest in providing perinatal mental health support to parents during these often challenging early months and years of parenting.

I am committed to understanding you as a unique individual, and will support you through your parenting journey from a place of deep compassion and acceptance. I aspire to support you in gaining a greater sense of connection with yourself, your child(ren), and support systems, and shift from a place of survival into a place that feels lighter – a place where you can thrive in your various roles, and manage the ups and downs that come with parenting in a way that feels good for you.