Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Todd.
Hi Sarah, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I knew I wanted to be a therapist since I was young to help others through the difficulties they faced. I went to Clemson for my Bachelor of Science in Psychology and then to the University of South Carolina for my Masters of Social Work in order to pursue my dream of being a therapist. I worked in the hospital and with the state department after graduating in 2013, and I found my calling as a therapist in helping people navigate the complexities of parenthood after becoming a stepmother to two fantastic boys and a biological mom to a third. I realized that being a parent was the hardest thing I’d ever done. I had support, but I didn’t have anyone to help me process my birth story or help me understand the changes that had occurred in my matrescence journey. When I realized that the resources for a postpartum person were so scarce, I decided that I needed to help fill the void, given how important support during the pregnancy and postpartum period is to mental health.
During my maternity leave; in between breastfeeding, pumping, and taking care of my son; I studied perinatal and postpartum mental health through Postpartum Support International and opened my practice to specialize in helping others through the ups and downs of pregnancy and “the fourth trimester.”
Since opening my practice in January 2018, I have met many incredible individuals and worked with them to navigate the changes that come with the pregnant and postpartum experience. I am fortunate to have those people trust me to help them through such major life changes, and I hope to continue to make positive changes to how we view the Fourth Trimester and Perinatal Mental Health.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
My two biggest struggles as a Maternal Mental Health provider have been opening up communication with providers and their patients about the importance of taking care of your mental health in the postpartum period and getting it addressed by someone who is trained to work with PMADS (Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders) because there is a lot of stigma surrounding the topic. I’ve found that many Obstetric and Pediatric providers are reluctant to give a referral for therapy if someone is struggling because there is a lack of education about the significance of PMADS. Patients themselves can be scared to talk about the fact that they are struggling because of the fear that if they say something, someone will assume they will hurt their baby, which isn’t true.
I’m still working to bring attention to the importance of addressing maternal mental health while providing education on what is and is not true about PMADS. It’s also taken me years to become more widely known as a mental health provider with the necessary specialty training in maternal mental health, and it’s still a struggle to convince people that just any therapist in your insurance network is not necessarily going to be the best fit for your individual needs. There’s a reason that people specialize in only certain types of therapy or work with certain mental illnesses. Just like with physicians, you may see a family practice provider who will refer you to a specialist for whatever your diagnosis calls for. Therapy works in the same way. So if you’re struggling with your mental health while pregnant or postpartum, you need to see someone trained to address these specific disorders to best help yourself without worrying about what that provider is thinking about you struggling with “postpartum depression.”
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Todd Counseling, LLC?
Todd Counseling is a therapy practice that addresses Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADS). I provide individual and family therapy to address concerns around mental health when people are trying to conceive, pregnant, postpartum, or struggling with a miscarriage or infant loss. I am one of the few providers in the Midlands area with extensive specialty training in PMADS from Postpartum Support International and 2020 MOM, two of the more predominant organizations working to provide advocacy, support, and provider training for those who struggle with mental health during this phase of life. I am so very proud to be able to help provide services directly to those in need and advocate in our local community to bring attention to the importance of supporting our pregnant and postpartum peoples’ mental health in a day and age where it feels incredibly daunting to bring a child into the world. I am incredibly proud and honored to support people however they choose to bring a child into the world, no matter their family composition or gender identity, and to help those individuals feel seen and their experiences heard.
We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking.
I am fortunate to have had my family’s support as I ventured out on my own, and I recognize my privilege in having that. Life is always going to be full of risks. Putting yourself out there is always a risk in opening your own business and hoping it will be enough to sustain yourself. Bringing a child into the world is certainly taking a huge risk! But in every risk we take, whether it’s a risk like deciding to have a child, buying a house, starting your own business, or simply trying a new hobby, I think it’s worth asking ourselves, “What if it all works out?” You will miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
Pricing:
- Initial Diagnostic Assessment $155
- Individual Psychotherapy $135
- Family Therapy $145
Contact Info:
- Website: https://toddcounseling.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toddcounseling/
Image Credits
Kaylin Smith Photography
