Virtue Counseling

Virtue Counseling A virtual practice in VA, DC, NJ and Texas specializing in women’s services particularly prenatal Telehealth available

05/28/2026

Did you notice how fast I spoke just then?

That’s how fast the thoughts come, too. 💭

In the fourth trimester (those first three months postpartum) I expect my clients to have what we call intrusive thoughts.

They sound like:

Is baby sleeping okay?

Did I buckle the car seat right?

Am I holding the handrail tight enough on the stairs?

They’ve been asleep a long time… are they okay?

They loop. They race. They don’t seem to stop.

But, knowledge is power and if we can let new parents know before these thoughts start that this is expected, it could be a completely different experience.

It’s not a sign that something is wrong with you. It’s your nervous system doing exactly what it’s wired to do to keep your baby safe.

But you shouldn’t have to carry it in silence.

If no one has told you yet, you’re not alone, and you’re not broken.

Your body just did something incredible. And now it’s going through one of the most dramatic hormonal shifts of your lif...
05/21/2026

Your body just did something incredible. And now it’s going through one of the most dramatic hormonal shifts of your life.

Estrogen and progesterone, which were at an all-time high during pregnancy, drop to their lowest levels almost overnight. Oxytocin — the “bonding” hormone, rises to help you connect with your baby, but it also increases anxiety. Progesterone’s drop makes it harder for your body to regulate that anxiety. Cortisol spikes, leaving you exhausted and emotionally depleted. And all of these changes happening at once? That’s why everything can feel so out of control.

These 5 changes happen to every postpartum person, and they explain so much of what you’re feeling.

The mood swings. The overwhelm. The moments where you don’t recognize yourself. It’s not weakness. It’s biology.

You are not broken. You are healing. 💕

The first 3 months after baby arrives are a whole new world. And most of us walk in completely unprepared for the sleepless nights, the hormone shifts, feeding struggles, bonding challenges, and figuring out your village (or realizing you don’t have one).

That’s exactly why I created “There’s A Fourth Trimester?!” — a realistic workbook to help you prepare for AND navigate those first three months with more clarity and less freaking out and uncertainty.

I can’t wait for you to have this resource that I wish I had when I was postpartum.

Link in bio to grab a copy for yourself, a friend, or as a baby shower gift!

05/19/2026

“I should be able to do this better.”

That’s what moms tell me. Not “I’m failing” — but “I should be doing this better.”

And here’s what no one prepared you for: the fourth trimester isn’t something you’re meant to white-knuckle through.

Your hormones are shifting. Your body is recovering. You’re sleep-deprived. You’ve never done this before — or never done it with this baby, or with a toddler in the mix too.

And underneath all of it, you’re renegotiating your entire relationship with who you thought a mom would be.

That’s not failure. That’s a transition.

I sat down with Rewire For Birth for Episode 73 — Navigating the Fourth Trimester — for an unfiltered conversation every mother deserves to hear before baby arrives.

Inside the episode:

🤍 What’s really happening hormonally postpartum — and how oxytocin can fuel both bonding and anxiety

🤍 The difference between baby blues and postpartum depression — timelines, signs, and what to watch for

🤍 Why intrusive thoughts are so common in early motherhood (and how understanding them softens the shame)

🤍 The “web of care” and the four kinds of support every new mom needs

🤍 Why doing motherhood alone isn’t strength — it’s risk

🤍 How perfectionism quietly makes postpartum harder

🤍 How partnerships shift after baby, and simple ways to stay connected

🤍 Why processing your birth story is part of postpartum healing

If you’re pregnant, planning to be, in the thick of it, or loving someone who is — this one is for you.

You were never meant to do this alone.

🎧 Listen to Episode 73 of Rewire For Birth wherever you get your podcasts. Link in bio.

The first three months after birth have a name.They’re called the fourth trimester — and they might be the most overlook...
05/18/2026

The first three months after birth have a name.

They’re called the fourth trimester — and they might be the most overlooked, under-supported, and misunderstood season of a woman’s life.

We prepare for pregnancy. We prepare for birth. And then we hand mothers a baby, send them home, and expect them to “bounce back” into a body, a brain, an identity, and a life that has fundamentally changed.

That’s the gap I wanted to fill in this conversation.

I joined Rewire For Birth for Episode 73 — Navigating the Fourth Trimester — to talk about what postpartum actually looks like underneath the highlight reel, and what every new mother (and every person who loves one) deserves to understand.

Inside the episode, we get into:

🤍 What the fourth trimester really is — and why it’s so much more than recovering from birth

🤍 The hormonal shifts that quietly shape your mood, anxiety, and mental health postpartum

🤍 The role of oxytocin in bonding, hyper-vigilance, and the protective instincts you didn’t know to expect

🤍 Baby blues vs. postpartum depression — how to tell the difference and when to reach out

🤍 Why intrusive thoughts are so common, and why naming them takes away their power

🤍 The “web of care” — the four kinds of support every postpartum mother needs (and why one isn’t enough)

🤍 How perfectionism and rigidity make postpartum harder, and why flexibility is the real skill

🤍 The mental load of motherhood and the impossible standard of “doing it all”

🤍 How partnerships shift after baby, and small ways to protect connection

🤍 Why your birth story matters in your postpartum healing

Postpartum was never meant to be something you survive in silence. It deserves care. Community. Language. Support.

If you’re expecting, planning to be, deep in the newborn fog, or walking alongside someone who is — press play.

🎧 Episode 73: Navigating the Fourth Trimester — on Rewire For Birth, wherever you listen.

Did you know postpartum mood disorders don’t only affect the birthing parent? 💙Non-birthing partners — dads, co-parents,...
05/12/2026

Did you know postpartum mood disorders don’t only affect the birthing parent? 💙

Non-birthing partners — dads, co-parents, adoptive parents — are at real risk too, and it often goes unrecognized and untreated.

Here are 6 signs your partner may be struggling postpartum:

😤 Irritability & Anger
🌑 Emotional Withdrawal
😰 Anxiety & Constant Worry
😴 Sleep Deprivation & Burnout
🪞 Identity Loss & Pressure
🍷 Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms

Paternal postpartum depression is more common than most people think — and it looks different than what we typically picture. Instead of sadness, it often shows up as rage, numbness, overworking, or pulling away from the family entirely.

If you or someone you love is struggling after a new baby, support is available — and asking for help is one of the most powerful things a parent can do.

We specialize in perinatal mental health, postpartum support, and therapy for new parents and families.

👇 Save this to share with a new parent in your life.

Struggling to bond with your baby? Your mental health matters more than you know. 💕The transition into motherhood is one...
05/09/2026

Struggling to bond with your baby? Your mental health matters more than you know. 💕

The transition into motherhood is one of the most beautiful( and most overwhelming) experiences of a woman’s life. And if you’re dealing with postpartum depression, perinatal anxiety, or pre-existing mental health conditions, it can feel nearly impossible to show up the way you want to.

No one tells you that the mother-baby bond doesn’t just affect how you feel right now — it shapes your child’s cognitive development, emotional regulation, and social skills for years to come.

Swipe to learn:
💕The mental health challenges new moms commonly face
🍼 How postpartum depression and anxiety impact bonding
🧸 Why this isn’t your fault — and what actually helps
🧠 How therapy supports maternal mental health and your connection with your baby

Whether you’re experiencing baby blues, postpartum depression, panic attacks, or just feeling disconnected from yourself and your little one — you’re not failing. You’re struggling with a treatable condition.

Support is available. Healing is possible. And you don’t have to do it alone.

📲 Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with at virtuecounseling.com

The best thing you can do for a new mom? Show up — not with advice, but with action. 💗New motherhood is beautiful and br...
05/06/2026

The best thing you can do for a new mom? Show up — not with advice, but with action. 💗

New motherhood is beautiful and brutal, and the village that surrounds a postpartum mom makes all the difference.

Here are 6 simple, meaningful ways to truly support the new mom in your life — no unsolicited opinions required. 😅

Whether you’re a partner, a friend, a sister, or a neighbor — these small acts of care go a long way when someone is navigating the newborn phase, postpartum recovery, and the emotional rollercoaster that comes with it.

Save this and share with someone who loves a new mom.

Postpartum support doesn’t have to be complicated. It just has to be consistent.

Hearing that what I taught made it into someone’s session that same week??That’s the whole point of why I do this work. ...
04/23/2026

Hearing that what I taught made it into someone’s session that same week??

That’s the whole point of why I do this work. My workshops are about so much more than checking a CE box. I always want to give you something you can actually use, with real clients in real sessions, right now.

I’ll be cherishing these words all week long ⤵️

“Thank you for a great training, I have already been using some of the tools in my sessions this week. I’m very grateful!”

— Anonymous Continuing Education Student, April 17th Workshop

If you missed the April 17th workshop and want to experience a training like this for yourself, I offer private trainings for organizations, group practices, and teams.





Your village wants to show up for you — they just might not know how. 🎧Whether it’s your partner, your mom, your best fr...
04/14/2026

Your village wants to show up for you — they just might not know how. 🎧

Whether it’s your partner, your mom, your best friend, or your mother-in-law… sometimes the best gift you can give them is a resource that helps them get it.

These podcasts are a low-lift way for the people in your life to start understanding what postpartum really looks like — and how to actually support you through it.

Save this and send it to someone in your corner. 💌

Podcasts for partners.
Podcasts for grandparents. Podcasts for every member of your village.

Because postpartum support isn’t about guessing — it’s about showing up informed.

And if the people in your life are ready to go even deeper? My new book, There’s a Fourth Trimester?! is now available on Amazon. Link in bio. 📖

04/09/2026

Hot coffee near a baby? Never.
It’s iced coffee only for you for the foreseeable future.

The breakfast you eat one-handed while feeding.

The moment at 2am when your brain goes somewhere dark and you don’t know if what you’re feeling is normal — or something more.

Nobody warned you it would feel like this.

Not the Pinterest version. The real version. The one where you love your baby and still grieve who you used to be. Where you’re doing everything “right” and still feel like you’re drowning.

But here’s what I want you to know: it’s hard because it actually, genuinely is. But hard shouldn’t feel like drowning. And you don’t have to figure out the difference alone.

That’s exactly why I wrote There’s a Fourth Trimester?! — a workbook that gives you the roadmap I wish every new parent had.

Inside, you’ll find checklists to recognize postpartum mood and anxiety red flags, scripts to actually ask for help, and tools to build the support system you deserve — whether this is your first baby or your third.

It’s 110 pages of clinical insight wrapped in zero judgment and a whole lot of you are not alone.

Link in my bio to grab your copy. Because surviving is where you’re at, but thriving is where you’re headed. You are not alone.


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2150 Highway 35 # 250
Sea Girt, NJ

Telephone

+15716355855

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