As a parent, the range of emotions you experience are vast. When you become the parent of a medically fragile child, the experience becomes even more complex. While it is normal to have a range of feelings, you might find that these emotions become overwhelming and difficult to deal with when you are bombarded with questions, decisions, and new situations for you and your family.
Finding a professional counselor to help you cope with the life changing events as a NICU parent can help you and/or your partner cope with the trauma of your new circumstance. Hand to Hold can connect you with both peers and professionals to help you on your journey to finding a counselor for you individually or for you and your partner as a couple.
Tips for Finding a Professional Counselor
• Contact the social worker at your NICU. Many hospitals have support groups or can share the names of helpful, qualified professionals with you.
• Reach out to local organizations such as YWCA Counseling and Referral Center that provide affordable counseling for individuals, couples, and families. Go here to find your local YWCA chapter.
• How to Find a Therapist is a great resource for educating yourself about options when seeking a professional therapist.
• Psychology Today allows users to narrow down therapists by location, insurance, specialty, gender, and more.
• If seeking couples counseling, learn what to expect from marriage counseling.
Talking through your NICU experience with a professional counselor can be very beneficial to your health and your overall well-being as a parent.
Studies have also shown peer support in the NICU helps parents (particularly mothers) by giving them hope, helping them begin to develop maternal identity, providing anticipatory guidance about taking their infants home, and more. Hand to Hold’s Family Support Navigator can help you down this road and on the way to healing. Contact us if you would like to be matched with a peer mentor.
You’re on your way to healing.
If you are feeling thoughts of hurting yourself or others, please seek immediate medical attention by calling 911 or going to the nearest hospital.