Monday, November 24, 2008

Next Meeting

We are pleased to announce that Brooklyn PPD Support's twice-monthly support groups are resuming in December at a new location.  We are grateful to the folks at Everyday Athlete's Everyday Family Center in Carroll Gardens for offering to host our group at their studio.  We're honored to help further the Center's mission of offering families "a community that will give you the necessary tools for emotional support and empowerment as well as tools to improve your physical strength, balance, and stamina in order to maintain an active and healthy pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and everyday life."

The next two meetings will be on Tuesday, December 2 and Tuesday, December 16 at 7 pm.  Everyday Athlete is located at 136 Union Street between Hicks and Columbia (www.everydayathletestudio.com).  The meetings are free, confidential, and babies are welcome, but rsvp is required.  Please call Chris at 917.771.6359 to rsvp or for more information.  Alternately, feel free to contact Molly at mollyatperyerdotorg.

We look forward to seeing you.

Molly and Chris  

Monday, November 10, 2008

Status Update

The Brooklyn PPD Support Group is currently in the process of trying to find a new home for our meetings.  Please bear with us while we firm up the details of our new location.  We hope to have a group scheduled to take place within the next few weeks.  If you would like to be notified about when the next meeting will occur, please join our mailing list.  In the meantime, please contact Chris (motherthemother.chris at yahoo.com ; 917.771.6359) or Molly (molly at peryer.org ; 917.549.6012) with questions about our organization or for phone support.
What Are PMADs?

PMADs have the following symptoms: insomnia, loss of appetite, nervousness/hypervigilance, frightening and/or suicidal thoughts, escape fantasies, feelings of worthlessness, anger, guilt, sadness/crying, grief, hopelessness, agitation, inability to concentrate, joylessness, sleeplessness/restlessness, appetite changes. You may experience one or some of these symptoms over a period of time.

Founded in 2006, Molly Coffin and Chris Lindsay-Abaire co-created the peer support they needed in their community. In Spring of 2014, Brooklyn PPD Support was joined by Melissa Paschke, LCSW. Melissa has been practicing medical social work since 1994. She is also a mother of two boys and a 500 hour+ certified yoga teacher. Melissa offers individual, partner and group therapies, crisis intervention, family support, health/wellness counseling, and yoga for the pre-natal and postpartum woman. She is a graduate of Yeshiva University, Wurzweiler School of Social Work and holds advanced clinical training certificates from the NYU Silver School of Social Work and Seleni Institute.

Please contact Melissa for information about group participation or individual and partner therapy.

See Melissa on Psychology Today: https://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/prof_detail.php?profid=293007&ref=8&sid=1511988653.5793_30722&zipcode=11231&tr=ResultsName

What is Brooklyn PPD Support?

If you are a pregnant or post-partum woman experiencing Stress, Depression, Anxiety, and/or other mood challenges, you are welcome to join this group. It is advised that you also reach out to your medical provider to be assessed for any psychopharmacological needs. Group can also be used as a complement to any private psychotherapy you may be receiving, or you may inquire about private therapy with Melissa Paschke, LCSW, in addition to Brooklyn PPD Support Groups.

Brooklyn PPD Support is currently offering groups by Zoom, as per COVID-19 restrictions. There is a suggested fee of $40 to attend. It is the primary intention of Brooklyn PPD Support to remove as many barriers to participation as possible, so if fees are preventing you from attending, please reach out to Melissa. You are encouraged to attend as many meetings as you wish. This is a closed group; Only women experiencing symptoms of PMADs will be allowed to participate. Graduate students, researchers and well-meaning partners may not sit in on meetings.

Emotional support from empathic listeners is one key part of expediting a woman's recovery from PMADs. This offering is a safe, confidential, nonjudgmental environment where women can share their experiences. Women in all stages of stress, illness and recovery are welcome. If you aren't sure or formally diagnosed with a PMAD, you are welcome. You are also welcome if your child is older, but you relate to the stressors described. We are women helping women to share, witness and support each others' experiences. This is a professionally facilitated group led by a licensed clinical social worker who will also offer appropriate referrals for any additional treatment or supportive services that may be needed.

Postpartum Support International's Universal Message:

You are not alone
This is not your fault
You will feel better