Therapy for Women
Compassionate Therapy for Women
Women face unique challenges and joys at every stage of life, from the transitions of youth to the complexities of careers, relationships, and motherhood. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, searching for balance, or seeking deeper self-awareness, Dr. Charissa Chamorro provides specialized care tailored to the unique needs of women. Dr. Chamorro is a highly skilled women’s therapist who believes in empowering women to overcome obstacles, embrace their strengths, and live authentically. She offers a range of highly effective treatments to address the unique challenges faced by women including anxiety, stress, pre- and postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, depression, fertility challenges, feelings of burnout, career challenges, and relationship difficulties. With a focus on holistic care, Dr. Chamorro is committed to helping women navigate the challenges of life while nurturing their own mental health and well-being.
Why Therapy for Women Is Essential
Women often juggle multiple roles as professionals, caregivers, partners, and individuals. These overlapping responsibilities can lead to stress, anxiety, depression, or burnout. Therapy offers a safe, non-judgmental space to address your concerns, process your emotions, and develop effective coping strategies to manage the challenges in your life leading to greater joy and fulfillment.
Dr. Chamorro understands the unique mental health needs of women, from addressing career stress and societal pressures to navigating relationships and self-identity. Through personalized strategies and compassionate guidance, she helps you navigate challenges, embrace your strengths, and create meaningful progress toward your goals. Reach out today to schedule a call with Dr. Chamorro and learn more about how therapy can help.
Specialized Therapy for Women
Dr. Chamorro is a highly skilled and compassionate women’s therapist who provides therapy for women across various life stages and challenges. Below, is an outline of subspecialty areas to meet your specific needs.
Therapy for Women with Anxiety
Women often face numerous challenges and responsibilities that can cause or worsen anxiety. As an expert woman’s therapist for anxiety, Dr. Chamorro focuses on empowering women to manage anxiety and build resilience through practical tools and meaningful insights. Techniques include:
Identifying Triggers: Explore and understand the specific situations, thoughts, or beliefs contributing to anxiety, gaining insight into patterns that may be maintaining distress.
Building Coping Strategies with CBT for Anxiety: Use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to challenge and reframe unhelpful thinking patterns, such as catastrophizing or mind-reading, that fuel anxiety. Develop problem-solving skills and engage in behavioral experiments to test and shift anxious assumptions.
Using ACT to Enhance Flexibility: Incorporate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help women accept difficult thoughts and emotions without judgment while focusing on their values. ACT techniques, such as mindfulness exercises and values-based goal setting, encourage women to engage in meaningful actions despite anxiety.
Fostering Emotional Awareness: Develop skills to recognize and process emotions effectively, reducing overwhelm and reactivity. Practice grounding and relaxation techniques to regulate physical symptoms of anxiety.
Empowering Decision-Making: Strengthen confidence in navigating relationships, work, and personal goals with clarity and self-assurance, integrating learned CBT and ACT strategies to support long-term resilience.
Therapy for Young Women
Young women often encounter unique challenges such as navigating academic pressures, building self-esteem, managing relationships, and exploring their identities. Therapy can provide the tools to cope with these transitions and build a strong foundation for the future.
We focus on:
Academic stress and career exploration
Self-esteem and body image concerns
Dating, relationships, and social dynamics
Managing anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions
Developing life skills and coping mechanisms
Therapy for Professional Women
Balancing a demanding career with your personal life often leaves professional women feeling overwhelmed. Therapy can help address workplace stress, imposter syndrome, and the pressure to "do it all."
Therapy services can help with:
Workplace stress and career transitions
Managing anxiety and burnout
Work-life balance and boundary-setting
Navigating gender dynamics and leadership roles
Exploring self-worth and professional identity
Therapy for New Mothers
Motherhood is a transformative experience, but it can also bring challenges like adjusting to a new identity, balancing responsibilities, and coping with physical and emotional changes. Therapy can support new mothers through this transition, providing tools to manage stress and build confidence.
Dr. Chamorro helps new mothers with:
Transitioning to motherhood
Building self-care routines
Strengthening partner and family relationships
Addressing identity changes and self-esteem
Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders
Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) are a group of mental health conditions that occur during pregnancy or in the first year following childbirth. These disorders include postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). PMADs can significantly impact a mother's ability to function making early detection and treatment critical to overall health and wellbeing.
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression is a serious mood disorder that can affect new mothers. It is characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities. Other symptoms may include changes in appetite, sleep disturbances, difficulty bonding with the baby, and thoughts of self-harm, harming the baby, or worry about the baby. Therapy can provide a path to healing and recovery.
Dr. Chamorro’s therapy approach includes:
Addressing feelings of guilt, sadness, or isolation
Supporting healthy attachment with the baby
Developing practical strategies to manage overwhelming emotions
Encouraging communication with loved ones and support networks
How is postpartum depression different from “baby blues”?
The term "baby blues" is used to describe brief and mild changes in mood coupled with feelings of worry, unhappiness, and fatigue that often arise in the first two weeks after childbirth. Given the constant demands of caring for a newborn, it's common for new mothers to experience occasional feelings of exhaustion or being overwhelmed. However, if mood changes, anxiety, or unhappiness persist beyond the first two weeks or are more severe, this may indicate signs of postpartum depression. It's crucial to recognize that postpartum depression typically requires professional treatment, as women who are affected may not experience an improvement in depression without treatment.
Postpartum Anxiety
Postpartum anxiety involves excessive worry, fear, and feelings of unease that persist beyond what is considered normal anxiety. Women with postpartum anxiety may experience racing thoughts, irritability, restlessness, physical symptoms like heart palpitations, and an overwhelming need to protect their baby. Although postpartum anxiety is less studied than postpartum depression; it is estimated that at least one in five women has postpartum anxiety. Fortunately, research has shown that treatments such as CBT can be effective at helping reduce anxiety symptoms and improve overall coping and well-being.
Dr. Chamorro specializes in helping mothers navigate postpartum anxiety with evidence-based approaches, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness.
Treatment focuses on:
Identifying and challenging intrusive thoughts
Managing physical symptoms of anxiety
Building a support network and communication skills
Developing relaxation techniques and coping strategies
Postpartum OCD
Postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by intrusive and distressing thoughts or obsessions, often related to the baby's safety or well-being. Mothers with postpartum OCD may engage in repetitive behaviors or mental rituals to reduce their anxiety. These obsessions and compulsions can interfere with daily functioning and cause significant distress. OCD symptoms can emerge for the first time during pregnancy or the postpartum period. Fortunately, research has shown that CBT is highly effective at reducing the symptoms and distress associated with postpartum OCD. Dr. Chamorro specializes in effective and compassionate care for women experiencing postpartum OCD. In addition to her private practice, she is the Course Director for the Anxiety, OCD, and Tics Fellowship Program at Mount Sinai.
Therapy for Women Facing Infertility
The journey of infertility can be emotionally taxing, impacting self-esteem, relationships, and mental health. Therapy offers a safe space to process these challenges and find hope.
Dr. Chamorro provides support for:
Coping with grief and loss
Managing relationship dynamics
Addressing feelings of inadequacy or shame
Exploring alternative family-building options
Therapy for Women Experiencing Menopause and Perimenopause
The physical and emotional changes of menopause can bring about mood swings, anxiety, depression, and identity shifts. Dr. Chamorro offers support to help women navigate this transition with confidence and balance.
Therapy focuses on:
Managing mood changes and anxiety
Exploring self-identity and purpose
Addressing relationship and intimacy concerns
Building healthy lifestyle habits
Common Issues Addressed in Women’s Therapy
Relationship Issues
Relationship issues refer to difficulties, conflicts, or challenges that arise between individuals in a romantic, familial, or platonic relationship. These issues can manifest in various forms, including communication breakdowns, trust issues, differing values or goals, and emotional distance. Seeking therapy for relationship issues can be instrumental in addressing and resolving these challenges and improving both self-esteem and the quality of your relationships.
Work Stress
Work stress for women can have a profound impact on mental health. The strain of managing heavy workloads and grappling with family expectations can contribute to heightened stress levels and, subsequently, mental health concerns. This emotional toll may manifest as anxiety, depression, or even burnout. Dr. Chamorro recognizes the intricacies of these challenges and offers a warm and compassionate space for women to navigate and heal. Through therapy, she provides a supportive environment to explore the emotional impact of work stress, helping individuals develop coping strategies and resilience. Dr. Chamorro employs evidence-based therapeutic approaches, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), to address negative thought patterns, foster acceptance, and empower women to navigate the complexities of their professional and personal lives. By tailoring her therapeutic interventions to the specific needs of each individual, Dr. Chamorro strives to not only alleviate the immediate stressors but also enhance overall mental well-being, promoting a sense of balance and fulfillment. Contact us today to schedule a consultation call and learn more about how treatment can help.
Parenting Issues
Parenting, while rewarding, can be overwhelming. Juggling the responsibilities of childcare, work, and self-care can lead to burnout and heightened stress levels. Parenting issues can encompass a range of challenges and difficulties that parents may encounter as they navigate the complexities of raising children. These challenges can arise at different stages of parenthood and may include concerns related to communication, discipline, developmental milestones, and family dynamics. Seeking therapy for parenting issues can be highly beneficial in providing support, guidance, and strategies for addressing these challenges. Dr. Chamorro works directly with women on issues related to parenting, self-care, and identity to help them find greater balance and improved well-being. Dr. Chamorro is dedicated to helping parents through both her private practice and her work as an Expert Medical Review Board Member for Parents Magazine.
Therapy Approaches for Women
Dr. Charissa Chamorro offers specialized treatment to support women throughout life. Treatment options include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based therapeutic approach that focuses on identifying and addressing negative thought patterns and behaviors. In the context of women's mental health, CBT can be particularly effective in addressing issues such as anxiety, depression, and stress. Dr. Chamorro works directly with her patients to help them develop effective coping strategies, set realistic goals, and create a positive mindset that contributes to improved mental well-being.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) centers on finding the balance of acceptance and living life in accordance with your values to achieve a greater sense of purpose and well-being. It includes practices dedicated to accepting thoughts and feelings while committing to actions aligned with personal values. In the realm of women's mental health, ACT can be beneficial for addressing issues like postpartum anxiety or the stress of trying to meet societal expectations. For instance, if a woman is struggling with the demands of motherhood and feeling overwhelmed, ACT can help her accept the challenges while committing to actions that align with her values as a mother. Dr. Chamorro uses ACT principles and techniques to empower women, fostering greater emotional balance and resilience.
Relational Therapy
Relational therapy emphasizes building a strong therapeutic alliance and creating a safe space for moms to explore their thoughts, emotions, and experiences. It helps women navigate the complexities of their new roles, strengthen relationships, and find greater balance in their identities as caregivers, partners, and individuals. It emphasizes insight, growth, self-care, and self-compassion.
Each of these therapeutic approaches serves a unique purpose in addressing women's mental health issues. CBT aids in reshaping negative thought patterns, ACT promotes acceptance and commitment to positive actions, and relational therapy focuses on nurturing and improving connections. Dr. Chamorro integrates these approaches based on individual needs and provides a comprehensive and personalized therapeutic experience to empower women on their journey toward improved mental well-being.
Personalized Treatment for Women
Dr. Chamorro understands the challenges faced by busy women. In treatment, she provides a safe space for women to explore their difficulties while developing practical strategies to manage stress and find balance. She aims to empower women with a range of skills to facilitate improved coping, greater self-compassion, and self-care strategies that can be used for a lifetime.
Reach out today to schedule a consultation call and learn more about how treatment can help.
