Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Allred.
Hi Jessica, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a licensed therapist specializing in perinatal mental health. I graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in Psychology in 2008 and then with a Masters Degree in Social work in 2010. I have 3 fantastic kids and now own a group counseling practice, Treat Counseling here in Bountiful Utah.
By the time I had my first child, I had already been a licensed therapist for several years.
After going through two years of infertility treatments I felt like all my dreams had come true to be pregnant and deliver a healthy happy baby boy. What I did not expect, however, was the toll motherhood would take on me physically, mentally, and emotionally.
For the first year of my baby’s life, I experienced what I came to understand as postpartum anxiety. The constant hypervigilance over my baby seemed normal to me given the expectations that were placed on mothers, as a licensed therapist I missed all of the signs that what I was going through was common but not normal. I did not get any help or support during this period of time because I simply didn’t know anything was wrong.
After the birth of my second baby, I fell into a state of irritability and sadness. I could feel myself sinking. I was being and feeling at my worst when I wanted to be at my best. I felt helpless and frustrated that I could not enjoy my now 2 healthy happy and wonderful kids. This was a lonely and difficult time and one that has left a lasting impression on me.
It was not until I took training when she was 7 months old through Postpartum Support International’s Utah chapter, that I understood I was experiencing postpartum depression. I personally took it upon myself to learn everything I could about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders in order to work on healing myself. I attended several conferences, started taking a lot of supplements, tried hypnotherapy and regular therapy, worked on my communication and asking for help, and slowly learned the steps I needed to take for my own recovery.
Having gone through a form of postpartum depression or anxiety now with each of my 3 children, I have determined that supporting mothers in the transition to having a new baby is my life’s mission. I want to decrease stigma, increase access to care, and provide education. I know these conditions are common (with statistics showing 1/5 of new mothers experiencing a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder) but not normal. I know that there is a conspiracy of silence that increases stigma and keeps new moms in silence and shame. I know there is a lack of education that creates real barriers to moms getting the help they need and deserve.
Since my first training in 2017, I have become certified in perinatal mental health, certified in clinical hypnosis, and have built a counseling center specifically for supporting moms in the Perinatal Period. At Treat Counseling, I personally pay for each of my therapists to be trained in Perinatal Mental Health. I am passionate about educating community partners. I have also started a free support group for pregnant and postpartum mothers, donating my time and knowledge to increase access to care for those who may not be able to afford it.
Even though my youngest baby is now a toddler, those dark days will continue to be ever-present in my mind. They propel me forward in my mission to help others in similar situations. Perinatal families deserve to be supported and educated about the most common complication of childbirth and pregnancy.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I feel my mission to help Perinatal families was borne out of struggle. My own experiences have opened my eyes to the particular challenges of pregnancy and childbirth not only for mothers but for the entire family system.
Starting a business has been mentally and emotionally challenging. Shifting gears from being a clinician to an entrepreneur requires an entirely different skill set. I have realized the importance of having a growth mindset, or of accepting failure and mistakes as part of the process. I am realizing the mental toughness it takes to build a business from the ground up and that discouragement and fear are the enemies.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I graduated with a bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Utah in 2008. Knowing that I wanted to be a therapist, I went on to complete my Masters Degree in Social Work in 2010. I began private practice as soon as I was fully licensed. At that time I had a passion for helping others, I was driven by a feminist multicultural approach and enjoyed working with adults and teens. My favorite area of specialty was empowering women in all walks of life.
After my experiences of having children, my mission to empower women quite naturally transitioned into supporting women and families in the Perinatal period. I have gone on to receive a Perinatal Mental Health Certification from Postpartum Support International. In my own journey with postpartum depression and anxiety, I found clinical hypnosis to be a helpful form of treatment. I have since also become certified in Clinical Hypnosis through the American Society for Clinical Hypnosis.
I am most proud when I can support a Perinatal woman, parent, or family to learn to ask for help and access the support and resources they deserve.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Utah is number 1 in the country for adults reporting depression and anxiety with 26.86 percent reporting adults with mental health illness. Utah is number 2 in the country for the largest proportion of the population living in mental health shortage areas at 83.3%.
The industry I believe will continue to grow in order to meet these needs. Legislation in the Obamacare Act in 2008, called the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act requires private insurance companies to cover mental health care, including substance use disorders, to be no more restrictive than insurance coverage for other medical conditions. This has allowed many more families to receive therapy through health insurance benefits.
Perinatal Mental Health is also becoming more recognized and legislation is beginning to be passed that requires OBGYN offices to screen for postpartum depression.
Changes in the industry could include care being provided through teletherapy more frequently, as well as interventions being created that can be accessed via an app or technology.
Pricing:
- 50-minute session $120.00 cash pay
Contact Info:
- Website: www.treatcounseling.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/treatcounseling/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/treatcounseling
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-allred-1b436197/
