Tameka Whittlesey,
LCSW, LCASA
Therapist in Charlotte NC
If you are a woman and are experiencing anxiety, depression, shame or guilt - I am here to help.
As women, we already have a long list of unrealistic standards that are often imposed upon us, creating this endless pressure to live up to. When the conversation regarding family planning and pregnancy are added, it creates another dimension of pressure where we feel conflicted between doing what we desire to be true vs what society feels is “right”.
Often times when navigating the spaces regarding pregnancy and family planning, the topic regarding infertility and Miscarriages are often overlooked, just as are the women who are experiencing these traumas are overlooked. It can be hard to be hopeful for positive outcomes when you are experiencing the pain of losing someone you love. Instead, you may feel empty, powerless, resentful, confused, and alone.
As we navigate through infertility and miscarriage, too many times we are told things like “Everything happens for a reason” or “Keep on trying” which is completely invalidating, as the complexities regarding the grief that we are experiencing is so much more. We then suffer in silence, masking the pain with a hopeful grin to hide the weight of the trauma & grief.
Carrying this weight all alone, is hard. It’s heavy on your mind and heart, and can become overwhelming very fast to where you feel that you aren't “Performing” good enough as a mom or woman, especially when you are trying to juggle children, work, finances, relationships, social life, and everything in between. Know that you don’t have to carry this all alone, I can help. Your experiences and feelings are valid and that there is a safe space available for you so that we can we package this trauma so that it’s easier to carry.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker( LCSW) and have received my Masters in Social Work (MSW) from the University of Southern California. I have specialized training in Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders which includes topics relating to not only pre-and post pregnancy, but also infertility, miscarriage & traumatic births. I also have additional specialized training using Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) and Family Centered Therapy (FCT). My therapeutic approach is creative and eclectic, using a mixture of therapeutic approaches to utilize my clients strengths to assist in achieving their treatment goals.