Postpartum Transitions
Supporting Your Shift into Motherhood with Compassion and Clarity
We’ll meet you where you’re at—in the messy, beautiful in-between of new life and new identity. At Dragonfly, we offer a warm and grounded space for women navigating postpartum transitions, whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or simply not yourself yet.
Available Therapists for Postpartum Transitions
Offering In-Person or Virtually Counselling Services in the Calgary Area
Dani Spackman
Registered Psychologist
When Motherhood Doesn’t Feel How You Expected
Bringing a baby into the world is a profound and life-changing event—but for many women, the emotional shift that follows can feel uncharted, isolating, and confusing. You may find yourself thinking, “Why don’t I feel like the mother I thought I would be?”
Perhaps your sense of self has been overshadowed by sleepless nights or the endless loop of new tasks. Maybe your body changed in ways you didn’t expect, and so has your energy, your mood, your identity. You’re caring for a tiny human, yet part of you wonders, “Who am I now—and what happened to me?”
While everyone says “Congratulations!”, you might be wrestling with feelings no one told you about: anxiety about your baby’s health, guilt at needing more rest, shame because you’re not enjoying every moment, or grief for the version of yourself you were. Some women experience mood shifts, intrusive thoughts, or a sense of detachment—while others feel driven, perfectionistic, exhausted, and perpetually “on.”
The common thread is this: your transition into motherhood has roots not only in physical change, but in identity, nervous-system regulation, self-expectation, and cultural messages about “being a good mother.”
You’re Not Broken — You’re Adjusting
You’re not alone—and what you’re experiencing is far more common than you might realize. Many women walk through postpartum transitions carrying hidden weight: the unspoken mix of joy and grief, freedom and restriction, excitement and fear.
Culturally, we celebrate the “new baby,” yet rarely discuss the internal “new mother” who is emerging. We expect seamless bonding—and sometimes that expectation becomes another burden.
It’s normal for your nervous system to stay tuned to “alert” mode when you’re caring for a newborn. Sleepless nights, hormonal shifts, feeding challenges, and identity changes—it’s a lot. These are real triggers to your sense of safety, connection, and self-trust. What you’re feeling isn’t failure—it’s your body and mind responding to major change.
Many women feel awkward admitting they’re not “over the moon” all the time. Some worry they’re failing or flawed. But the truth is: entering motherhood is a journey of transformation—not just externally, but internally. You’re learning new rhythms, new relationships, and a new version of you. And that takes time, self-compassion, and the right support.
How Therapy Helps You Find Your Footing Again
Our approach at Dragonfly is designed to hold space for your full experience—not just the baby, but you: the person who existed before, the mother you are becoming, and the individual still emerging.
We Start Where You Are
In our sessions, you’ll be heard without judgment. Whether you’re feeling uncertain, resentful,
exhausted, or lost—you bring all of you. We’ll begin by exploring your story: your prenatal hopes,
your birth experience, your early postpartum days, and what you’re noticing in your body, mind,
and relationships.
We Help Calm the Nervous System
Postpartum is not just a mental shift—it’s physiological. Your body and nervous system have
changed. You may be hyper-alert, emotionally volatile, disconnected, or zoning out. We
incorporate body-based interventions (grounding, pacing, gentle somatic work) alongside talk
therapy. These tools help you feel safer in your body, better regulated, and more connected to
your sense of self.
We Explore Identity and Connection
Becoming a mother often shifts how you view time, achievement, self, partner, friends, and your future. In therapy, we’ll explore these relational ripples: how you relate to your partner, your baby, and yourself. We’ll unpack cultural and internalized messages about motherhood (like “I should love this every second” or “I should bounce back instantly”) and rebuild a version of motherhood that feels authentic and sustainable.
We Find What Helps You Feel Like You Again
Therapy can also offer concrete tools: managing perfectionistic beliefs, setting boundaries, navigating role changes with family, and developing self-care rhythms that actually fit your reality. Together, we’ll find moments of calm and self-connection that help you feel more grounded and whole.
We Walk Beside You — at Your Pace
Our process isn’t about “fixing” you—it’s about walking with you. Some days, we’ll focus on immediate coping (sleep, overwhelm, mood shifts); other days, we’ll go deeper into meaning and self-growth. Over time, you’ll begin to reclaim your sense of self, feel grounded, and parent from a place of self-trust instead of survival.
Finding Support That Feels Safe and Real
At Dragonfly, we specialize in supporting women through the nuanced, layered transition into motherhood. We understand that you’re not just adjusting to being a mom—you’re navigating profound changes in identity, relationships, and self-expectation.
Our therapists are deeply trained in postpartum and reproductive mental health, and we provide a grounded, compassionate space where you can feel safe to be fully yourself.
Book a free 20-minute phone consult today. No pressure, no commitment—just a chance to connect and see if we’re the right fit. You don’t have to do this alone. We’ll walk this transition with you.
You May Be Interested in Therapy for Postpartum Transitions
But Have Some Questions...
How do I know if what I’m experiencing is “just the baby blues” or something I should seek therapy for?
It’s completely normal to feel emotional and tearful in the first couple of weeks after giving birth. The “baby blues” often ease with rest and support, but if your sadness, anxiety, or sense of disconnection continue beyond two weeks or start to interfere with daily life, it may be postpartum depression or anxiety. These are signs you deserve extra support, and therapy can help you understand what’s happening, regulate your emotions, and begin feeling more like yourself again.
Will I have to talk about my birth experience?
Not unless you want to. For some women, processing their birth story helps them understand lingering emotions or triggers that show up afterward. For others, it’s more helpful to focus on what’s happening in the present—like managing anxiety, identity changes, or relationship shifts. We’ll always follow your lead and only go into your birth experience if and when it feels supportive, never before you’re ready. Therapy is meant to feel safe, not overwhelming.
Can therapy help with returning to work or balancing motherhood and everything else?
Absolutely. The return-to-work phase—or even thinking about it—can bring up guilt, anxiety, and uncertainty about how to juggle everything. Therapy can help you explore how your identity and priorities have shifted, set boundaries with compassion, and find rhythms that support both your emotional well-being and your goals. It’s about learning to hold space for both parts of you—the caregiver and the individual who still needs care, purpose, and rest.
How long does postpartum therapy usually last?
There’s no set timeline—each journey looks a little different. Some women come for a few months to find relief and grounding; others continue longer as they explore identity shifts or prepare for future transitions like returning to work. Together, we’ll check in regularly on how you’re feeling and what’s changing for you. The goal is never dependency—it’s helping you feel equipped, connected, and confident as you move forward.
Recent Blog Posts
Therapy for Postpartum Transitions in Calgary, AB
In Person and Online Sessions Available
1407 10 St SW, Calgary, AB T2R 1E7