Depression in New Dads

My name is George Maxwell.  I’m a Psychotherapist and Personal Development coach who specialises in working with Men who find that they are struggling after the birth of a new child. I help my clients to develop feelings of confidence, meaning and connection as they adjust to big changes in their lives.

Do you worry that you’re failing as a Dad?

Do you feel that you’re on autopilot – rushing from one new task to the next as you try to meet the demands of home and work life?

Are you concerned that you’re not connecting with your child or becoming distant from your partner?

Are you finding it hard to move on after witnessing a traumatic birth?

If you can answer “Yes” to any of the above, I can tell you that you’re not alone…

We’re beginning to find out more and more about the effects of adjusting to parenthood upon the mental wellbeing of New Dads.  Interrupted sleep, trying to provide practical and emotional support to our partners, learning how to care for a baby, all the while trying to maintain our careers and keep the roof over their heads – this can take its toll.

The problem is that many of us try to “soldier on.”  Too many new dads will keep pushing forward, neglecting their feelings and wellbeing until they reach a crisis point.  Low mood, anger, insomnia, guilt, anxiety and self-doubt all gather pace.  Eventually this leads to negative effects upon our relationship, our careers, our friendships and most significantly, our parenting.

As a culture, we’ve traditionally pushed the needs of Male parents to the back of the agenda.  We’re encouraged to not talk about our difficulties and to keep going, no matter how we are feeling.  Unfortunately, this means that many struggling Dads don’t get the help that they need until it’s too late.

As a Dad, I myself experienced depression, anxiety and trauma related symptoms following the birth of my first child.  As a Psychotherapist and coach, I then made it my mission to give new and struggling Dads the tools, skills and understanding that they need to get back on track with their family, relationships and careers.  I use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), EMDR, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Coaching and have now successfully worked with countless Men to move from a state of struggle to be the Best Dad, partner and provider that they can be.