Art of Holding in Therapy

Karen Kleiman, MSW, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker and internationally recognized expert on maternal mental health. With over three decades of experience in the field, she is the author of several books on postpartum depression and anxiety and is the founder of The Postpartum Stress Center and The Karen Kleiman Training Center.Hilary Waller, MS, LPC, is a psychotherapist in private practice and provides training to perinatal providers and women and their families.

"The generosity of knowledge, spirit and empathy is and has been deeply touching to me. As someone who has experienced postpartum depression and 'activity' after all three of my children’s births. I can say from direct experience that Karen Kleiman walks her talk and offers profound space holding for the scary, overwhelming and terrifying parts of postpartum. As well as space holding for the possibilities available and the needs buried within the vulnerability of postpartum. This empathy in the form of masterful space holding is the antidote to the abyss of pain and challenge that lies within the vulnerable postpartum time. The information in this book supports the healing of the strange and lonely and disorienting space of postpartum vulnerability. Having experienced, three times, the perfect storm of hormonal, emotional, trauma triggering, cultural, circumstantial, social, physical challenge… I have had the privilege of being supported by Karen in the way that is described very eloquently and astutely in this book. To say Karen Kleiman helped me through a tough period post birth is an understatement. I would go as far as to say she helped save my life. And while Karen may quietly laugh at the passion of my appreciation for her, I am very clear: Karen’s wisdom, knowledge, empathy, vision, insight, experience and humor helped me return to who I know myself to be during a time where all seemed lost and stuck in the tar and molasses of postpartum depression, anxiety and invasive/intrusive thoughts. One investigation at a time. With a kind of space holding that instantly heals and re-connects.My gratitude for Karen Kleiman and her powerful work knows no bounds.I wish for the emotional, somatic and wholistic intelligence of Karen Kleiman to be available to every single birthing person who finds themself at a loss on every level during the postpartum period."Alanis Morissette"Karen Kleiman’s words are a balm for new motherhood; they normalize the myriad of emotions and feelings and call attention to the inadequate systems that continually fail American mothers. Karen warmly and expertly reminds providers and parents alike that motherhood is just as much a job as it is a joy and that all moms are deserving of help, care, and rest."Cassie Shortsleeve, journalist, founder of Dear Sunday Motherhood, co-founder of Two Truths & Chamber of Mothers"Karen Kleiman's newest book provides a gentle and important guide for therapists who work with birthing parents struggling with anxiety and depression. Embedded throughout her approach is a deep empathy for the experience of new parenthood, which often leaves mothers feeling alone and unsupported."Nichole Fairbrother, Ph.D., RPsych, CACBT-ACTCC Certified Cognitive Behaviour Therapist and Founding Member

• Chapter 1 Postpartum Women and TherapyChapter 2 Preparing to HoldChapter 3 Theories Behind the ConceptChapter 4 Postpartum MamasChapter 5 Mother and Therapist: On Being Good Enough Chapter 6 The Practice of HoldingChapter 7 Authentic Suffering and the Holding ElementsChapter 8 The Postpartum Voice of DepressionChapter 9 Hands On: How to Hold BetterChapter 10 Hard-to-HoldChapter 11 The Anatomy of HoldingChapter 12 Your Professional IdentityChapter 13 Holding Diverse ParentsChapter 14 Clinical Challenges and FAQsChapter 15 Holding and Letting GoEpilogue: Therapist, Hold Thyself