The Day Program
What is The Day Program?
Our Day Program is a more intensive level of care that helps new and
expecting moms/birthing parents who are having a hard time caring for themselves and/or their baby feel much BETTER – much FASTER.
- A place where your patient can find a sense of community with others who are struggling during this life transition.
- Day Program participants will learn concrete skills and acquire new tools to combat PMAD symptoms, allowing them to better manage how they are feeling and increase their ability to look at experiences and situations differently.
- A place where your patient can learn to trust herself and build confidence in her abilities to care for her child(ren).
The Day Program is offered both virtually and in person. This determination is made on a case-by-case basis based on symptom acuity and patient location. The program runs from 10 am – 3 pm, Monday – Friday, and the average length of stay is anywhere from 4 – 8 weeks.
What does our Day Program look like?
Perinatal Therapeutic Groups
One of the most healing components of the Day Program is the sense of community. Being with other pregnant and postpartum women who know what your patient is going through – because they are experiencing it too.
Our groups are led by seasoned perinatal psychologists, social workers, and specialists. These groups create an opportunity to process the many challenges of motherhood. In the Day Program, participants learn skills to manage prenatal and postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression, receive expert advice on feeding and infant care, practice mindfulness, and incorporate art in the process of healing.
Individual Treatment
Each patient in the Day Program receives individual treatment with a perinatal therapist and a reproductive psychiatrist. Sessions with a therapist take place a few times a week, and sessions with their reproductive psychiatrist take place 1 – 2 times a week. During these sessions, an individual treatment plan will be identified, and the opportunity to discuss PMAD symptoms and progress in further detail.
Many patients decide to take medication to help treat and manage their symptoms, while other patients do not. These medication decisions are made on a case-by-case basis with their reproductive psychiatrist. We also offer family sessions where partners and loved ones can discuss challenges and progress.
Individual Treatment
Each patient in the Day Program receives individual treatment with a perinatal therapist and a reproductive psychiatrist. Sessions with a therapist take place a few times a week, and sessions with their reproductive psychiatrist take place 1 – 2 times a week. During these sessions, an individual treatment plan will be identified, and the opportunity to discuss PMAD symptoms and progress in further detail.
Many patients decide to take medication to help treat and manage their symptoms, while other patients do not. These medication decisions are made on a case-by-case basis with their reproductive psychiatrist. We also offer family sessions where partners and loved ones can discuss challenges and progress.
On-Site Nursery
The in-person Day Program offers an on-site nursery where babies can stay while new mothers attend group and individual sessions throughout the day. Our nursery staff are highly skilled and experienced childcare providers who will do their best to follow the baby’s specific sleeping and eating schedules and accommodate the needs of new mothers.
Partner Support
Partner support is an important component of care in the Day Program. Often, partners have a limited understanding of postpartum depression and other PMADs and are uncertain about what is happening to their loved one and how they can be most supportive. A partners’ support group is offered weekly and covers PMAD psycho-education, support skills, and techniques, and is a space to process their own experiences.
Partner Support
Partner support is an important component of care in the Day Program. Often, partners have a limited understanding of postpartum depression and other PMADs and are uncertain about what is happening to their loved one and how they can be most supportive. A partners’ support group is offered weekly and covers PMAD psycho-education, support skills, and techniques, and is a space to process their own experiences.
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Meet our Day Program treatment team
Tessie Berghoff, MFT-LP
Milicent Fugate, MD
Stella Fischl, ATR-BC, LCAT
Annie Hart, MD
Sarah Kalmenson Pinson, Ph.D.
Kristen Kim, Psy.D
Lily McWilliam, LCSW
Sarah Meyeroff, LMSW
Emily Rebenstock, Psy.D
Nicole Weishoff, Psy.D
How do I know if the Day Program is right for my patient?
Usually, the first step in assessing suitability for our Day Program is a 90-minute evaluation with a reproductive psychiatrist or therapist who specializes in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. The aim of this initial consult is to get your patient’s medical, psychological, and social history, learn about their symptoms, and create a treatment plan.
If the Day Program is not right for your patient, the treatment recommendations may include outpatient therapy, medication management, or support groups. Download our Day Program Brochure to share with your patients.
The Day Program can help your patient feel better if they’re experiencing…
- Prolonged and intense feelings of prenatal and postpartum depression and/or anxiety
- Feeling as if they can’t turn their brain off
- Feelings of guilt, shame, helplessness, and that “things will never get better”
- Difficulty getting through daily activities that used to feel much easier
- Not sleeping or sleeping more than usual, not eating or eating more than usual
- Fears and doubts regarding their ability to provide care for their infant and/or be a mother
- Constantly worrying about breastfeeding, the baby’s sleep, germs, etc.
- Feeling completely overwhelmed or rageful
- Scary and intrusive thoughts, including harming themself and/or their baby
- Feeling like they want to escape or that their family would be better off without them
Day Program FAQs from new and expecting moms
- 01
"The Day Program feels like too much of a time commitment—how will I ever be able to do it five days a week?"
This is the number one concern we hear from moms/ birthing parents contemplating the Day Program. It’s hard to imagine committing to this program while pregnant, with a baby, with older kids— or a combination of the above. And while it can take a few days to acclimate— moms/birthing parents quickly come to appreciate and enjoy the structure, the interaction with others, and most of all—the rapid reduction of distressing symptoms. We want your patient to feel comfortable, and we know that life happens, so if your patient or the baby has a doctor’s appointment or is not feeling well—they can notify their treatment team. - 02
"What do with my baby during the Day Program?"
We love seeing your patient's baby! Your patient's baby is very much a part of their care. Dyadic Therapy is a treatment form that includes mom/birthing parent and baby by enhancing bonding and attachment. Babies are often present—sleeping, eating, crying, and playing. - 03
"What if I have older children?"
Many people that participate in the Day Program also have older children. We will work with your patient to help make the program manageable to ensure they are able to fully participate during the Day Program hours. To ensure your patient gets the most out of the program, we will help them find ways to participate as much as possible during Day Program hours. - 04
"How long are people typically in the Day Program?"
Everybody in the Day Program experiences their own journey responding to treatment and feeling better. That said, the average length of stay in the Day Program is currently anywhere from 4—6 weeks. - 05
"What skills will I learn?"
The Day Program pulls from a number of empirically proven therapeutic best practices, including interpersonal therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, dyadic therapy, family therapy, and more. All of these therapeutic modalities offer skills that will assist moms/birthing parents to better manage their anxious and depressive symptoms. - 06
"How many people are in the program each day?"
The Day Program usually has ten attendees in each group, with special programming for expecting moms/birthing parents. - 07
"Is the Day Program covered by insurance?"
At The Motherhood Center, we don’t want cost to be a barrier to care. If your patient is considering the Day Program or has been recommended for admission, our dedicated billing team will meet with your patient one-on-one to discuss how we work with insurance, review any costs, and answer all their questions. We know that when a new and expecting mom is not feeling well, it might be too much to work through the insurance piece on their own. Our team is always happy to speak with partners or family members so that everyone has the information and understands any financial obligation before admission. - 08
"Does the Day Program actually work?"
YES! Those who graduate from the Day Program experience a remarkable decrease in symptoms. Many report that the Day Program is a transformative process, helping them to feel better than they ever have before.
Day Program Testimonials
