http://www.virtuecounseling.com/

Virtue Counseling, 2150 Highway 35 # 250, Sea Girt, NJ (2026)

02/13/2026

Postpartum depression and anxiety affect 1 in 7 new parents. Knowing when to step in as a loved one can be life-changing.

Watch for these signs in yourself or a loved one:

😔 Withdrawn, flat affect, or emotional numbness
😢 Frequent tears, irritability, or feeling overwhelmed
💔 Expressing fear of being a “bad parent”
🛌 Drastic changes in eating, sleeping, or personal hygiene
🚨 Talking about not being able to cope or thoughts of self-harm
😰 Fear or anxiety about being alone with baby

If you notice these signs, it’s time to reach out.

Postpartum mood disorders are treatable, and early intervention matters. Offer non-judgmental support, help connect them with a therapist or doctor, and remind them they’re not alone.

Help is available and it’s okay to ask for help.

A great place to begin looking for resources is:

And if you live in TX, FL, VT, VA, MD, DC or NJ and need support, I am currently accepting new clients and would love to support you in this season 🙏🏼

👉 Save, share, and repost this post to help spread awareness about AND normalize the postpartum experience 💕✨

02/07/2026

Retroactive bargaining is a common grief response after pregnancy loss, infant loss, or fertility struggles. It’s when our mind replays events, searching for control through “what if” and “if only” thoughts.

Common retroactive bargaining thoughts:

💭 “If only I had started trying earlier” (fertility struggles, infertility journey)

💭 “Maybe if I had chosen different treatment” (IVF, fertility treatment regret)

💭”If only I noticed the signs” (pregnancy loss, miscarriage guilt, stillbirth trauma)

💭 “What if I had gone to the doctor sooner” (perinatal grief, maternal guilt)

Why does our brain do this? Our mind attempts to:

✨ Make sense of traumatic birth or loss
✨ Regain a sense of control in postpartum healing
✨ Protect against future hurt

But these thought patterns can intensify postpartum anxiety, birth trauma, complicated grief, perinatal mood disorders, self-blame after loss, and more…

These thoughts are part of the grieving process, but they can keep you stuck. Perinatal mental health support, trauma-informed therapy, and grief counseling can help you move through retroactive bargaining with compassion.

You didn’t cause this.
You deserve healing.
Support is available ❤️

02/05/2026

When we talk about postpartum mental health, most of the focus is (rightfully!) on moms.
But here’s something many families don’t hear enough:

1 in 10 new dads experience postpartum depression or anxiety.

Research focuses on heterosexual couples, but rates are expected to be similar in LGBTQIA+ families.

Society often tells dads and partners to “stay strong” or “just support the mom,” which can make it harder to acknowledge their own struggles.

Supporting the non-birthing parent’s mental health supports the entire family.

Some things that increase the risk for postpartum mood disorders in non-birthing parents:

😴Sleep deprivation
💰Financial stress or job changes
🫤Feeling excluded from caregiving
🧑‍🧑‍🧒Relationship strain
🧠Previous mental health challenges
👯Limited social support
💕A partner with PPD/PPA
🍼Traumatic birth or NICU experience

Postpartum depression and anxiety don’t always look the same for everyone.

Common signs in non-birthing parents include:

😡Anger or irritability
😔Withdrawal from family or friends
🎨Loss of interest in things they once enjoyed
🍕Changes in sleep or appetite
🍺Increased alcohol or substance use

When a parent is struggling, the whole family feels it.

The good news there is support. See slides for actionable steps you can take to give support.

And remember these incredible resources:

➡️Postpartum Support International:

➡️Dads Matter UK: .co

➡️National Parent & Youth Helpline

01/29/2026

Feedback shared from my recent CE Training, Preparing Clients for the Fourth Trimester: Identification of PMADS and Postpartum Planning

Whether you’re just getting started in perinatal mental health or looking to deepen your clinical toolkit, this training is designed to help you confidently prepare clients for the postpartum period.

📆 Save the date!
The next training will be Friday, April 17th!

1.5 Clinical CEs through ASWB and for PMH-C Renewal

Know someone who could benefit from this training? Tag them in the comments or send them this post!

01/27/2026

Fatigue happens for real reasons when you’re in the postpartum stage. And you need to remember that fatigue isn’t failure.

It can come from blood loss, hormonal shifts, interrupted sleep, and healing.

Your body is doing major work.

Sleep challenges can come from:

Night feedings
Hormonal changes
Anxiety or mood disorders
Physical discomfort
Baby’s irregular patterns
Mental load
Visitors
Technology use

Knowing your biggest disruptors helps you plan.

It’s also important to remember that fragmented sleep is normal because newborn sleep is fragmented, and so of course yours will be too.

Feeling foggy, emotional, weepy, or drained isn’t a personal flaw.

It’s biology. And it’s temporary.

And it’s okay to ask for help. If you’re:

-Crying more than usual
-Feeling numb or unlike yourself
-Trouble focusing
-Hopelessness or intrusive thoughts
-Racing mind even when baby sleeps
-Baby sleeps… but you still can’t

These are cues you deserve more help 💕

01/24/2026

The first 3 months after your baby is born is a completely different reality.

🛌The sleepless nights

🌊Hormone changes

🍼Feeding baby (and yourself!)

🧑‍🍼Bonding

☎️Check-ins from your village (or lack there of)

And yet, we still prepare more for the arrival of the baby...

That’s exactly why I created my new workbook, “There’s A Fourth Trimester?!” so new parents can have a realistic guide when it comes to preparing for life AFTER baby’s arrival.

You deserve to thrive during those first three months...not just survive.

Available for order NOW on Amazon! Visit link in bio to purchase.

Know someone who could benefit from this workbook, send this post their way! Together we can empower and educate more new parents about the fourth trimester!

01/17/2026

Postpartum planning shouldn’t feel this scattered.

Between pregnancy apps, scattered Google searches, and endless advice—how do you actually plan for REAL support during the fourth trimester and keep it all organized?

My postpartum workbook “There’s A Fourth Trimester!?” gives overwhelmed expectanting parents ONE beautiful place for everything so you can stop piecing it together.

Start your postpartum journey prepared, confident, and calm.

Available NOW on Amazon!

01/13/2026

If you’re experiencing postpartum anxiety, crying more than usual, feeling disconnected from your baby, or struggling with postpartum sleep deprivation, you’re not alone.

These are signs you need more postpartum support.

New parent life can feel overwhelming, especially during the fourth trimester. Whether you’re dealing with postpartum mood changes, feeling isolated in early parenthood, or just trying to survive those sleepless newborn nights, support can make all the difference.

Recognizing the signs of postpartum depression and anxiety is the first step.

Getting help is the second.

If you’re a new parent wondering “is this normal?” or feeling like you’re barely holding it together, know that support is available. And it’s okay to ask for help.

📖 My book “There’s A Fourth Trimester?!” is here to guide you through this challenging season.

It’s packed with interactive worksheets that help you build your village and design your ideal support system.

👉 Link to grab your copy on Amazon in bio.

You don’t have to do this alone. Let’s normalize asking for help in the postpartum period. 💗

01/10/2026

Why do I talk about postpartum and the fourth trimester so much?

Because I’m addicted. Obsessed. Passionate. And determined.

Determined to make more new parents aware of what the fourth trimester is ACTUALLY like, so that they can properly prepare. So that they can have their village of support on standby when baby is born. So that they can look out for and know the difference between baby blues and postpartum depression (and all the hormone changes that come with it).

That’s why I created “There’s A Fourth Trimester?!” in 2025. I can’t wait for it to reach the hands of so many new people in 2026!

Will you help me spread the word by sharing the book or one of my posts about the book with someone you know would benefit? A new or expectant parent, a doula, a therapist, an OBGYN, a women’s circle, a parent group — whatever + whoever you can think of!

It’s my mission to normalize this conversation, and we accomplish that by working together. 💕🫶🏼✨

12/20/2025

Having a baby is one of life’s most incredible experiences.

It’s also one of the most challenging — filled with mood swings, identity shifts, and major psychological changes.

If your confidence feels shaky right now, that makes sense.

Researchers studied data from 80,000+ Norwegian mothers to understand changes in self-esteem and relationships during pregnancy and motherhood.

What they found surprised a lot of people — but probably won’t surprise new moms.

Self-esteem doesn’t follow a straight line after baby. It often dips during pregnancy, rises briefly after birth, then slowly dips again — and stays lower longer.

This isn’t a failure. It’s a pattern many moms experience.

Relationship satisfaction follows a similar path. It’s often high during pregnancy and gradually declines after baby arrives. This happens for first-time moms and experienced moms. (Less intensity over time — but still very real.)

Self-esteem and relationship satisfaction is closely linked. Possible contributors include:

🎢Hormonal shifts
💤Chronic sleep deprivation
🧠Enormous mental & emotional load

Motherhood is demanding — your nervous system feels it.

12/18/2025

✨ Upcoming CE Training! ✨

Preparing Clients for the Fourth Trimester: Identification of PMADS and Postpartum Planning

Date: Wednesday January 21st Time: 7-8:30pm EST
Where: Virtual Zoom Room
Cost: $55

1.5 Clinical CEs through ASWB and for PMH-C Renewal

Whether you’re just getting started in perinatal mental health or looking to deepen your clinical toolkit, this training is designed to help you confidently prepare clients for the postpartum period.

This workshop has received amazing feedback from past attendees:

“The training was engaging and I think anyone regardless of how much experience they have with the perinatal population can benefit from learning from Jerusha”

“This was excellent. I’m a PMH-C and still learned so much. I highly recommend it!”

Register at link in bio!

Virtue Counseling, [2180], is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: April 3, 2025-April 3, 2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.5 clinical continuing education credits.

10/17/2025

We’re so excited to announce that will be exhibiting at the Baby Expo on November 2nd at the beautiful W Hoboken!

Over 50 baby and toddler exhibitors, educational demos, AMAZING RAFFLES, VIP swag bags, exclusive show-only discounts and more.

This is where I’ll be sharing my BRAND NEW postpartum workbook that helps you plan for and thrive in the fourth trimester.

We’re giving away 2 sets of general admission passes to 2 parents to attend the show with a friend or loved one!

To enter:

1. Tag a parent or birthing individual who needs to know about the baby expo in the comments below! (Bonus entries for every friend you tag!)

2. Follow and and

3. Tune in on October 30 ,2025 at 12:00pm EST to see who the two winners are! Each winner will receive 2 tickets each.

Good Luck!!

📸 This beautiful photo is from last year’s expo and was taken by

Virtue Counseling

02/13/2026

02/07/2026

02/05/2026

01/29/2026

01/27/2026

01/24/2026

01/17/2026

01/13/2026

01/10/2026

12/20/2025

12/18/2025

10/17/2025

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