Melissa and Staci chat with Sam Stevens, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in private practice in Portland, OR. His focus is on new fathers and couples with young children. Has been facilitating the Portland New Father’s Group since 2010. He previously taught birth preparation classes for soon-to-be parents and now is asked to speak at industry and community mental health conferences on early child development, parenting, adjustment to fatherhood, and postpartum mood and anxiety disorders in men and women.

We discuss:

  • How postpartum depression and anxiety presents itself in parents of all kinds

  • How common it is

  • Why it happens

  • What support is available right now

  • What friends can do to help

  • The difference between postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis

  • What you can do to prepare, if you suspect this might happen to you, even before the birth or adoption.