Medha Kudaisya, LSW

I’m Medha and my passion is to support individuals and couples who are facing challenges navigating the major life changes that accompany new and expectant parenthood, all while continuously adapting to the new normal of life in a pandemic. 

Social media makes it seem as if conceiving, pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period are easy, and we’re taught to hide our doubts and insecurities at each step. You’re made to feel as if it’s unnatural to feel exhausted, or shamed if you don’t bounce back into your pre-baby body. You may be blaming yourself for any challenges you have with breastfeeding or if you’re not in the mood for intimacy with your partner. You might still be struggling with unexpected complications or alterations to your birth plan. 

You might be seeing pregnancy or birth announcements regularly and it may seem at any given moment that everyone you know is having babies, and you never expected to feel resentful of your own challenges with infertility or pregnancy loss. However, you may feel blindsided with grief or anxiety every time you see a newborn or a sonogram. You may feel anger that life went on while the precious life you lost couldn’t. 

Maybe you’re an immigrant who has relocated far away from family and friends, and you feel lost with limited or no support. The way you want to raise your children might differ from your culture, making you feel alienated. Or you’re trying to find a middle ground between the “American” way and how it’s done in your home country, but you feel like you end up losing some aspects of both. 

Although we’re taught not to talk about it, domestic  and gender-based violence has increased exponentially over the last few years, and having a child with a perpetrator can bring on complicated feelings. Survivors may feel guilt or shame for remaining in an abusive relationship, while pelvic exams and breastfeeding may bring back unwanted physical sensations and memories. 

I’m here to offer support and acceptance. An immigrant mother myself, I know what it’s like to face a complicated pregnancy, and to try to balance the Indian-ness of my upbringing with the norms of my adopted culture, with limited social and family support. I am a compassionate and caring therapist and am passionate about working with adults facing perinatal and postpartum mood and anxiety disorders. 

I am a Licensed Social Worker and have a Master of Social Work from Rutgers University, alongside a certificate in Violence Against Women & Children, and am working on getting my Perinatal Mental Health Provider certification from Postpartum Support International. My background includes working with survivors of domestic and gender-based violence as well as with parents of youth who have severe mental health challenges or developmental disabilities. I have also worked as a school-based therapist, and have run several therapeutic support groups. In my previous career, I was a copyeditor as well as an entrepreneur, and also ran a number of peer support groups for immigrant women. My approach is very holistic as I believe we cannot isolate our mind from our body and spirit, and I like to balance change with acceptance of yourself, your past and what can’t be changed.

Click here to learn more about how I can support and guide you through infertility or prenatal/postpartum concerns.

If you have questions, contact me today for a free initial phone consultation. Ready to make an appointment? I look forward to hearing from you! I’m currently available via telehealth, and all appointments are baby friendly.