Dropping the Baby and Other Scary Thoughts: Breaking the Cycle of Unwanted Thoughts in Parenthood

This accessible guide addresses the nature of the intrusive and unwanted thoughts that can be common in new parenthood, and offers practical answers and advice on how to tackle these.

With fresh material focusing on how to overcome barriers to disclosure and stigma, and updated treatment approaches and case descriptions, this revised edition explains exactly what these negative thoughts are, why they come about, and what can be done about them. Chapters offer information on the specific nature of perinatal anxiety and related disorders, along with take-home points and evidence-based strategies for symptom relief that clinicians can use effectively with new parents.

Written by two leading clinicians in the perinatal community, in collaboration with two promising leaders in this specialized field, Dropping the Baby and Other Scary Thoughts, 2^nd edition offers a compassionate approach to breaking the cycle of scary thoughts that is invaluable to new parents and clinicians alike.

Karen Kleiman, MSW, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker and internationally recognized expert on maternal mental health. With over 30 years 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, a treatment and training facility for prenatal and postpartum depression and anxiety disorders.

Amy Wenzel, PhD, ABPP, is the owner and director of the Main Line Center for Evidence-Based Psychotherapy, faculty at the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and a trainer-consultant for the Academy of Cognitive Therapy. She is the author and editor of many books on topics such as cognitive therapy, cognitive research methods, and close relationships, and also sits on the editorial board of Cognitive and Behavioral Practice.

Hilary Waller, LPC, is the director of programming at The Postpartum Stress Center. She provides continuing education for maternal health care providers in the identification and treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and leads advanced trainings for professionals from around the country.

Abby Adler Mandel, PhD, is an assistant professor in psychology at the Catholic University of America and adjunct faculty at the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Her areas of research and clinical expertise include depression, anxiety, suicide prevention, and cognitive behavior therapy.