Seeing Red: Acknowledging, Addressing, and Treating Postpartum Rage

In this course, Dr. S. Anandavalli (Ph.D., LPC, NCC, founder of Soulfulness Counselling) acknowledges the multiple barriers to recognising post-partum rage (for both clinicians and their post-partum clients) and expressing it (for the clients). Dr. Anandavalli points out how the myriad non-specific symptoms of post-partum rage can mean that it may be attributed to other factors; it is also not recognised as a diagnosis in the DSM-5-TR. Moreover, she explains at length the sociocultural barriers that prevent women from expressing anger generally, and post-partum rage specifically. In addition to flagging the need to normalise and validate clients’ feelings, Dr. Anandavalli offers numerous coping strategies to reduce clients’ distress, while urging clinicians to integrate cultural sensitivity in their suggestions.