ABSTRACT
The pressure to be a good mother is at an all-time high. Moms are surrounded by neighborly supermoms characterized by exaggerated and romantic portrayals of what motherhood should look like. Good enough, to a mother, can feel like a reference to a minimal effort, as if anything less than perfect is substandard. But most postpartum women in distress who come for relief are seeking that message: that good enough is good enough. In general, breaking rules on behalf of postpartum women emerges from the conviction that their emotions are unpredictable, their egos are fragile, and their needs are urgent. The therapist is in a position to become an authentic attachment figure for the postpartum woman in distress through engaged empathy and becomes a reliable source of safety and support. Boundaries frame the therapeutic relationship and are put in place to protect both the therapist and the client.
