Perinatal Mental Health
Specialized, trauma-informed mental health support for pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenthood
Pregnancy and early parenthood can be profoundly meaningful, and also much more emotionally complex than many people expect. Many women who are capable, insightful, and used to functioning at a high level, may find themselves feeling anxious, disconnected, angry, and not quite like themselves.
If you find yourself holding it together on the outside, while struggling internally, you’re far from alone.
I offer specialized, trauma-informed therapy for women navigating the emotional complexity of pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenthood. You deserve care that honors both your strength and your vulnerability.
A season that can bring old things to the surface
The perinatal period is a time of such enormous change. Along with our bodies, our emotions and identities shift. Even when pregnancy is going smoothly and there is lots of support, it can activate vulnerability in ways that feel confusing and unexpected.
You might notice:
Anxiety that feels constant or hard to turn off
Worry about health, safety, responsibility, or identity
Grief for their former self, body, or the life they imagined
Mood changes, irritability, or emotional numbness
Intrusive thoughts or mental images that are distressing
Difficulty feeling bonded to their baby, ambivalence about motherhood, or feeling ashamed of feelings
Old experiences, memories, or beliefs resurfacing unexpectedly
All of these responses are so common - they are NOT personal failings. They make sense in the context of nervous system stress and the huge transition that is parenthood. If you are experiencing any of these things - know that you are not alone and you are not to blame.
Who I Work With
We may be a good fit if you:
Are pregnant, postpartum, or in early parenthood
Tend to be insightful, self-aware, or “high-functioning”
Feel that coping skills alone haven’t fully addressed what’s coming up
Want a thoughtful, collaborative approach rather than a quick fix
Are open to exploring how past experiences, beliefs, or patterns may be affecting the present
You don’t need to be in crisis or have a diagnosis - you deserve support now.
My Approach to Perinatal Therapy
My work is always trauma-informed, relational, and grounded in an understanding of how the nervous system responds to stress, change, and perceived threat.
We might explore:
What your hopes for healing are
What feels most challenging right now, and what we can do to make it easier
How your system learned to cope and protect you
How past experiences might be showing up now
If EMDR may be helpful
Sessions are collaborative and attuned to you. We move at a pace that feels respectful of your capacity and goals.
Common Perinatal Concerns I Work With
I commonly support clients who are navigating:
Perinatal anxiety
Perinatal depression or emotional flattening
Pregnancy/postpartum after loss, infertility, or medical trauma
Birth-related trauma or difficult medical experiences
Identity shifts, grief, or loss of a sense of self
Feelings of resentment, entrapment, or overwhelm related to parenthood
Difficulty connecting with your body, pregnancy, partner, or baby
Together, we’d approach these experiences with curiosity and compassion, not judgment.
What Therapy May Support
Therapy works at different rates and frequencies for everyone. Over time, many clients report:
Feeling more grounded and present
Increased tolerance for uncertainty and emotional intensity
Reduced frequency/intensity of anxiety
Greater self-trust and confidence
More flexibility and compassion in the way they relate to thoughts, emotions, and identity
Progress looks different for each person, and we regularly check in about what feels helpful.
You don’t have to know exactly what you need.
If you’re feeling unsure but curious, that’s enough. Many people reach out simply because something feels heavy or different - and that’s a wonderful place to start.
If you’d like, you can schedule a consultation or send a message. I’m happy to answer any questions and help you decide what kind of support might be most helpful for you during this season.