perinatal and postpartum therapy

A person holding an infant against their chest, with the infant's legs hanging down and their arm wrapped around the baby, captured indoors with warm lighting.

when joy isn’t the only thing you’re feeling

For many new parents, the arrival of a baby brings a complex mix of emotions — love, awe, exhaustion… and sometimes, feelings that are harder to name.

If you’re feeling both joy and sadness, or joy and anxiety, you’re not alone.
About 1 in 5 new parents experience some kind of emotional or mental health challenge during pregnancy or after birth.

This doesn’t mean you’re failing. It doesn’t mean you’re not a good parent.
It means your nervous system — already under so much pressure — is asking for support.

Let’s talk about what that can look like.

A newborn baby with tiny fingers holding an adult's finger.

baby blues or something more?

It’s very common to feel tearful, overwhelmed, or emotionally tender in the first couple of weeks after giving birth — this is often called the "baby blues." These feelings usually fade on their own within about two weeks.

But if your symptoms continue beyond that window — or they start weeks or months later — it may be something more.

A woman breastfeeding her infant on a bed in a softly lit room.

what are perinatal mood and anxiety disorders?

Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) are a group of emotional and mental health conditions that can show up anytime during pregnancy or within the first year postpartum. They include:

  • Postpartum Depression

  • Postpartum Anxiety

  • Perinatal/Postpartum OCD

  • Postpartum Psychosis (a rare but serious condition requiring immediate care)

These conditions are common, treatable, and nothing to be ashamed of. With support, healing is absolutely possible.

postpartum depression: when it feels like you’ve lost yourself

Postpartum depression can feel like you’re watching your life happen from a distance — like you’ve somehow disappeared from your own experience.

You might notice:

  • A low mood most days

  • Feeling overwhelmed, numb, guilty, or angry

  • Trouble eating or sleeping that isn’t just about your baby’s schedule

  • Feeling disconnected from your baby — or avoiding time together altogether

  • A sense that you've lost touch with who you are

It can feel lonely. But you don’t have to navigate this alone

A woman is dressing a baby on a changing table in a home or hospital setting.

postpartum OCD: the “what if” spiral

OCD in the perinatal period can feel especially scary because the intrusive thoughts often center around the baby — even thoughts that feel completely out of character or deeply distressing.

You might notice:

  • Unwanted, intrusive thoughts about harm coming to your baby — or even about causing harm, despite having no desire to do so

  • Repetitive behaviors or rituals (like constant checking, cleaning, or seeking reassurance) to try and feel in control

  • Avoiding situations or caregiving tasks out of fear

  • Feeling ashamed or afraid to tell anyone what you’re thinking

These thoughts can feel terrifying — but they are symptoms, not truths.
You are not alone in this, and with support, you can feel more grounded and safe in your relationship with your baby.

Learn more about postpartum OCD in my 3/27/2025 blog post

A woman with long blonde hair sitting with her eyes closed, embracing a child. The room is dimly lit with sunlight coming through a window, creating a peaceful and intimate atmosphere.

postpartum anxiety: always on, always bracing

While depression may feel heavy and low, anxiety tends to be loud and relentless — a racing mind that won’t quiet, even when your baby is finally asleep.

Common signs include:

  • Constant or near-constant worry

  • Racing thoughts or the need to “get everything just right”

  • Trouble sleeping or eating (again, not just because of baby’s needs)

  • Irritability, restlessness, or difficulty concentrating

  • Physical symptoms like muscle pain, headaches, GI discomfort, or shortness of breath

You may feel like your body is always bracing — for something bad, for something wrong, for something you might miss.

A woman and a baby lying on a bed, facing each other, with the woman softly touching the baby's hand.
Close-up of a baby cradled in an adult's arms, with focus on the baby's fist and clothing, black and white photo.

you’re not broken —

you’re a human in transition

The journey into parenthood is massive — emotionally, physically, and spiritually. And while it’s often portrayed as purely joyful, the truth is: many people feel cracked open by it.

There’s no shame in needing help. There’s only strength in reaching for it.

If anything here sounds familiar, I’m here to listen — with warmth, without judgment, and with tools that can support your healing.
You deserve to feel like you again — grounded, connected, and supported.
A woman holding a baby close to her face, both with their eyes closed, sharing a tender moment.

Perinatal & postpartum therapy supports:

  • Grieving pregnancy loss, birth trauma, infertility challenges
  • Boundaries and communication
  • Loneliness or tension in your relationships
  • The transition into motherhood 
  • Shift in dynamics with your partner
  • Adjusting the family system to a new baby
  • Changes in intimacy, sex, and connection