Perinatal & Postpartum Therapy in Washington State

Perinatal and Postpartum Mental Health Can Feel Complicated

But You Don’t Have to Navigate It Alone

Welcoming a baby can bring joy, connection, and a sense of wonder. It can also bring exhaustion, fear, sadness, and moments that feel nothing like what you expected. Maybe your thoughts are racing. Maybe you feel numb. Maybe you are overwhelmed with anxiety or guilt and wondering what is wrong with you. If any of this feels familiar, you are not alone and you are not failing.

One in five women experience emotional or mental health challenges during pregnancy or in the months following birth. These struggles may include intrusive thoughts, sadness, panic, anger, or a sense of disconnection from yourself, your partner, or your baby. These symptoms are real, valid, and treatable with the right support.

Whether you are in Tacoma, Spokane, Vancouver, Bellingham, or anywhere else in Washington State, online therapy can help you feel more supported, steady, and understood in this season.

You deserve care. Schedule your free consultation today and take the first step toward feeling more like 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

  • 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.


  • 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.

What Is Therapy for Perinatal and Postpartum Mental Health?

A Compassionate Space to Be Honest About What You Are Feeling

Therapy during pregnancy and after birth offers a safe and supportive place to talk openly about what you are going through. You do not have to pretend everything is fine. You can come exactly as you are anxious, tired, irritable, unsure, or sad and still be met with care.

At Crescent Moon Therapy, we support women who are navigating a wide range of emotional and mental health challenges during pregnancy, birth, and early motherhood — known as Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs).

These conditions can develop at any point during pregnancy or within the first year after birth and may include:

  • Postpartum Depression

  • Postpartum Anxiety

  • Perinatal or Postpartum OCD

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

  • Birth related trauma

  • Emotional overwhelm and burnout

  • Shame, guilt, or identity loss

These conditions are common, treatable, and nothing to be ashamed of. Therapy is not about fixing you. It is about helping you understand what you are experiencing and giving you tools to reconnect with yourself and the people you love.

If you are feeling stuck, unsteady, or unsure, let us talk about what therapy could look like for you

You’re Not Broken —
You’re A Human In Transition

What to Expect in Therapy?

Gentle Support That Meets You Where You Are

Therapy sessions are 55 minutes long and fully virtual, making it easier to attend from home, your office, or anywhere in Washington. Whether you live in Yakima, Bremerton, Wenatchee, Renton, Federal Way, or Pullman, support is available wherever you are.

In therapy, we will explore what you are feeling, where you may be stuck, and how we can gently begin to shift the patterns that are causing distress. This may include feelings of detachment, frequent crying, racing thoughts, or fears you are afraid to say out loud.

We use a blend of evidence based approaches including:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to work with negative thoughts

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to focus on values based living

  • ERP and ICBT for perinatal OCD and intrusive thoughts

  • Mindfulness and compassion based strategies to calm the nervous system


We will go at your pace. You are always in control of what you share and how we move forward. The goal is to create a space that feels safe and empowering.

Therapy can help you feel more like yourself again. Reach out when you are ready.

Benefits of Therapy for Perinatal and Postpartum Challenges

Feel More Grounded, Connected, and Supported

Perinatal and postpartum therapy can help ease emotional weight and reconnect you with your sense of self. It can also improve how you show up in your relationships, your daily routines, and your experience of motherhood.

Some of the most common benefits include:

  • Improved mood and emotional stability

  • Reduced anxiety, panic, and guilt

  • Less intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors

  • Stronger emotional connection with your baby

  • Better sleep and increased energy

  • More confidence in your role as a parent

  • Clarity around boundaries, identity, and self worth

Therapy is a space to show up exactly as you are — tired, unsure, scared, or simply ready for change. You do not need to be in crisis to ask for help. If you are overwhelmed and ready for support, therapy can be the first step toward healing.

Let’s take that step together. Schedule your free consultation today.

OCD keeps you stuck in loops. Therapy gives you a path forward.

I'm so glad you're here

I'm so glad you're here

Laura Meader

It all starts with trust.

Hi, I’m Laura, a licensed clinical social worker and therapist based in Washington State. I specialize in supporting women who feel anxious, burned out, or overwhelmed by the weight of perfectionism, intrusive thoughts, or the invisible load of daily life. Whether you’re navigating postpartum changes, life transitions, or simply trying to find your way back to yourself, you’re not alone and you don’t have to do it alone.

With a background in maternal mental health, trauma-informed care, and decades of experience working with women, veterans, parents, and professionals, I bring deep compassion and evidence-based care to each session. My approach is warm, collaborative, and rooted in trust. Together, we’ll create space to breathe, process, and reconnect with what matters most to you.

Let’s begin the conversation — schedule your free consultation today.

Schedule Your FREE Consultation Today!