A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding and Starting Perinatal Therapy

Finding the Right Tools for Your Unique Struggle

There is no "one-size-fits-all" solution to perinatal mental health. The best therapeutic approach for someone with birth trauma may be different from the best approach for someone with perinatal OCD. A skilled therapist will draw from a variety of modalities to create a plan that is tailored to you.

The Importance of an Evidence-Based, Integrated Approach

Our approach is integrated, meaning we combine the best, most effective techniques from different therapeutic models to meet your specific needs. It is also evidence-based, which means our methods are backed by scientific research and have been proven to be effective for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.

What is a Perinatal Mental Health Certified (PMH-C) Therapist?

A Specialist for a Specialized Time

The most important part of our approach is our specialization. All of our therapists have advanced training in perinatal mental health. Many hold the Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C) from Postpartum Support International.

The Rigorous Training and Certification Process

The PMH-C credential signifies that a provider has completed a rigorous training program and passed a comprehensive exam covering all aspects of perinatal mental health. This is your assurance that your therapist has a deep, expert-level understanding of the unique challenges you are facing, from the nuances of 

matrescence to the complexities of medication management. Our guide on perinatal mental health certification explains this in more detail.

Our Core Therapeutic Approaches

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Changing Your Thought Patterns

• What it is: CBT is a practical, skills-based therapy that focuses on the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is highly effective for treating perinatal anxiety and depression.
• How it helps: A CBT therapist helps you identify the negative, automatic thought patterns (like "I am a bad mother") that are fueling your distress. You will then learn concrete skills to challenge and reframe these thoughts into more balanced and realistic ones.

Psychodynamic Therapy: Understanding Your Past

• What it is: Psychodynamic therapy is an approach that explores how your past experiences, particularly your own childhood and family dynamics, are unconsciously influencing your present feelings and behaviors.
• How it helps: This approach is central to the work of generational healing. It can help you understand the root of your triggers and break free from inherited patterns, allowing you to parent in a more conscious and intentional way.

Interpersonal Therapy (IPT): Focusing on Relationships

• What it is: IPT is a time-limited therapy that focuses on the connection between your mood and your relationships.
• How it helps: It is highly effective for postpartum depression, as it directly addresses the common struggles of role transitions (becoming a parent), relationship strain, and social isolation.

Specialized Therapies for Trauma and OCD

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

• What it is: EMDR is a powerful, evidence-based therapy designed to help the brain process and heal from traumatic memories.
• How it helps: It is a primary treatment for birth trauma. It can also be highly effective for treating the intrusive thoughts of perinatal OCD by reducing the emotional charge of the scary thoughts.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD

• What it is: ERP is the gold-standard treatment for OCD. It involves gradually and safely exposing yourself to your obsessive fears while resisting the urge to perform your compulsive rituals.
• How it helps: It retrains your brain to understand that your intrusive thoughts are not dangerous, breaking the cycle of obsession and compulsion.

Somatic (Body-Based) Therapies

• What it is: Somatic therapies are "bottom-up" approaches that focus on the body's physiological responses.
• How it helps: When trauma is stored in the body, these therapies can help release that stored energy and calm a dysregulated perinatal nervous system .

How We Build Your Personalized Care Plan

Starting with Your Story

The first step is always a comprehensive evaluation where you have the space to tell your story. We listen to understand your unique challenges, strengths, and goals for therapy.

An Integrated and Flexible Approach

Your therapist will not rigidly adhere to a single model. They will flexibly integrate the most effective tools from these different approaches to create a care plan that is tailored specifically to you.