Individual & couples counseling for pregnancy and postpartum in nashville, tn
Perinatal & postpartum counseling
Perinatal mental health therapy in nashville, tn
“Being Told to “enJoy every minute,” while undertaking such psychologically and physically demanding work, is a peculiar type of societal gaslighting.”
-Lucy Jones, Matresence: On the metamorphosis of Pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood
I am a perinatal mental health therapist in Nashville, TN for individuals and couples navigating fertility, pregnancy, and adjusting to life with a new baby. The perinatal period refers to the period of pregnancy through one year postpartum and is a time of major transition for individuals and families.
Pregnancy and postpartum counseling can provide support, skills, and guidance through one of the biggest transitions any of us have gone through. There are a lot of ‘shoulds’ and stigma around this period that make the transition even harder than it already is. Whether you are wanting proactive care or are currently experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, overwhelm, or relationship struggle, I’m here to help you understand what’s going on in your body and create a plan to find relief.
I’m here to help with:
+ identity shifts and loss of self
+ adjustment to parenthood
+ nicu & medical complications
+ fertility struggles & Pregnancy after loss
+ postpartum depression
+ postpartum anxiety
+ birth trauma / traumatic deliveries
+ pregnancy anxiety, INTRUSIVE thoughts, and postpartum ocd
My approach to perinatal and postpartum therapy
My work draws from my specialized training in marriage and family therapy, complex trauma and PTSD, attachment theory, and perinatal mental health. I have advanced specialization in:
-Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)
-Gottman Level I and EFT Externship for couples therapy
-marriage and family work in attachment, family systems, and family life transitions
Despite my trainings, what we know is that the therapeutic relationship between client and therapist is what ultimately creates change. I am warm, witty, compassionately confrontational, and love to do “call you out” therapy grounded in radical acceptance and care. Learn more about my approach here.
My Nashville therapy office is in a cozy, ranch-home-turned-therapy-house in the eclectic neighborhood of Berry Hill. While online therapy can be flexible and convenient, my clients often find that in-person therapy is especially grounding during pregnancy and postpartum.
Being in person allows for you to really focus on yourself and not squeeze a session in around all your other obligations. It allows for a sense of containment, and a physically calming environment that is so vital to our sense of feeling regulated. Sessions feel like a pause rather than something else to have to check off the list.
who I work with
I work with individuals and couples across the pregnancy and birth lifespan. This includes therapy for people who aren’t sure if they want kids, waiting to try (“WTT”) and pre-pregnancy support, currently pregnant individuals, postpartum parents, folks adjusting to life after a newborn, and those who might be experiencing a current perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (PMADs). If you’re not sure if you’re a good fit, reach out and we can schedule a call to talk through it.
TraumA & Perinatal mental health
Many of my clients have previous trauma histories, including complex trauma and PTSD. They want therapy for healing trauma before having kids. Other clients are looking for therapy for traumatic birth or postpartum. However trauma might have impacted you, I work with individuals and couples who want to do their own therapy work prior to or as they transition into parenthood.
What sessions look like
Our first steps will be to determine your goals for treatment and assess any potential symptoms you might be experiencing. Then, our therapy can focus on things like reducing anxiety, panic and intrusive thoughts; addressing depression, numbness, or overwhelm; and building coping skills that are realistic with a baby. We might work through difficult or traumatic birth experiences, or work towards connecting you with your evolving sense of identity after such a major life transition.
Make today the day that things change.
the process:
I offer a free, 15 minute phone call to talk through your goals and see if we might be a good fit. You can choose a time slot or email me for more information using the link on the left.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Perinatal mental health therapy focuses on the mental well-being during the period of pregnancy and until the first year after childbirth. It generally includes concerns like postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, pregnancy-related anxiety, birth trauma, and the adjustment into parenthood.
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Its difficult to know sometimes what is “normal” postpartum (re: ‘normal’ still being one of the biggest transitions of your life) and when there might be a mental health concern. If you’re experiencing persistent sadness, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, irritability, panic, emotion numbness, or feeling overwhelmed it can be good to get a professional opinion.
Many people seek postpartum therapy in Nashville not because something is “wrong”, but because becoming a parent has felt heavier than expected. You don’t need a diagnosis in order to get support. Things feeling off is enough of a reason.
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I provide in person therapy in Nashville for a range of postpartum and perinatal mental health disorders, including:
Postpartum depression
Postpartum anxiety
Perinatal OCD and anxiety disorders
Birth trauma
Paternal mental health disorders
Pregnancy-related anxiety and intrusive thoughts
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I generally prefer seeing clients in person for therapy in Berry Hill; being in person allows you to fully step out of the chaos and into a safe, private space. That said, virtual therapy allows for flexibility and accessibility that can’t be beat. Reach out today for my updated in person and virtual availability.
