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Postpartum mood disorders

Postpartum depression & anxiety

1 in 5 women experience a postpartum mood or anxiety disorder. The vast majority of them won't get treated — because the screening is inadequate, the symptoms get dismissed as 'normal new mom stuff,' or finding a specialist takes weeks. Our therapists treat postpartum the first time you ask.

Postpartum depression & anxiety
In-Network Coverage

Most major insurances accepted.

In-network plans
AetnaAllied Benefit SystemsBCBS TennesseeBCBS TexasBlueCareCignaMagellanMeritainOptumTricareUHC CommercialUHC CommunityUMRUnitedHealthcareVAWellpoint
Self-pay & flexible
Self-PayHSA / FSASliding ScaleDeep Sliding Scale(*spots limited)

Don’t see your plan? We sign new contracts a few times a year — ask during intake and we’ll let you know if yours is being added soon.

You may be experiencing

You don’t have to talk yourself into seeking help.

  • Crying that doesn't match what's happening
  • A flat, numb feeling — not sad exactly, just empty
  • Rage that surprises you, especially toward your partner
  • Intrusive thoughts about your baby getting hurt
  • Compulsive checking, washing, or counting
  • Feeling like you're a bad mother no matter what you do
  • Disconnection from the baby — wondering if you should have done this
  • Panic attacks, racing heart, doom
  • Insomnia that persists even when the baby sleeps
  • Birth trauma flashbacks or avoidance of medical settings

If any of the above sounds like what’s happening for you — or someone you love — that’s a clinical signal, not a personality flaw. Our specialists treat it with the seriousness it deserves.

Who we work with

Care for the woman the standard system overlooks.

  • New mothers in the first year postpartum (and well beyond — postpartum doesn't end at 12 months)
  • Women experiencing intrusive thoughts or postpartum OCD
  • Mothers processing birth trauma — emergency C-section, NICU, hemorrhage, anything that didn't go to plan
  • Adoptive mothers (postpartum mood disorders affect adoptive parents too)
  • Women whose previous pregnancy ended in loss and are now postpartum with a living baby
How we work

Our approach to postpartum depression & anxiety.

Postpartum depression and anxiety are physiological, not failures of love or strength. Our clinicians treat them with evidence-based approaches — CBT for thought patterns, behavioral activation for depression, ERP for postpartum OCD, EMDR for birth trauma — within a framework that takes the postpartum identity shift seriously.

Many of our postpartum clients are in concurrent medication management. The medications considered safest during breastfeeding (sertraline, etc.) have decades of data and are generally lower-risk than untreated severe symptoms. The decision is yours — we provide the data.

Sessions are virtual when getting to an office isn't realistic. Many of our therapists hold space for nursing during session, baby-in-arms, or 30-minute formats when the baby's nap window is shorter than 60 minutes.

What to expect

From first call to first session.

  1. 01

    Same-week first session

    Postpartum mood disorders intensify quickly. We treat the first call as urgent and aim for a session within the same week.

  2. 02

    Flexibility for new-baby reality

    Virtual is the default. Sessions can be paused/restarted when the baby cries, rescheduled around feeding, or reduced to 30 minutes when needed.

  3. 03

    Postpartum OCD-specific care

    If your intrusive thoughts include images of harming the baby — that's postpartum OCD, not psychosis. It's treatable, common, and our clinicians use ERP and CBT specifically for it. You will not be reported.

Frequently asked

Common questions about postpartum depression & anxiety.

Are intrusive thoughts dangerous?+

No — and they're a normal symptom of postpartum OCD, which affects up to 1 in 10 new mothers. Intrusive thoughts about the baby being hurt are NOT a sign that you'll act on them. Postpartum psychosis is different and rare; our clinicians can tell the difference and triage appropriately.

What about postpartum psychosis?+

Postpartum psychosis is a medical emergency requiring same-day psychiatric evaluation. If you're seeing or hearing things others don't, having severe paranoia, or thoughts you might act on — call 988 or go to an emergency room. We can support before and after acute care.

Can I bring the baby to session?+

Yes, virtual or in-person. Most of our clinicians prefer it that way for the postpartum window.

How long does postpartum therapy take?+

Average is 12–20 sessions for an uncomplicated postpartum mood episode, longer for trauma or OCD. Most clients feel meaningful change by session 6 — clinically validated as the median for evidence-based care.

I'm 18 months postpartum and still struggling — am I 'too late'?+

No. The DSM artificially defined postpartum as the first 12 months but symptoms can emerge or persist much later — especially with sleep disruption, weaning, or returning to work. The duration doesn't change the treatment.

Postpartum depression & anxiety is also referred to as PPD therapy, postpartum anxiety treatment, postpartum OCD therapist, birth trauma therapy, new mom therapy, and matrescence support. Whatever you call it, our specialists treat it.

Ready to start?

Same-week availability, in-network with major insurance, and a specialist who actually treats postpartum depression & anxiety as their main work.