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About Perinatal Mental Health

Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) affect 1 in 5 expecting and new parents, occurring during pregnancy and up to the first year after birth.

Individuals with a prior history of depression or anxiety are at significantly higher risk—68% are more likely to experience symptoms again during pregnancy or the postpartum period, and about half will experience symptoms as early as the first trimester.

Despite how common these conditions are, many people do not seek help due to shame, stigma, and uncertainty about where to find support.

PMADs encompass a wide range of conditions beyond postpartum depression, including prenatal and postpartum anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, and postpartum psychosis.

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Experts in Hormonal Mental Health from Younger to Older Adulthood

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Pregnancy loss/fertility challenges

Over 70% of people who experience recurrent miscarriage (and more than 60% non-gestational partners) report anxiety as do over 60% non-gestational partners

Early in Life: Care for Young Adults

Support for young adults as they launch independent lives sets individuals up for success.

For the Partner to be: Non-birthing Parent Mental Health

1 in 10 nonbirthing parents experience perinatal anxiety. First time parents are at greater risk during pregnancy and immediately after birth. Symptoms are often under-recognized

Later in Life: Premenopause

Perimenopause causes significant fluctuations in reproductive hormones including estrogen and progesterone and many people are sensitive to these changes.

Transition To Parenthood

The transition to becoming a parent involves enormous shifts in identity, relationship and routine. Parents commonly feel uncertain, overwhelmed and disconnected to loved ones during this adjustment.

Perinatal Period

The perinatal- including trying to conceive, pregnancy, postpartum – period is an especially vulnerable time filled with joy, anticipation and challenges. We offer expert counseling on medication risks and benefits, lifestyle modifications, and social support during this uniquely special and challenging time.

LGBTQIA+ Affirming

We celebrate the diverse identities of every client, especially those within the LGBTQIA+ community, fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.

Neurodivergence

We work together to thoughtfully explore whether neurodiversity may be present, supporting you in understanding and honoring the unique ways your brain functions.

Psychiatric Care for the Older Adult

Supporting wellness and independence, we evaluate cognitive function, address loneliness and improve quality of life

Pregnancy loss/fertility challenges

Over 70% of people who experience recurrent miscarriage (and more than 60% non-gestational partners) report anxiety as do over 60% non-gestational partners

Over 50% of people who experience recurrent miscarriage experience depression as do 19% of their partners

Challenging symptoms may include grief, isolation, guilt, anger, trauma, flashbacks, nightmares, stressed primary relationships
The physical toll of multiple miscarriages can exacerbate emotional distress.

The cumulative effect of subsequent losses often causes increasing exhaustion, stress, and fear. If a future pregnancy occurs, the adult is at higher risk for anxiety and depression.

Family and friends often struggle to provide support in a way that feels helpful to the person/couple grieving the loss of a pregnancy.

Prenatal Onset: A surprising 50% of all PMAD cases begin during pregnancy, not just after birth.

Non-birthing Parent Mental Health:

1 in 10 nonbirthing parents experience perinatal anxiety. First time parents are at greater risk during pregnancy and immediately after birth. Symptoms are often under-recognized and can include

Irritability and anger which may be expressed as frustration, overwhelm, sudden outbursts.
Physical symptoms: headaches, insomnia, digestive upset
Pronounced worry about baby’s health and safety or general and uncontrollable anxiety.
Withdrawal: Avoidance of loved ones, family, social situations, and responsibilities.
Difficulty concentrating, low motivation, impulsivity.

These anxiety and depressive symptoms are treatable and often magnified by sleep deprivation, evolving identity, relationship issues, and financial stressors.

Parents with a history of anxiety and/or depression are at greater risk

A partner with perinatal depression or anxiety increases the risk for the other parent to develop symptoms.

Research shows that non-birthing partners experience hormonal changes during and after their partner’s pregnancy, including declining testosterone.

Adults who are highly sensitive to hormonal shifts are at greater risk for developing anxiety and depression.

Non-birthing partners want to be part of the newborn experience but can often feel like ‘outsiders’ as their partner focuses on caring for the baby.

Transition to Parenthood

The transition to becoming a parent involves enormous shifts in identity, relationship and routine. Parents commonly feel uncertain, overwhelmed and disconnected to loved ones during this adjustment. Up to 80% of postpartum parents experience the ‘baby blues’ within the first two weeks of giving birth. The ‘blues’ is caused by the abrupt change in hormones in the earliest days following birth and is not an illness. Feelings of sadness, rapid mood changes, irritability and extreme sensitivity are common and, with good social support, usually resolve on their own within two weeks.

Early in life: Care for Young Adults

Support for young adults as they launch independent lives sets individuals up for success.

Emphasizing holistic and collaborative assessments, we develop personalized treatment plans in partnership with clients and integrated care teams including therapists and primary care providers as desired.

Later in Life: Perimenopause

Perimenopause causes significant fluctuations in reproductive hormones including estrogen and progesterone and many people are sensitive to these changes. Estrogen and progesterone affect mood-regulating neurotransmitters and leave individuals vulnerable to mental health challenges, even if you’ve never experienced difficulties in the past.

Perimenopausal mood changes are a common concern and can cause a lot of discomfort but can be treated.

Common mood concerns include anxiety, depression, irritability, mood swings, poor concentration.

Common physiological symptoms include brain fog, hot flashes/night sweats, and disrupted sleep. These changes often co-occur with peak career pressures, raising children and caring for older parents.

These symptoms are very responsive to therapy, supportive medication options, and hormone replacement therapy as appropriate.