Perinatal Therapy: Your Support Through Every Stage

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) offers a powerful framework for supporting perinatal mental health by helping mothers develop psychological flexibility and mindful awareness of their experiences without judgment. Unlike traditional approaches that focus on eliminating difficult thoughts or feelings, ACT empowers mothers to embrace the profound changes of motherhood while staying connected to their values and taking meaningful action, even in the presence of challenging emotions. Through its core components of mindfulness, acceptance, values-based living, and behavioral activation, ACT provides practical tools for mothers to navigate postpartum depression and anxiety while building resilience and self-compassion - making it particularly well-suited for the unique challenges of the perinatal period.

Trauma-informed perinatal care recognizes that past experiences, including childhood trauma, previous pregnancy losses, or birth trauma, can significantly impact a mother's experience during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum - creating a therapeutic environment that prioritizes safety, trust, and choice in every interaction. This approach emphasizes understanding how trauma affects the nervous system and attachment, while empowering mothers to recognize their triggers, set meaningful boundaries, and develop personalized coping strategies that honor their unique experiences and cultural background. By integrating physical and emotional safety planning, validating the complex emotions that arise during the perinatal period, and supporting mothers in building secure attachments with their babies, trauma-informed care helps women navigate this vulnerable transition while fostering resilience and healing at their own pace.

I highlight and reinforce innate strengths and resiliency of the women I work with. We mindfully process intense emotions as they arise to build coping skills that feel most relevant. I support connections to community resources. Combating the pressure to be perfect is essential, as coping with anxiety, depression and trauma symptoms cannot be done without compassion

My approach to perinatal mental health acknowledges that maternal wellness is deeply impacted by systemic inequities, including racism, economic disparities, and barriers to healthcare access - recognizing that mental health support must consider the intersectional experiences of each mother's identity, culture, and social context. I actively work to create an inclusive therapeutic space (while recognizing my privilege & power) that validates the impact of oppression on maternal mental health while advocating for mothers to receive equitable support in healthcare, workplace, and family systems, understanding that individual healing is interconnected with community wellbeing and social change. Through this lens, I support mothers in developing resilience and self-advocacy skills while honoring their cultural strengths, challenging internalized stigma around mental health and motherhood, and connecting them with community resources that align with their values and needs.