Helena · Birmingham · Online in Alabama
Perinatal Mental Health & Postpartum Therapy
Compassionate support through pregnancy, postpartum, and the emotional transitions of parenthood.
You Don’t Have to Navigate This Alone
Pregnancy and the first year after birth can bring joy, and also exhaustion, worry, grief, and changes that are hard to put into words. Physical recovery, shifting hormones, sleep loss, and the learning curve of caring for a new baby can affect how you think and feel.
Struggling during this time doesn’t mean you’re failing or that you love your baby any less. These experiences are common and treatable, and support can help you feel more like yourself again.
Understanding Perinatal Mental Health
“Perinatal” refers to the time during pregnancy and the year after giving birth.
During Pregnancy
Mood and anxiety concerns can begin at any point in pregnancy, sometimes alongside physical discomfort, medical worries, or past losses.
After Birth
Many new parents have a few weeks of “baby blues.” When sadness, anxiety, or overwhelm is more intense or lasts longer, therapy can help.
Every Experience Is Different
There’s no single way this time should feel. Your therapist will take time to understand your story, your body, and your family.
What We Help With
Each person’s experience is unique. These are some of the concerns people bring to therapy.
Pregnancy & Postpartum Depression
Persistent sadness, numbness, or loss of interest during pregnancy or after birth.
Anxiety, Worry & Intrusive Thoughts
Racing worries, panic, or unwanted, upsetting thoughts that feel hard to shake.
Birth Trauma & Difficult Deliveries
Processing a frightening, painful, or unexpected birth experience.
Miscarriage, Pregnancy Loss & Grief
Compassionate space to grieve miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss.
Fertility & Reproductive Transitions
Support through fertility challenges, treatment, and reproductive decisions.
Identity & Relationship Changes
Adjusting to a new sense of self and shifts with a partner, family, or friends.
Overwhelm & Adjusting to Parenthood
Exhaustion, pressure, and the big learning curve of caring for a new baby.
Our Therapeutic Approach
Therapy is individualized, compassionate, and evidence-informed, and each therapist has their own approach.
Emotional Processing
Space to name and work through feelings about pregnancy, birth, loss, or parenthood.
Coping Strategies
Practical tools for anxiety, intrusive thoughts, low mood, and overwhelm.
Trauma-Informed Care
A gentle, paced approach for difficult births, medical experiences, or loss.
Support Systems
Strengthening connection with partners, family, and the support around you.
What to Expect
Getting started is simple, and you can go at a pace that feels right for you.
Initial Consultation
Request an appointment online. Our intake coordinator will follow up and help match you with a therapist.
Assessment
In your first sessions, your therapist learns about your history, current concerns, and strengths.
Collaborative Goal Setting
Together, you’ll decide what you’d like to focus on and how therapy can best support you.
Ongoing Therapy
Meet in person or online, depending on your therapist, and adjust goals as your needs change.
Meet Our Perinatal Therapists
These therapists currently provide counseling for perinatal mental health concerns.
Whitney Gay
Psychotherapist, LICSW
Specific training in pregnancy and postpartum anxiety, depression and PTSD, and support after pregnancy loss.
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Valerie Lawhon
Counselor, LPC, NCC, PMH-C
Holds a Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C) and is trained in EMDR.
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Dr. Haley Beech
Psychotherapist, PhD, LMSW
Doctoral research in maternal health and trauma; supports pregnancy, postpartum, and birth trauma.
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Beth Cook
Counselor, LPC, NCC
Blends approaches to build on each client’s unique strengths.
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Piper Doherty
Psychotherapist, LICSW
Works with anxiety, depression, trauma, attachment concerns, and life transitions.
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Sarah Willis
Psychotherapist, LMSW
A holistic approach to depression, anxiety, grief, and life transitions.
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Teresa Epstein
Psychotherapist, LICSW
A mindful approach to anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and healing from trauma.
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In Partnership With Previa Alliance
Our perinatal therapists work in cooperation with Previa Alliance, a maternal mental health organization that helps connect pregnant and postpartum women with regular screening and dedicated mental health providers.
Getting Started
Ready to begin? Request an appointment, or explore our therapists to find your fit.
If you need help right away. If you’re having thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, feel confused or out of touch with reality, or haven’t been able to sleep for days, please seek care now: call or text 988, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room. For free, confidential support 24/7, call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262).
Questions? Call us at 205.202.9685.