Perinatal Mental Health Services
Working with a Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C)Therapist for your perinatal health.
What Is Perinatal Mental Health?
Perinatal mental health refers to a person’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being while trying to conceive, during pregnancy, and the first year after birth (postpartum). This period is a major life transition that can bring joy, but also vulnerability.
Perinatal mental health includes experiences such as:
Anxiety during pregnancy or after birth
Postpartum depression
Perinatal OCD (intrusive thoughts, compulsions)
Birth trauma or difficult delivery experiences
Identity shifts, overwhelm, and emotional dysregulation
While these experiences are common, they are often misunderstood, minimized, or stigmatized, especially in communities where mental health is not openly discussed.
Perinatal Mental Health Matters
Perinatal mental health impacts the entire family system, including bonding, attachment, and long-term child development.
When mental health needs go unsupported, it can affect:
A parent’s ability to feel connected and present
Emotional regulation within the household
Infant attachment and developmental outcomes
Generational patterns of coping and resilience
The good news: perinatal mental health conditions are highly treatable with the right support.
What Is a PMH-C?
A PMH-C (Perinatal Mental Health-Certified) professional is a clinician who has received specialized training and certification in perinatal mental health through Postpartum Support International.
This certification means your provider has advanced knowledge in:
Screening and diagnosing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
Understanding the biological, hormonal, and cultural factors impacting mental health
Providing evidence-based, perinatal-specific interventions
Supporting both pregnancy and postpartum experiences
Why Work with a PMH-C Therapist?
Not all therapists are trained in the nuances of perinatal care. Working with a PMH-C ensures you are receiving specialized, informed, and compassionate support during one of the most sensitive times in your life.
A PMH-C therapist can:
Help you understand intrusive thoughts, anxiety, or mood changes
Support nervous system regulation and emotional resilience
Provide culturally affirming care that honors your identity and family structure
Help you build a healthy, secure attachment with your baby
All while being informed in perinatal mental health research and practices that are research-based.
A Culturally Affirming Approach to Care
For many Latina and first-generation mothers, perinatal mental health is shaped by:
Cultural expectations around motherhood and sacrifice
Family roles and intergenerational patterns
Immigration experiences and support systems
Stigma around asking for help
Working with a therapist who understands these layers can make all the difference. You deserve care that sees you as a whole person.
You Deserve Support
Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, anxious, or simply not like yourself, support is available.
Seeking help is a step toward healing, connection, and generational change.