Online Pregnancy Therapy in Winston-Salem, NC| Postpartum Depression Therapist in North Carolina
Therapy for overwhelmed parents
You’ve been looking forward to this day for years. You’ve been trying to get pregnant, and it's finally here. You’re getting ready to step into the next chapter of your life. Even though this is likely a welcomed change, preparing for a baby can feel overwhelming, resulting in increased anxiety, low mood, and general ups and downs in mood. Pregnancy and the perinatal period can bring joy, but they can also bring unexpected stress, fear, and emotional challenges. You’re feeling not like yourself and not sure what to do.
I provide online pregnancy therapy, prenatal therapy, and postpartum mental health support in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and across the state of North Carolina. Rooted in the Triad, I often work with mothers who are located in Winston-Salem, Greensboro, High-Point, and the surrounding rural areas, including Clemmons, Kernersville, King, Mount Airy, Boone, Lexington, and Elkin. I often work with mothers who are navigating services at Novant Health and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
As a clinical health psychologist with over a decade of clinical experience, I help women and their partners who are struggling with pregnancy anxiety, prenatal depression, postpartum depression, intrusive thoughts, and the emotional transition into parenthood. I am a licensed to provide therapy in the state of North Carolina, and I enjoy helping women and their partners navigate the emotional complexities of pregnancy, birth preparation, and early parenthood with compassion and evidence-based care.
Prenatal and Perinatal Mental Health Therapy
Prenatal and perinatal are two sides to the same coin. Prenatal mental health focuses on emotional wellness during pregnancy, whereas perinatal mental health includes both pregnancy and the first year after birth. At any point in your pregnancy or postpartum journey, you may find yourself needing more support.
Pregnancy Anxiety and Depression
It is not uncommon for women to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum. Despite this common occurrence, many women feel scared to talk about it.
Signs you may need therapy while pregnant and postpartum:
Constant worry about the baby’s health
Difficulty sleeping due to racing thoughts
Irritability or mood swings
Feeling tearful or numb
Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
Physical tension or restlessness
Guilt about not feeling “grateful enough”
Talking with a trained pregnancy and postpartum therapist can be helpful process these feelings.
Pregnancy Therapy FAQ
Should I seek Prenatal Therapy Before the Baby Arrives?
The prenatal stage is more than medical appointments and nursery planning. It is also a major developmental transition. Your brain, body, relationships, and sense of self are all adjusting.
Prenatal therapy provides a safe, confidential space to:
Reduce anxiety and intrusive thoughts
Stabilize mood changes
Process grief, trauma, or previous loss
Prepare emotionally for childbirth and postpartum
Strengthen coping skills before your baby arrives
Provide support along the journey
Identify your support system
Create realistic expectations about motherhood
Caring for your mental health during the prenatal period is not selfish — it is foundational. Research shows that supporting maternal mental health during pregnancy benefits both mother and baby.
You do not have to wait until postpartum to seek support. Early intervention during pregnancy can make the transition into motherhood feel steadier, more grounded, and more supported.
When should my partner see a therapist before the baby arrives?
Having a baby is a big identity shift for partners too. Even though our partners may not be growing the child, they are also preparing for a big life-transition and are often pressured into stepping more into the provider role and be encouraged to engage in more caregiving work in the home. It’s common for our partners to feel unprepared for this transition.
Your partner should reach out to a therapist if they are experiencing the following symptoms:
Seem overwhelmed or shutdown
Irritable
Emotionally distant
Financial anxiety
Fear of labor complications
Health anxiety
Change in sleep
Changes in communication
History of anxiety or depression
Increased use of unhealthy coping strategies
Struggling with identity shift
You’re worried about them
As a clinical health psychologist with over a decade of experience, I’ve worked with many partners who are preparing for the birth of their first child. Working with a prenatal therapist, we can strengthen coping skills, improve communication, establish realistic expectations, and identify a plan to navigate this upcoming life transition.
Does insurance cover pregnancy therapy in North Carolina?
Yes, insurance covers pregnancy support, with co-payments often ranging from $0-$30. I am in-network with Aetna, Meritain Health, BCBS, Aetna State Health Plan, and Medcost. All email inquires will be responded to within 24-hours.
Postpartum Depression & Anxiety Therapy
Are you searching for help with postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, or intrusive thoughts after having a baby? You are not alone — and effective treatment is available.
The postpartum period can bring intense emotional and hormonal changes. Many women experience symptoms that go beyond the “baby blues,” including persistent sadness, excessive worry, panic attacks, irritability, or difficulty bonding with their baby.
What are common postpartum mental health concerns?
You may be experiencing:
Postpartum depression symptoms
Postpartum anxiety and constant worry
Postpartum OCD or intrusive thoughts
Postpartum rage and irritability
Panic attacks after childbirth
Birth trauma or traumatic delivery
Difficulty sleeping even when the baby sleeps
Feeling disconnected from your baby
Fear of returning to work after maternity leave
Overwhelm adjusting to new motherhood
Postpartum depression and anxiety can begin anytime within the first year after childbirth but often go undiagnosed.
Postpartum Therapy FAQ
Do I have postpartum depression?
Postpartum depression (PPD) is more common than many people realize — and it often doesn’t look the way people expect. Many parents think it means “crying all day” or “not loving your baby,” but it can show up in much quieter or more internal ways.
Women with postpartum depression may feel:
Tearful
Overwhelmed
Irritable
Feeling empty
Feeling like a bad parent
Intrusive thoughts and catastrophic thinking
Exhaustion
Difficulty sleeping
Withdrawn from others
Avoiding caring for the baby
Feeling shut down
Feel like you’re doing everything right but “empty”
Difficulty relaxing
Resentful
Feeling like you’ve lost yourself after becoming a parent
When should I seek immediate therapy for postpartum depression?
If you start experiencing symptoms of:
Thoughts of hurting yourself
Thoughts of hurting your child
Feeling like your family would be better off without you
Hearing of seeing things others don’t
What is postpartum anxiety?
Postpartum anxiety is a mental health condition that can develop after having a baby. While many people are familiar with postpartum depression, anxiety after childbirth is actually just as common — and sometimes even more intense.
It goes beyond normal new-parent worry. Postpartum anxiety feels persistent, intrusive, and hard to control.
What are symptoms of postpartum anxiety?
Symptoms of postpartum anxiety:
Constant worry about the baby’s health or safety
Racing thoughts that won’t slow down
Feeling “on edge” all the time
Trouble sleeping — even when the baby sleeps
A sense of dread that something bad is about to happen
Replaying “what if” scenarios repeatedly
You might look calm on the outside but feel like your nervous system is in overdrive internally.
Postpartum anxiety may present both physically and emotionally as:
Excessive or uncontrollable worry
Intrusive thoughts (often about harm coming to the baby)
Irritability
Difficulty concentrating
Feeling mentally restless
Racing heart
Tight chest
Shortness of breath
Nausea
Dizziness
Muscle tension
Speaking with a therapist can help you develop tools to better manage your anxiety.
When should I get help during pregnancy or after having a baby?
There are many reasons why you might want to seek therapy during pregnancy and the perinatal period.
The most common reasons are listed as followed:
Anxiety during pregnancy
Panic attacks while pregnant
Fear of labor or childbirth
High-risk pregnancy stress
Previous miscarriage or pregnancy loss
Trauma related to prior birth
Relationship strain during pregnancy
Depression during pregnancy
Feeling emotionally disconnected or overwhelmed
Difficulty adjusting to becoming a parent
Experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression and/or anxiety.
What is Evidence-Based Treatment for Postpartum Depression and Anxiety?
Postpartum mental health conditions are highly treatable with evidence-based therapy. Treatment may include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for postpartum depression and anxiety
Treatment for intrusive thoughts and postpartum OCD
Trauma-informed therapy for birth trauma
Support for maternal identity transitions
Coping strategies for sleep deprivation and overwhelm
Mindfulness-based stress reduction
Relationship and communication support
Therapy provides a confidential space to reduce anxiety, stabilize mood, rebuild confidence, and strengthen emotional connection.
Does insurance cover postpartum therapy in North Carolina?
Yes, insurance covers postpartum support, with co-payments ranging from $0-$30. I am in-network with Aetna, Meritain Health, BCBS, Aetna State Health Plan, and Medcost. All email inquires will be responded to within 24-hours. Reach out today!
How to choose a pregnancy therapist in North Carolina
When choosing a therapist, you may want someone who has a shared lived experience and the clinical training to help you navigate your concerns. In my personal life, I’ve been a stay-at-home mom, working mom, and understand the challenges of pregnancy and postpartum. I get the challenges of navigating motherhood, working life, and bringing tiny humans into this world.
Professionally, I’m rooted in Winston-Salem, North Carolina but provide telehealth services to all of North Carolina. I often work with pregnant mothers who are navigating services at Novant Health and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. I also work with mothers who are located in Winston-Salem, Clemmons, Kernersville, Yadkinville, Tobaccoville, Statesville, Mocksville, King, and Mount Airy. I’m a clinical health psychologist with over a decade of experience, working with men and women in both the inpatient and outpatient setting.
Pregnancy changes your body, your brain, your relationships, and your identity. Having professional support during this transition can make an enormous difference.
Therapy can help you:
Cope with uncertainty
Manage catastrophic thinking
Reduce health-related anxiety
Process medical trauma
Feel more grounded between appointments
Support during pregnancy and postpartum is not a luxury — it is necessary care for you and your baby.