Perinatal Counseling in Denver, Colorado: Mental Health Treatment from Pregnancy to Postpartum
Pregnancy and new motherhood are often described as the happiest time in a woman’s life. But what’s not often talked about are the unexpected challenges that so many, if not most women and new parents face. You might be excitedly anticipating meeting your baby while also feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or even deeply sad. Maybe you’re struggling to get pregnant or grieving a loss you never thought you’d experience. Maybe postpartum depression hit you out of nowhere, or there’s been a slow creep of stress as you’ve returned to work, your baby has faced developmental challenges or your marriage adjusts. The emotional, physical, hormonal and psychological challenges during family planning, pregnancy and postpartum are often unlike any other challenges that you’ve experienced, ever - and this can make women feel totally overwhelmed, confused and unsupported in dealing with them. But there are options for getting help and feeling less alone during this time in your life. In this post we’ll explore what exactly the perinatal period is, different types of perinatal counseling and how to find the right perinatal therapist for you for women in Denver, Greenwood Village, Boulder and throughout the greater Colorado area.
What is Perinatal Counseling?
Let’s start by defining the perinatal period - maybe you’ve heard this term and know it’s related to motherhood and postpartum, but you’re unclear how it’s different, if at all. The perinatal period is generally defined to start at conception, and include pregnancy and the first year postpartum (however some definitions even expand it to include one year before birth and 18-24 months after giving birth, as research shows that hormonal changes can continue to impact women for up to 2 years postpartum). This includes such a wide expanse of time because there are so many issues around conception and childbearing that significantly impact a woman’s physical, hormonal and emotional wellbeing, depending on many unique factors. Many women experience emotional challenges not just during pregnancy but in the time leading up to preparing for family planning and trying to conceive - especially if they are facing (expected or unexpected) fertility challenges. And many women continue to struggle for up to a year or more postpartum depending on different factors like psychosocial stressors, birth experience and the hormonal impact of pregnancy, childbirth, the onset of lacatation, weaning and the re-onset of menstruation.
Perinatal counseling is therapy designed specifically for people in this perinatal period, including the experiences of trying to conceive, fertility challenges and pregnancy loss. It is tailored to the unique emotional and psychological needs that come up during these life experiences - things like coping with hormonal shifts, identity changes, relationship stress, or anxiety about the future.
Unlike general therapy, perinatal counseling takes into account the physiological, emotional, and cultural factors that impact mental health during this time. A perinatal therapist understands how to address complex (and often conflicting) feelings about birth, parenting, womanhood, body image and more.
How to Find Perinatal Therapists in Denver, Greenwood Village, Boulder and All of Colorado
Here are some tips to consider when searching for the right perinatal therapist for you in Denver or anywhere in Colorado:
Look for Specialized Training
Not all therapists are trained to treat perinatal mental health concerns. Look for providers with certifications through organizations like Postpartum Support International (PSI) or advanced training in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs).Check for Telehealth Options
Many therapists in Colorado offer virtual sessions, making it easier to access perinatal counseling when you have a newborn at home, are in your “nesting” phase of pregnancy or simply feel too tired to travel. Whether you live in Denver, Greenwood Village, Boulder, or rural areas of the state, online therapy removes barriers to make perinatal mental health support more accessible.Seek a Therapist Who Feels Like the Right Fit
You deserve a therapist who understands your experiences and makes you feel seen, validated, and supported. A great place to start can be checking on their online directory bio, the feel of their website and skimming some blog posts to see if the issues they talk about resonate with you. From there, you can schedule phone consultations with a few different therapists to see who’s approach you connect with the most.Directories Are Your Friend
Postpartum Support International actually has an online directory of providers who have completed advanced training through their organization. Psychology Today is another popular directory that allows you to search by location and specialty.
Types of Perinatal Counseling
There’s a wide variety of issues that go under the umbrella of perinatal counseling - when you’re looking for a therapist, think about finding someone who specializes in the types of issues you’re facing. At Root to Rise Therapy, our perinatal counselor, Victoria is skilled in all of the following areas:
Therapy for Trying to Conceive and Infertility
Struggling to conceive can be extremely emotionally taxing. Each month can bring a rollercoaster of hope, disappointment and fear. You may feel alone, frustrated, or even disconnected from your body as it struggles to cooperate.
A perinatal therapist can help you:
Process grief and loss that may come with fertility challenges
Manage stress and anxiety around medical and hormonal treatments
Navigate relationship challenges with your partner, family or friends
Build coping strategies for tolerating uncertainty
Therapy for Miscarriage and Pregnancy Loss
Pregnancy loss is often minimized and/or misunderstood by others, leaving many women to go through their very real grieving process alone. No two women experience pregnancy loss the same, and even seeking support from friends or family who have experienced their own losses may leave certain needs unmet. Therapy provides a safe space to process difficult emotions like sadness, anger, disappointment and shame, and get support from a trained professional who makes space for your own unique experience of loss and doesn’t tell you how to grieve.
In counseling, you can:
Learn tools to manage triggers (like pregnancy announcements, insensitive comments from friends or the passage of dates and milestones)
Process and cope with fears about future pregnancies
Reconnect to your body to rebuild trust
Give yourself permission to find other sources of joy
Prenatal Therapy and Pregnancy Anxiety
Even in healthy pregnancies, it’s normal to experience worry and fear. Women who have had a history of pregnancy loss, struggled to conceive or dealt with pre-pregnancy anxiety can be hit even harder. When the fears become overwhelming - like constant concerns about your baby’s health, intrusive thoughts about something going wrong, or difficulty sleeping or relaxing - prenatal therapy can help treat your pregnancy anxiety. For more information on prenatal therapy, check out my full post on this topic.
A perinatal counselor can work with you to:
Reduce anxiety through grounding and mindfulness techniques
Challenge catastrophic thinking
Prepare emotionally for labor and delivery
Explore your evolving identity as a parent, partner and woman
Postpartum Anxiety Therapy
Postpartum anxiety affects many new moms, often even more than postpartum depression. You might notice racing thoughts, physical tension, restlessness, or an ongoing sense that something bad is about to happen. For more details on what postpartum anxiety feels like, check out my full post on understanding postpartum anxiety.
With postpartum anxiety therapy in Colorado, you can:
Learn strategies to calm your nervous system
Change your relationship to intrusive and fearful thoughts so that they have less power over you
Reduce the pressure to “do it all” perfectly
Build confidence in your parenting abilities and strengths
Postpartum Depression Counseling
Postpartum depression can leave you feeling disconnected from yourself, your baby, or both. This can be incredibly scary and disorienting for both you and your family. Symptoms might include sadness, hopelessness, loss of interest in things you once enjoyed, or difficulty bonding with your baby.
Through postpartum depression counseling, a therapist can help you:
Understand the biological, hormonal and psychological factors at play
Develop coping strategies to manage your mood and exhaustion
Reconnect with your sense of self outside of motherhood
Set attainable goals for yourself and reconnect to feelings of joy and achievement
Strengthen your support system
What’s the Difference Between Perinatal Anxiety and Postpartum Anxiety?
Just like the “perinatal period” extends to pregnancy in addition to 1 year post-birth, the term “perinatal anxiety” includes anxiety that occurs both postpartum and during pregnancy. While both perinatal and postpartum anxiety can include symptoms like excessive worry or fear, physical symptoms of anxiety (like racing heart, muscle tension or headaches) and sleep problems, there are unique triggers for anxiety that come up during the trying to conceive and pregnancy period. Many women experience anxiety both pre and post-birth, and it’s important to see a perinatal anxiety counselor who is skilled in treating both as well. Perinatal counseling can address symptoms whenever they arise, as well as support you through the unique stressors and causes for anxiety during each phase.
How Perinatal Counseling in Colorado Can Help
Perinatal counseling involves providing targeted, evidence-based treatment to help you feel better and function more effectively as you navigate the challenges of motherhood. Through working with a perinatal therapist in Denver, Colorado, you will:
Feel less alone in your experience, and stop blaming yourself for your challenges
Build emotional resilience and clarify your values as you enter parenthood
Develop practical coping tools to treat your anxiety and depression
Improve your relationships with your partner, family, and yourself
If this sounds too good to be true, it’s not - help is available if you allow yourself to ask for it.
Work with a Perinatal Therapist in Denver, Greenwood Village and Beyond at Root to Rise Therapy
At Root to Rise Therapy, we specialize in helping women across Colorado feel grounded and supported throughout pregnancy and postpartum. Whether you’re trying to conceive, grieving a loss, or struggling to adjust to new motherhood, you don’t have to deal with your struggles alone. It’s possible to feel less overwhelmed, more sure of yourself and even find joy in during these moments of life
We offer video-based therapy for clients living in Denver, Boulder, Greenwood Village and throughout Colorado. Our goal is to help you find your footing so you can rise into this new season of life with strength and confidence. Get in touch to schedule a free consultation with a perinatal therapist in Denver today.
Related Posts:
Understanding Postpartum Anxiety for Moms in Denver
Support for Anxiety and Stress During Pregnancy
New Parent Anxiety: How Postpartum Therapy Can Help
Postpartum Identity Crisis? Here’s How Postpartum Anxiety Therapy Can Help
Other Services at Root to Rise Therapy:
Other mental health services at Root to Rise Therapy include Therapy for Anxiety, Therapy for Perfectionism,Therapy for People-Pleasing,Cultural Identity Counseling, ADHD Therapy, Counseling for Moms and Postpartum Counseling. I see clients located inColorado, New York and New Jersey. Contact me to learn more about how I can help you overcome anxiety and reclaim your life!
