Postpartum Anxiety and Depression Therapist in New York, NY
Post-partum anxiety and depression, until recently, have been wholly misunderstood and disregarded. The severity of such symptoms and their varied timing are not to be overshadowed by the fact that both PPA and PPD are common and treatable. More details are discussed below, shining a much-needed light on maternal health.
Shanti: inner peace
Bhāvanā: mental insight
Karuṇā: guided healing

What Are Post-Partum Anxiety and Depression?
Many people know post-partum anxiety and depression as the ‘baby blues’. However, minimizing it to a feeling of simple sadness that lasts a few weeks and then passes doesn’t do this mental health struggle justice. It’s experienced by 15-20% of expecting and new mothers, making it a fairly common mental health issue across the globe, across cultures, and throughout the varied child-rearing practices associated. It takes many forms and can start even before the baby is born and last for about a year post-partum. Anxiety symptoms tend to be a bit more common than depressive symptoms, but both are as important to delve in to to ensure a healthy transition for both yourself and your baby in this new stage of your life.
Post-partum anxiety (PPA): PPA can take many forms and, unfortunately, develop into a more serious panic or obsessive-compulsive disorder. The complexities underlying carrying, birthing, and raising a child make this mental health issue a difficult one to both recognize as an issue and seek treatment for. Anxiety over giving birth and all that follows is a normal, healthy reaction and it’s becomes difficult to determine alone when those normal worries become harmful to you and your baby. We understand this is a new journey for you and your family, and we want to help guide you through individualized therapy that addresses these complicated feelings and experiences.
Post-partum depression (PPD): PPD is the more commonly discussed, but definitely not enough, of the two post-partum experiences (PPA & PPD). New mothers are expected to be overjoyed and know exactly what to do. This is a social and cultural construct that is not conducive to a healthy mother and baby existence, or relationship. Oftentimes women feel a sense of hopelessness they can’t get rid of, which starts to seep into everything they do. Coupled with the immense responsibility of caring for a child, whether you have a partner or not, the symptoms of PPD can quickly escalate to an overwhelming feeling of loneliness, isolation, and apathy. Discovering who you are and how your family functions after this life-changing experience can take some time and oftentimes requires a bit of therapeutic guidance along the way.
Remember, these are mere possibilities and can be interconnected or not involved at all.
- PPA: history of anxiety (family/individual), situational/contextual factors, lack of sleep, progression of healthy worrying, thyroid imbalance
- PPD: history of depression (family/individual), decreased social outlets/support, anxiety-inducing circumstances, lack of sleep
Higher levels of PPA and PPD have been associated with: poverty, teen birth, couple conflict, diabetes
This list is not the end all be all and PPA and PPD can take many forms.
- PPA: Feeling of impending doom, inability to organize thoughts, sleeping and eating changes, constant antsy feeling, excessive worry, physical mannifestations (panic attack, nausea, fluctuations in temperature)
- PPD: Guilt, panic, anger, hopeless feeling, little engagement with baby, increased/spontaneous crying, sleeping pattern changes, negative self-harm or infant-harm thoughts, fear, loss of joy in everyday activities, small tasks become much harder, appetite changes
Our small steps counseling approach allows you to find who you are again and why you chose to start or grow your family, utilizing whatever tools and structure seem to align effectively with your regular struggles. Our treatment approach is malleable and adaptable to your needs. Some of our guiding principles can be found below, demonstrating our integration of western, traditional psychology and eastern, naturalistic methods. The following are what we use to lead you forward.
Our Therapeutic Approaches
Your Counseling Experience
Each therapeutic experience is different, and each session can unlock helpful and new paths to explore in the healing process. The below are just to give you a general idea, hopefully instilling a bit of confidence and easing of any worry associated with seeking treatment.
- 45-minute sessions generally, once a week
- Short-term work can last between 3-6 months or whenever you feel you’ve reached the version of yourself you were seeking
- Long-term work also lasts as long as you need
How We Choose Your Therapist
- What you need to reach mental well-being
- Your personality and energy
- Your communication style
- Our therapist’s specialties, training, interests, and own lived experiences
- Our therapist’s approach and communication style
In the Meantime
Extensive research has found that these simplistic, mindful lifestyle changes have a drastic effect on daily life. Give them a shot if you need some immediate peace.
- Meditation
- Yoga
- Reiki
- Experiencing nature
- Conscious, deep breathing
- Maintain an active lifestyle
- Healthy diet