Postpartum Depression Therapy for Moms Across Washington State

Many women first hear about postpartum depression (PPD) at their 6- or 8-week postpartum visit, when OB/GYNs or midwives screen for symptoms. But it’s common for PPD to show up later — at 3 months, 6 months, or even beyond the first year.

If you’re wondering whether what you’re feeling is postpartum depression or anxiety, that’s worth listening to. You don’t need to “wait it out” to get support.

Here are some common signs of postpartum depression:

• Feeling disconnected from your baby

• Difficulty bonding

• Persistent sadness or frequent crying

• Anxiety, anger, or irritability

• Trouble sleeping (even when your baby sleeps)

• Hopelessness or feeling “not like yourself”

• Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy

• Thoughts like “Did I make a mistake becoming a mom?”

• Recurrent thoughts about death or suicide

• Exhaustion that doesn’t improve with rest

This list reflects a wide range of experiences — and your personal experience may not look exactly like anyone else’s. When we begin therapy, we’ll talk about what’s been happening for you and explore whether postpartum depression or anxiety is impacting your wellbeing. You don’t have to figure it out alone.

Many women decide to begin postpartum depression therapy after their OBGYN or pediatrician recommends it — often following a screening that suggests PPD may be present. These routine check-ins can help identify symptoms like sadness, anxiety, numbness, or disconnection. But you don’t need a diagnosis or referral to start therapy.

Sometimes the sign is simply this: you’re craving a space to be fully honest. A space where you can say, “This isn’t what I expected,” without being met with advice or comparison. If you’re grieving the version of motherhood you imagined — or finding it hard to feel joy in something that was supposed to feel magical — therapy can help you hold that truth with compassion.

You don’t need to push through it alone. And you don’t have to wait until things feel unbearable to get support.

First, please know this: This is not your fault. You didn’t cause postpartum depression, and you didn’t do anything wrong. PPD and PPA are real, treatable conditions — and you are not alone. With support and care, things can get better.

While we don’t always know exactly why one mom experiences postpartum depression or anxiety and another doesn’t, research shows there are common risk factors that may increase the likelihood. These include:

• Experiencing depression or anxiety during or before pregnancy

• Medical conditions (like diabetes or thyroid imbalance)

• A history of PMS or hormone-related mood changes

• Past trauma, including sexual trauma or abuse

• A family history of postpartum mood disorders

• Pregnancy loss or infant loss

• Being a parent to multiples (twins, triplets)

• Having a baby in the NICU

• Relationship challenges or lack of partner support

• Financial stress or housing insecurity

• Single parenthood

• Limited social support

• Challenges with breastfeeding

If some of these factors sound familiar, you’re not alone — and it doesn’t mean you’re “weak” or failing. It means you deserve support that’s trauma-informed, compassionate, and designed for this season of life. Therapy can help you make sense of what’s happening and begin to feel more like yourself again.

Yes — and you’re not alone in having these feelings.

Mom rage might feel like snapping, resenting constant demands, or being on edge all the time.

Intrusive thoughts can show up as scary “what ifs” or unwanted images that make you question your safety or worth as a mom.

These aren’t signs you’re failing — they’re signs you’re overwhelmed and need more support.

Yes — and you’re not alone. Many women experience both postpartum depression (PPD) and postpartum anxiety (PPA) at the same time. These two experiences often overlap and even intensify one another, making new motherhood feel overwhelming, exhausting, or isolating.

The good news? Therapy can treat both together. You don’t have to figure out which one is “more dominant” or “more real.” In our work together, we’ll explore what your symptoms are really trying to tell you — and begin untangling what’s rooted in anxiety, depression, or both.

You’ll learn:

• Where your thoughts and symptoms are coming from

• How PPD and PPA interact in your nervous system and emotions

• Evidence-based tools to support both anxiety and depression in the postpartum period

• How to feel more present, grounded, and capable in your role as a mom

You deserve support that sees the whole picture — and meets you where you are. We’ll take it one step at a time, together.

If your symptoms lean more toward worry, tension, or racing thoughts, you might also want to explore my page on therapy for postpartum anxiety.

Therapy with me starts with connection and clarity. Before our first session, I invite you to fill out a brief questionnaire that helps you share what’s going on, even if the words are hard to say aloud. We’ll also use tools like the EPDS (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) to get a clear picture of your symptoms — more than most OBs or general providers typically explore.

Some moms want to know if what they’re experiencing is PPD, PPA, or something else. Others just want to feel better. I honor both. My approach focuses on you, not just a diagnosis. These experiences often overlap, and we work with what you’re actually feeling.

In our first session, we’ll build trust and talk about what matters most to you. You can ask me anything — about my experience, the therapy process, or what to expect. You’ll leave with real, supportive next steps that can help you start feeling even a little bit better right away.

My style is grounded in empathy, collaboration, and gentle structure. I integrate evidence-based therapies like CBT, DBT, and motivational interviewing with warm, affirming care. Over time, we’ll identify patterns, build on your strengths, and help you reconnect with the parts of yourself that feel lost right now.

Sessions are virtual and always on your terms — no need to get dressed up, find a sitter, or hide how you’re feeling. You’re welcome to breastfeed, wear pajamas, or bring your baby to the screen. This is your space to be fully seen, supported, and cared for.

Most women say they feel better earlier than expected — less alone, more understood, and finally able to focus on themselves. That’s where healing begins.

And a note on timing: some women begin to feel relief in just a few months; others continue longer-term. We’ll check in regularly and adjust our pace based on what’s working for you.

Yes. Therapy and medication often work even better together. Many of my clients take prescribed antidepressants or anti-anxiety meds while engaging in therapy. If you’d like integrated care, I’m happy to collaborate with your provider.

You don’t have to choose one or the other. You deserve a care plan that supports all of you.

While I don’t prescribe medication, I can coordinate with your OB-GYN, midwife, or primary care provider if you’d like that kind of support. I also have a trusted network of perinatal-specific prescribers I work with and can connect you with.

Many moms find that combining therapy with medication can offer relief, especially when symptoms feel overwhelming or persistent. But this is a very personal decision. You’re never pressured by me— and together, we’ll talk through your options in a way that centers your comfort, values, and goals.

Yes — I provide virtual therapy for postpartum depression to moms across Washington, including Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma, Kitsap County, and Bainbridge Island.

Whether you're in a busy city or a quieter corner of the state, therapy is just a screen away — no commute, no sitter, no pressure to "have it all together." Just come as you are.

you're ready to feel more like yourself again, reach out today - I’d be honored to support you.