Postpartum Depression and Anxiety: A Holistic Therapist’s Guide to Symptoms, Causes & Healing
Last updated August 1, 2025
Hey mama, if you've found your way here, chances are you're struggling with something that feels overwhelming, confusing and isolating. Maybe you're experiencing postpartum depression and anxiety that feels heavier than the "baby blues" everyone talks about. Perhaps you're wondering if the rage, the intrusive thoughts, or the constant worry you're feeling is normal, or if it might be time to reach out for support.
I want you to know something: you are not broken, and you are not alone.
As a licensed therapist specializing in maternal mental health and a mother who has walked this path myself, I understand the raw reality of postpartum struggles. What I've learned through my own healing journey and over a decade of supporting mothers is this: yes, motherhood is challenging, overwhelming, and turns everything you thought you knew about your life upside down - but you don't have to suffer through. Ease and joy in motherhood is possible.
I wrote this guide to offer you a holistic approach to healing from postpartum depression, anxiety, and the full spectrum of maternal mental health challenges. We'll explore not only the symptoms, but the deeper roots of your struggles and the practices, mindset tips, and support that’s available for your healing journey.
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Understanding Postpartum Mental Health: A Holistic Perspective
What Are the Different Types and Symptoms of Postpartum Depression and Anxiety?
Understanding the Root Causes of Postpartum Depression and Anxiety
Holistic Treatment for Postpartum Depression and Anxiety: The 4 Pillars
When to Seek Help: Postpartum Depression and Anxiety Warning Signs
Understanding Postpartum Mental Health: A Holistic Perspective
When most experts talk about maternal mental health, there's often a narrow focus on just the mind, as if our struggles exist in isolation from our bodies, hearts, and spirits. But in reality, everything is connected. And there’s no way to separate your mental health from your emotional, physical, and spiritual health.
Here at The Holistic Counseling Center, we approach healing through what we call the four pillars of wellness: mental health, emotional health, physical health, and spiritual health. You need resourcing and support in all four areas to truly thrive. It's never just therapy, medication, exercise, diet, or meditation. Healing happens in layers, and finding your unique way in, whether that's the easiest entry point or tackling your biggest challenge, ripples out to create transformation across all areas of your life.
The reality is, when you become a mother, you literally grow another nervous system, what I like to call, the "mama nervous system." This supercharged version of your nervous system is literally designed to keep your children alive. You become the eyes, ears, and heart connection to your baby. This hypervigilant state is completely normal and necessary, but problems arise when you don't have enough support to carry the mental, emotional, and physical load - aka, when there aren't any other nervous systems stepping in to give yours a break.
When you add sleep deprivation, inadequate nutrition, and previous experiences with anxiety or depression, you have what I call "the perfect storm" for postpartum depression and anxiety.
But here's the thing, this "perfect storm" isn't inevitable. Much of what creates these overwhelming conditions stems from cultural expectations that set mothers up to struggle. We have a love affair with independence, valuing the "I've got it all together" personality. But as humans, we're actually wired for interdependence. We need other people to help us regulate, and to help us feel our best. This is especially true in motherhood, yet asking for help is often seen as a weakness.
What if we start looking at reaching out for support as a sign of deep wisdom instead?
To help you recognize when that support might be needed, let's explore the different ways postpartum mental health challenges can show up.
What Are the Different Types and Symptoms of Postpartum Depression and Anxiety?
Understanding what you're experiencing is the first step toward healing. Postpartum mental health challenges exist on a spectrum, and many mothers experience a combination of symptoms rather than fitting neatly into one category. At The Holistic Counseling Center, we help mothers understand these experiences not as a permanent diagnosis to fear, but as signals from your system about what you need.
Baby Blues vs. Postpartum Depression
Baby blues affect up to 80% of new mothers and typically appear within the first few days after birth, lasting about two weeks. These feelings include tearfulness, mood swings, and overwhelm related to normal hormonal changes and adjustment to motherhood.
Postpartum depression is more intense and longer-lasting, emerging anytime in the first year. One of the most shocking things about postpartum depression is that it can linger even after the first year if left untreated and unresolved. It's basically an unresolved stress loop in your system that needs to find a way to discharge.
Postpartum Depression: More Than Just Sadness
What is Postpartum Depression?
Postpartum depression is a serious mental health condition that affects approximately 1 in 7 new mothers, characterized by persistent sadness, anxiety, and difficulty bonding with your baby that lasts longer than two weeks after birth.
Key characteristics of postpartum depression:
Occurs anytime within the first year after birth
More severe and longer-lasting than "baby blues"
Interferes with daily functioning and mother-baby bonding
Can persist beyond the first year if untreated
Responds well to professional treatment and support
Postpartum Depression Symptoms:
Emotional symptoms:
Persistent sadness and frequent crying
Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
Difficulty making decisions or concentrating
Intense guilt or shame about motherhood
Physical symptoms:
Extreme fatigue that doesn't improve with rest
Changes in appetite or sleep patterns
Headaches, muscle tension, or unexplained pain
Heart palpitations or dizziness
Behavioral symptoms:
Difficulty bonding with your baby
Withdrawing from family and friends
Trouble caring for yourself or your baby
Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
For a deeper understanding of how postpartum depression affects your spiritual well-being, see our section on Spirituality and Postpartum Depression.
If you're struggling, please reach out for support. Our postpartum therapists specialize in treating postpartum depression and can help you find your way back to feeling like yourself again.
Struggling with Postpartum Depression?
Our Postpartum Therapists Can Help.
Postpartum Anxiety: The Most Common Challenge
While postpartum depression gets the most media coverage, postpartum anxiety is actually the most common maternal mental health challenge we see in our practice.
Postpartum anxiety symptoms include:
Constant worry about your baby's safety and wellbeing
Racing thoughts that won't quiet down
Hypervigilance and constantly checking on your baby
Intrusive thoughts about harm coming to your child
Inability to rest even when your baby is sleeping
Feeling like your mind is stuck in overdrive
Postpartum Anxiety vs. Depression
Postpartum Anxiety
Racing, worried thoughts
Hypervigilance about baby’s safety
Restlessness and overwhelm
Constant "what if" scenarios
Feeling "wired" and on edge
Postpartum Depression
Persistent sadness and hopelessness
Difficulty bonding with baby
Emotional numbness or apathy
Loss of interest in activities
Feeling disconnected and foggy
Please know: It’s not uncommon to experience both anxiety and depression simultaneously.
Postpartum Rage: The Surprising Symptom
One of the most surprising and least discussed experiences in motherhood is postpartum rage, which shows up as intense anger that can feel scary and shameful. This isn't talked about enough, but it's far more common than most mothers realize.
Postpartum rage often manifests as explosive anger toward yourself, your partner, or even your baby. These feelings can leave you feeling guilty and confused, wondering if you're a "bad mom." The truth is: rage is often your system's way of signaling that your boundaries are being crossed, your needs aren't being met, or you're carrying too heavy a load.
Rage doesn't mean you're broken or bad, it means you need and deserve support.
Other Postpartum Challenges
Postpartum OCD involves intrusive, unwanted thoughts (often about harm coming to your baby) and compulsive behaviors to prevent feared outcomes. While these thoughts feel terrifying, they're actually a sign that your mind is trying to protect your baby.
Birth trauma and PTSD can develop following difficult birth experiences, whether due to medical complications, feeling unsupported during delivery, or simply being overwhelmed by birth's intensity. Symptoms include flashbacks, avoidance of birth-related topics, and feeling constantly on alert.
Postpartum psychosis is rare but serious, involving hallucinations, delusions, or severe confusion. This requires immediate medical attention (see crisis resources below).
Spirituality and Postpartum Depression
One aspect often overlooked in traditional approaches to postpartum symptoms is spiritual disconnection.
Spiritual symptoms of postpartum depression and anxiety can include:
Loss of connection to your inner wisdom or intuition
Questioning your life's purpose or meaning
Feeling spiritually numb or disconnected from practices that once brought comfort
Inability to find meaning in suffering
Motherhood feels mundane instead of sacred
Feeling abandoned by the divine
At The Holistic Counseling Center, we understand that spiritual disconnection often intensifies other postpartum symptoms, which is why we honor and explore this part of the human experience when working with new moms.
Understanding the Root Cause of Postpartum Depression and Anxiety
Getting to the root cause of postpartum depression and anxiety isn’t always a linear path; but unearthing the underlying pain points and influences on your symptoms can help normalize the experience and support your healing. At The Holistic Counseling Center, we recognize that postpartum challenges stem from multiple interconnected factors, not a single cause or from some sort of personal failing.
What Causes Postpartum Depression?
Postpartum depression results from a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors that occur during the vulnerable postpartum period.
Primary causes include:
Hormonal changes: Dramatic drops in estrogen and progesterone after birth
Sleep deprivation: Disrupted sleep patterns affecting mood regulation
Identity shifts: Major life transition and role adjustment
Lack of support: Isolation and insufficient help with childcare
Previous mental health: History of depression, anxiety, or trauma
Birth experience: Difficult delivery or unmet birth expectations
Hormonal Changes: The Biological Foundation
The dramatic hormonal shifts during pregnancy and postpartum create the biological foundation for mood changes. Estrogen and progesterone levels plummet after birth, sometimes dropping to lower levels than menopause. These hormonal fluctuations directly affect neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which regulate mood, sleep, and emotional stability.
Additionally, thyroid function often changes postpartum, affecting energy, mood, and cognitive function. Sleep deprivation compounds these effects, disrupting your body's natural rhythm and hormone production cycles.
The invitation here is to be oh so gentle with yourself during this time; track your moods, and get as much sleep and nourishment as possible.
Nervous System Impact: The "Mama Nervous System" Under Stress
As we discussed earlier, becoming a mother literally rewires your nervous system for hypervigilance. This "mama nervous system" is designed to keep your baby safe, but problems arise when you don't have enough support to carry the mental, emotional, and physical load - aka, when there aren't any other nervous systems stepping in to give yours a break.
From a spiritual perspective, this is when we become disconnected from the village wisdom that has supported mothers for millennia. When your nervous system stays in this heightened state without relief, anxiety and depression often follow.
Isolation only adds to this challenge. Our culture expects mothers to manage alone, without the village support that human nervous systems evolved to expect. Your nervous system needs other nervous systems to help regulate it - what I call creating a "Nervous System Village," an intentional support network that helps your mama nervous system exhale. Without this co-regulation, unrealistic expectations about "bouncing back" or being a "perfect mom" create additional stress that can overwhelm an already activated system.
The invitation here is to spend less time on instagram comparing yourself to others, and more time asking for support and learning what realistic expectations are during this tender time.
Identity Upgrade: The Initiation of Motherhood
Motherhood involves a complete destruction and rebuilding of your identity. It’s not easy, but it’s an invitation to deeply transform your relationship with yourself, to realign with your values, and to unearth and heal deep wounds.
You're not just adding the role of "mother" to your existing identity; you're fundamentally transforming who you are. This process can trigger grief for your former self, anxiety about your new role, and confusion about where you fit in the world now.
Many mothers experience what feels like an existential crisis: "Where did I go, and Who am I now?" What feels like falling apart is actually a "Sacred Shattering" — the necessary destruction of who you were to make space for who you're becoming. This identity shift often brings up whatever unresolved issues from your own childhood are still lingering, and invites a deep dive into reparenting your own inner child and strengthening your relationship with your wise adult self.
The Sacred Shattering isn't something to fix or rush through — it's a spiritual initiation that requires both clinical support and sacred witnessing.
Birth Trauma and Recovery Challenges
Birth experiences significantly impact postpartum mental health. Whether from medical complications, feeling unsupported during delivery, unmet expectations, or simply being overwhelmed by birth's intensity, difficult birth experiences can linger in your mind, heart and nervous system. Even "successful" births can feel traumatic if they didn't unfold as hoped or if you felt powerless during the process.
Physical recovery challenges, from learning to breastfeed, dealing with pain, or adjusting to your new body, can also contribute to feelings of overwhelm and disconnection from your self, your body, and your life.
Pre-existing Mental Health Struggles
A history of anxiety, depression, perfectionism, or trauma increases vulnerability to postpartum challenges. If you are someone with some of these risk factors, please find as much extra support as possible; whether that’s calling a therapist, reaching out to other new parents, or asking friends and family for more support with food, chores, or time to nap. Perfectionist tendencies in particular, can become overwhelming when meeting the unpredictable nature of motherhood.
Relationship and Social Stressors
Relationship dynamics often shift dramatically with a new baby. Lack of partner support, communication difficulties, or feeling like you're carrying the mental load alone can intensify postpartum struggles. Even in supportive relationships, the stress of new parenthood can create unexpected tensions, feelings of isolation and overwhelm. The learning curve of becoming a parent is huge! Give yourself some time, space, and grace to navigate this new world and learn the skills needed to survive and thrive in this season.
Ancestral and Generational Patterns
Postpartum mental health challenges often activate generational patterns stored in your nervous system. Becoming a mother often triggers "The Mother Wound" - the unresolved pain from your own childhood that surfaces when you become responsible for another tiny human. This isn't just spiritual, this is science. You might find yourself parenting the way you were raised, even when it doesn't align with your values, or find yourself feeling irritable or responding to your baby in surprising ways. Trauma, mental health struggles, and coping patterns can pass through generations, emerging during this vulnerable postpartum period.
At The Holistic Counseling Center, we help parents just like you recognize these inherited patterns and learn new ways of being in the world, so you can stop the cycle of intergenerational trauma, and parent from a place of authenticity and alignment.
Spiritual and Existential Shifts
Becoming a mother often brings with it deep and spiritual questions such as: What is my child here to teach me? How do I want to parent this tiny human? How do I grow through these struggles? Why is this so much harder than I expected?
These existential shifts are normal and expected in the transition into motherhood, but they can also feel super destabilizing and overwhelming. Finding a therapist that can support you in exploring the spiritual and existential meaning of motherhood can feel supportive and help you become the kind of parent you know you are capable of.
I hope that looking at these root causes of postpartum depression and anxiety helps you see that postpartum struggles aren't about some sort of personal failure, or not being a good enough mother, they're about the chaos of biological, psychological, and spiritual changes that are all happening at once!
Understanding the 'why' behind what you're experiencing can be incredibly validating and healing. When we can see our struggles as natural responses to a big life change rather than personal shortcomings, we create space for real healing to begin.
No matter what combination of factors is contributing to your experience, I want you to know this: healing is possible. You don't have to navigate this alone, and you don't have to suffer in silence.
Now, let's dive into some of the holistic approaches that can support your postpartum healing journey.
Change is possible.
Our postpartum therapists can help.
Holistic Treatment for Postpartum Depression and Anxiety: The 4 Pillars
Healing from postpartum depression and anxiety requires more than just managing your symptoms. Using our four pillars approach, we integrate evidence-based therapy with psychospiritual wisdom to support your complete healing journey.
Traditional approaches treat postpartum depression as a medical condition. I see it as a spiritual initiation that requires both clinical support and spiritual wisdom. This is why our approach goes beyond symptom management to honor the sacred transformation of becoming a mother.
How is Postpartum Depression Treated?
Effective postpartum depression treatment typically combines therapy, lifestyle changes, and sometimes medication, all tailored to your specific needs.
Treatment options include:
Psychotherapy: CBT, EMDR, and Psychodynamic Therapy (just to name a few)
Medication: Antidepressants safe for breastfeeding mothers
Support groups: Peer support and shared experiences
Lifestyle changes: Sleep, nutrition, and exercise support
Holistic approaches: Mindfulness, breathwork, and spiritual practices
Healing the Mind
Mental Health Therapy and Medication for Postpartum Depression and Anxiety
Our holistic approach to postpartum therapy includes evidence-based therapy that offers relief from your symptoms while also building emotional fluency:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps you identify and transform thought patterns that intensify postpartum struggles. You'll learn practical tools for managing anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and the self-doubt that often accompanies motherhood. CBT is particularly effective for breaking the cycle of negative thinking that can perpetuate depression and anxiety.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy is particularly effective for processing birth trauma and overwhelming postpartum experiences. EMDR helps your brain reprocess difficult memories and emotions, reducing their emotional charge and allowing you to move forward with greater ease and resilience.
Brainspotting accesses the brain's natural healing capacity by identifying specific eye positions that correspond to traumatic experiences or emotional blocks. This gentle yet powerful approach is especially helpful for processing birth trauma, intense stress and overwhelm, and accessing deeper emotional healing that traditional talk therapy might not reach.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) techniques teach distress tolerance and emotional regulation skills, particularly helpful for managing overwhelming moments and intense emotions that can arise in early motherhood.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy helps you access and work with different parts of yourself: like the worried mother, the exhausted woman, or the part that feels guilty. It can help you cultivate compassion for yourself, heal childhood wounds, and learn how to access your inner wisdom.
Medication Sometimes medication can offer support and scaffolding as you navigate the postpartum period. We will honor your preferences in this realm and support you in finding medication or medication alternatives in partnership with our trusted providers that offer integrative psychiatry.
Healing the Body
Somatic and Body-Based Modalities
Your body holds the story of pregnancy, birth, and early motherhood. Our somatic therapy approaches help you reconnect with your body's wisdom and release stored trauma and tension:
Somatic Therapy helps you tune into your body's signals, release birth-related trauma, and learn how to feel safe in your body again (or for the first time). This is a powerful modality for moms who experienced difficult births or feel disconnected from their bodies.
Polyvagal Therapy focuses on nervous system regulation, teaching you how to activate your body's natural calming responses. You'll learn practical tools for shifting out of hypervigilance and into states of rest and connection.
MindfulnessPractices teach you to cultivate loving awareness in your body, helping you notice tension, stress, and overwhelm before they become overwhelming.
Hakomi Therapy uses gentle body awareness to explore unconscious patterns and beliefs, helping you release tension and discover new ways of being in your body as a mother.
Breathwork provides immediate tools for anxiety relief and nervous system regulation. These practices are easy to learn and can be used during moments of stress and overwhelm and easily integrated into your daily life.
Lifestyle Support addresses the foundational elements that support your body's healing: prioritizing sleep and deep rest, nourishing your body with foods that stabilize mood and energy, and incorporating gentle movement that feels supportive rather than other thing on your to-do list. We help you create realistic, sustainable changes that help you feel better without adding pressure.
Healing the Heart
Attachment-Focused and Relational Healing
Emotional regulation is at the heart of postpartum healing. Our attachment-focused approaches help you process the radical emotional landscape of becoming a mother.
Psychodynamic Therapy explores how your early relationships influence your experience of motherhood, helping you heal attachment wounds while building secure bonds with your baby. This work often includes exploring your relationship with your own parents and breaking generational patterns.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) supports couples navigating the relationship changes that come with a new baby, helping partners reconnect and communicate more effectively during this transitional time.
Relational Therapy creates space to process the grief of your former identity while embracing your evolving sense of self. We help you redefine your identity and integrate your new role as a mom.
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) focuses on the relationship changes that come with motherhood: navigating shifts with your partner, family dynamics, and building supportive connections. This approach helps you communicate your needs more effectively and strengthen your support network during this tender time.
“Traditional approaches treat postpartum depression as a medical condition. I see it as a spiritual initiation that requires both clinical support and spiritual wisdom. ”
Peer Support and Community Connection honors that healing happens in relationship with others who understand your journey. We help you connect with other mothers navigating similar challenges, whether through support groups, community resources, or therapeutic groups. These connections provide validation, reduce isolation, and remind you that you're not alone on the journey.
Spiritual Healing
Motherhood is a Spiritual Practice
Something changes when we orient to motherhood as a spiritual practice. To say that becoming a mom completely changes every aspect of your life is an understatement. Honoring this transition as sacred, and learning how to grow through it all with compassion and kindness is a gift. Our therapists honor the sacred nature of motherhood and can help you align with your highest self, your personal values, and gain clarity on the gifts of this season as you navigate the wild ride of motherhood.
We use the following modalities to support your spiritual growth and evolution when dealing with postpartum depression and anxiety:
Spiritual Therapy creates space to explore the deeper meaning of your motherhood experience, including questions of purpose, connection to the divine, and the spiritual significance of your struggles and growth.
Transpersonal Therapy addresses the expanded consciousness that often comes with becoming a mother, helping you integrate spiritual experiences and access your inner wisdom.
Existential Therapy supports you in finding meaning in the challenges of motherhood, transforming suffering into wisdom, and connecting with your deeper sense of purpose.
Energy work and Reiki helps clear energetic blockages and restore balance to your system, supporting both physical healing and emotional processing.
An Integrative Approach to Postpartum Depression and Anxiety Treatment
At The Holistic Counseling Center, we understand that true healing happens when all four pillars work together. Your postpartum therapy journey isn't just about managing symptoms, it's about remembering who you are, healing old wounds, and stepping into your power as both a woman and a mother.
Our postpartum therapists create personalized treatment plans that draw from these approaches based on your unique needs, goals, and healing style. Whether you're drawn to body-based work, need trauma processing, or crave spiritual depth, we’ll meet you exactly where you are on your healing journey.
No matter what you're struggling with: postpartum depression, anxiety, birth trauma, or simply feeling overwhelmed by this massive life change, our postpartum therapists offer the support you need to not just survive motherhood, but truly thrive.
Postpartum Self-Care: Practices That Actually Work
Postpartum therapy can offer support and guidance on your postpartum journey, but if you are looking to start feeling better today, let’s take a look at some daily self-care practices you can start practicing now. At The Holistic Counseling Center, we believe in supporting your postpartum healing journey with practical tools to support your mind, body, heart, and spirit, here are some of our favorites!
Self-care for new moms isn't about bubble baths and spa days (though those are lovely when possible). True self-care means resourcing yourself across all four wellness domains through what I call The Four Pillars Practice - daily rituals that resource your mind, body, heart, and spirit:
Mental:
Practice one-minute breathing exercise
Stream of consciousness journaling
Limit social media usage
Set realistic daily expectations for yourself
Emotional:
Allow yourself to feel your feelings without analysing them or criticising yourself
Practice self-compassion and remember that you are learning to become the mom you want to be
Celebrate small wins
Physical:
Prioritize rest (yes, sleep when you can, but even laying down to rest your body for 10 minutes can be magical!)
Nourish your body with nutrient dense foods
Move your body in ways that feel good (yoga, stretching in bed, a slow walk around the block)
Spiritual:
Listen to frequency music or mantras (some of my favorites are HERE and HERE)
Stand outside barefoot for 10 minutes
Write down 3 things you are grateful for (it’s amazing how simple and effective this one is!!)
Pray, sing, meditate…whatever gets you connected to source
Relationship Support Strategies
Clear communication is essential during this tender time. Help your partner/friend/family member understand what you need by:
Sharing specific ways they can support you (taking night feeds, handling household tasks, giving you time to rest)
Explaining that postpartum challenges aren't about them or your relationship
Asking for emotional support, not just practical help
Being honest about your struggles rather than trying to "power through" alone
If you and your partner would like some extra support during this tender phase, couples counseling can be great! Our couples counselors would love to support you — book a free consultation call to get started.
Building Your Support Network
Motherhood was never meant to be done alone. Finding ways to connect with others changes everything, here are some ideas:
Joining a new parent group or postpartum support circle
Connecting with other mothers who share your values
Asking family and friends for specific help (meals, childcare, household support)
Working with a postpartum therapist to help you navigate this phase
Daily Rituals for Grounding
Small, consistent practices create lasting change over time:
Morning intention: Before getting out of bed, take three conscious breaths and set an intention for the day
Mindful moments: During feeding or holding your baby, practice presence by breathing deep and letting yourself single-task instead of multi-task
Evening release: Before sleep, mentally release any guilt or "shoulds" from the day (you can also try putting them down in a journal)
Body check-ins: Throughout the day, notice where you are holding tension in your body and place a hand there while you breathe deeply into those areas
A gentle reminder: healing isn't linear, and there is no ‘perfect’ way to be a parent. Every small step you make toward caring for yourself is an act of love for both you and your family.
When to Seek Help: Postpartum Depression and Anxiety Warning Signs
When Should I Seek Help for Postpartum Depression?
Seek professional help if you experience any of these signs:
Symptoms lasting more than 2 weeks
Difficulty caring for yourself or your baby
Thoughts of self-harm or harming your baby
Inability to sleep even when baby is sleeping
Severe mood swings or rage episodes
Feeling disconnected from your baby
Persistent anxiety or panic attacks
A gentle reminder: you don't need to wait until you're in crisis to seek support. If you're feeling overwhelmed, and questioning whether what you're experiencing is "normal," that questioning itself often signals you could benefit from professional support and guidance.
Trust your instincts. If something feels off, even if you can't quite name it, that's enough of a reason to reach out for help. We offer postpartum therapy both online and in-person in Northern California, and have evening and weekend appointments to support you. Please reach out to book a free consultation call to learn more about working with one of our postpartum therapists.
If You're Currently in Crisis - Immediate Support is Available
If you're having thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, please reach out for immediate support to one of these crisis resources:
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
Postpartum Support International Crisis Line: 1-800-944-4773
National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262)
If you're in immediate danger, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
What to Expect in Postpartum Therapy
Postpartum Therapy Sessions
Postpartum therapy provides a safe, non-judgmental space to process your experiences and learn practical tools for symptom relief and deeper healing.
In your sessions, you might:
Explore your real thoughts and feelings about motherhood
Learn nervous system regulation techniques for managing overwhelm and anxiety
Process your pregnancy and birth experience
Develop strategies for improving sleep, self-care, and relationship dynamics
Work through identity changes
Reconnect with your inner child
Choosing the Right Support
When seeking a postpartum therapist, look for:
Specialized training in perinatal mental health
Experience with holistic and integrative approaches
Understanding of both traditional and alternative healing modalities
Someone who honors the spiritual dimensions of motherhood
A therapist who feels like a good fit for your personality and scheduling needs
If you’re struggling with postpartum depression and anxiety, you aren’t alone and you aren’t broken. No matter how hard it is, healing is possible.
When you zoom out and see these challenges as signals from your mind, body and nervous system rather than personal failings, you can tend to yourself with love and compassion, instead of shame and judgement. You don't have to navigate this alone. If you're feeling called to explore support, we're here for you!
We work with mamas every day, and feel honored to witness new moms shift from surviving to thriving, from isolation to connection, from overwhelm to ease.
Postpartum Therapy at The Holistic Counseling Center
If you're feeling called to explore how our holistic approach to postpartum therapy might support your healing journey, please reach out. We offer postpartum therapy both in-person (San Francisco, San Anselmo, El Dorado Hills) and online throughout California.
Our postpartum therapists specialize in the unique challenges of motherhood and are trained in both evidence-based therapy and holistic healing approaches.
We're here when you're ready. Whether you need immediate support or simply want to explore your options, our team is here and ready to help.
Taking the next step is simple:
Schedule a Free Consultation Call: During this 15-minute conversation, we'll listen to what's bringing you to therapy, answer any questions, and help determine if our holistic approach to postpartum therapy is right for you.
Get Matched With the Right Therapist: Based on your needs, preferences, and scheduling requirements, we'll match you with one of our postpartum therapists who can best support you on your healing journey.
Find Relief: In your first session, you'll have the opportunity to share your story, explore your goals, and begin developing a personalized approach to healing and thriving in motherhood.
Remember: You don't have to heal alone. All aspects of your postpartum experience — the struggles, the joy, the confusion, the growth — they all deserve to be held with compassion and understanding. With our integrated approach to postpartum therapy, you can find relief from symptoms while honoring the profound spiritual journey of becoming a mother.
Your healing journey matters, and so do you!
Rooting for you!
- Kim Burris, LMFT + Founder of The Holistic Counseling Center
Takeaway
The postpartum period is a sacred initiation into motherhood, a journey of tending to your own wounds while reconnecting with your inner wisdom and purpose. Whether you're struggling with depression, anxiety, rage, or simply feeling overwhelmed, these experiences aren't indications that you are doing something wrong or a bad mom, they're invitations to heal deeply and step into your power as both a woman and a mother. This isn't about bouncing back to who you were before; it's about becoming who you're meant to be. When you tend to your mind, body, heart, and spirit with compassion, you're not just healing yourself, you're breaking cycles and creating a solid foundation for your family to thrive. You don't have to navigate this alone. If you're struggling and feeling the call to heal, we're here. Book a free consultation call to learn more about how our postpartum therapists can help. Book a free consultation call to take the next step on your healing journey.
Additional Resources for Your Postpartum Healing Journey
References
Burris, K. (2019). The First 90 Days After Birth: A Self-Care Journal for First-Time Moms. Callisto Media.
Dagher, R. K., Bruckheim, H. E., Colpe, L. J., Edwards, E., & White, D. B. (2021). Perinatal depression: challenges and opportunities. Journal of Women's Health, 30(2), 154-159.
Guo, L., Zhang, J., Mu, L., & Ye, Z. (2020). Preventing postpartum depression with mindful self-compassion intervention: a randomized control study. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 208(2), 101-107.
Kleiman, K. R., & Raskin, V. D. (2013). This Isn't What I Expected: Overcoming Postpartum Depression (2nd ed.). Da Capo Press. (Originally published 1994)
Kleiman, K. (2019). Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts: A Healing Guide to the Secret Fears of New Mothers. Familius.
About the Author
Kim Burris, LMFT is a licensed holistic psychotherapist, founder of The Holistic Counseling Center, and author of ‘The First 90 Days After Birth.’ Her work has been featured in Vogue, Bustle and the Daily OM.
She honors the mind, body, spirit connection and offers evidence-based psychotherapy with a heart centered approach that helps people find relief from anxiety and self-sabotage so they can live life with more joy, freedom and ease.
Kim and her team currently offer holistic counseling to individuals in San Francisco, San Anselmo, Berkeley, El Dorado Hills and online. Click HERE to book a no-cost consultation call and get matched with one of our postpartum therapists.
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