Reproductive & Perinatal Mental Health
Reproductive experiences and hormonal transitions can have a profound impact on our emotional well-being. Infertility, pregnancy, pregnancy loss, becoming a parent, the postpartum period, perimenopause, and menopause can bring unexpected anxiety, grief, uncertainty, and changes in how we experience ourselves and our relationships.
I specialize in reproductive and perinatal mental health and provide evidence-based therapy for women navigating these experiences across their lifespan. With more than two decades of experience providing therapy, I draw primarily from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), tailoring treatment to each person’s needs.
My interest in reproductive mental health began during my Post Doctoral training at the University of Colorado Boulder, where I served as project manager for an NIMH-funded research study examining mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for the prevention of perinatal depression. My background also includes specialized training in helping women cope with infertility and fertility treatment, as well as continued training and clinical experience in reproductive and perinatal mental health throughout my career.
I provide reproductive and perinatal mental health therapy in Boulder, Colorado, as well as via telehealth for clients in PSYPACT-participating states.
Pregnancy & Postpartum Mental Health
Pregnancy and the postpartum period can be emotionally complicated, even when things are going well.
Some women experience depression or anxiety for the first time during pregnancy or after having a baby. Others struggle with intrusive thoughts, excessive worry, perfectionism, changes in identity, a difficult or traumatic birth experience, or simply the enormous adjustment that comes with becoming a parent.
Therapy can help with:
Anxiety and depression during pregnancy and postpartum
Postpartum anxiety and excessive worry
Intrusive or obsessive thoughts
Difficult or traumatic birth experiences
Adjustment to parenthood
Changes in identity
Perfectionism and self-criticism
Relationship challenges during pregnancy or after becoming parents
Birth Trauma
The transition to parenthood can also change relationships in unexpected ways. Even strong relationships can be affected by sleep deprivation, changing roles, differences in parenting expectations, and the demands of caring for a new baby. My extensive experience working with both individuals and couples allows me to bring an understanding of these relationship dynamics into our work.
Infertility, Fertility Treatment & Pregnancy Loss
Infertility can affect nearly every part of life. Trying to become pregnant, undergoing fertility treatment, making difficult reproductive decisions, experiencing pregnancy complications, or coping with pregnancy loss can bring grief, anxiety, uncertainty, and a profound sense of loss of control.
Infertility can also affect how you experience your body, your relationships, and your connections with friends and family. The repeated cycles of hope and disappointment can be exhausting, and decisions about treatment can become emotionally overwhelming.
I have specialized training in helping women cope with infertility and fertility treatment. Therapy can provide a place to process grief and uncertainty while developing practical ways to manage anxiety, difficult decisions, relationship stress, and the emotional demands of treatment.
My goal is not to tell you how you should feel or what decisions you should make, but to help you navigate an extraordinarily difficult experience with greater support, flexibility, and connection to what matters most to you.
Perimenopause & Menopause
Perimenopause and menopause can bring significant changes—not only physically, but emotionally and psychologically as well. For some women, changes in mood, anxiety, sleep, concentration, or emotional reactivity can feel unfamiliar or particularly difficult to manage.
This stage of life also often coincides with other significant transitions. Relationships may be changing, children may be becoming more independent, parents may need more care, careers may be shifting, and questions about identity and what comes next can become more prominent.
It isn’t always easy to separate the effects of hormonal changes from the stresses and transitions occurring at the same time. Therapy can provide a place to make sense of what you’re experiencing and develop practical, evidence-based ways of responding.
I work with women experiencing concerns related to perimenopause and menopause, including:
Anxiety, worry, and increased emotional reactivity
Changes in mood
Sleep disruption and its emotional impact
Stress and feeling overwhelmed
Changes in identity and sense of self
Relationship and family transitions
Adjusting to physical changes
Navigating uncertainty and change during this stage of life
Using CBT and ACT, we can work on reducing distress while also building greater flexibility in how you respond to difficult thoughts, emotions, and changes that may not be entirely within your control.
An Evidence-Based, Individualized Approach
My work is grounded in evidence-based psychological treatments while recognizing that no two people’s experiences are exactly alike.
I primarily draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). These approaches can help you understand patterns that may be keeping you stuck, develop practical strategies for managing anxiety and distress, and respond differently to difficult thoughts and emotions.
You don’t have to fit neatly into a diagnosis to benefit from therapy. Sometimes the challenge is anxiety or depression. Sometimes it’s grief, uncertainty, changes in your body or relationships, or simply trying to find your footing during a significant life transition.
My style is warm, authentic, collaborative, and practical. Together, we work not only to reduce distress, but also to help you feel more grounded, respond more flexibly to difficult experiences, and stay connected to what matters most to you.
Reproductive & Perinatal Mental Health Therapy in Boulder and via Telehealth
I provide reproductive and perinatal mental health therapy in person in Boulder, Colorado, as well as via telehealth for clients in PSYPACT-participating states.
Finding the right therapist matters. I offer a free 15-minute consultation so you can tell me a little about what you’re experiencing, learn more about my approach, and see whether working together feels like a good fit.