Postpartum woman in San Francisco struggles to bond with baby before finding help at SOURCE Psychotherapy

Therapy for Postpartum Anxiety and Depression

You tend to hold a lot of responsibility - at work, in your family role, and in your mind - but you don’t totally feel comfortable leaning on others to take some of that responsibility off your plate.

You tend to look calm and stoic even when you have big feelings boiling up inside, leading you to feel unseen and invalidated (and if you don’t realize the mismatch you may also feel confused. Can’t they see I’m hurting?)

Things are feeling a little to a lot unmanageable at the moment and you’re not quite sure what to do about that.

Common Symptoms of Postpartum Anxiety (PPA) Might Include:

  • Excessive worry (especially about baby’s health, safety, or sleep)

  • Racing or intrusive thoughts that feel hard to control

  • Constant sense of dread or “something bad will happen”

  • Restlessness or feeling on edge

  • Difficulty sleeping even when the baby is asleep

  • Physical anxiety symptoms (heart racing, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness)

  • Reassurance-seeking or checking behaviors (frequent monitoring, googling, asking others)

  • Irritability linked to feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated

Common Symptoms of Postpartum Depression (PPD) Might Include:

  • Persistent sadness or low mood

  • Loss of interest or pleasure in activities (including bonding)

  • Feelings of hopelessness or emptiness

  • Guilt, shame, or feeling like a “bad parent”

  • Low energy or fatigue beyond typical newborn exhaustion

  • Changes in appetite (eating much more or much less)

  • Difficulty concentrating or making decisions

  • Thoughts of worthlessness or life not being worth living
    (may include passive thoughts like “they’d be better off without me”)

Common Overlapping Symptoms of PPA and PPD Might Include:

  • Irritability or anger

  • Sleep disturbances

  • Difficulty concentrating or mental fog

  • Feeling overwhelmed or unable to cope

  • Emotional numbness or detachment

  • Physical complaints (headaches, stomach issues, muscle tension)

  • Withdrawal from others

  • Persistent self-doubt and reduced confidence

How Does Therapy Help With Postpartum Anxiety and Depression ?

1. By stabilizing mood and reducing anxiety symptoms. We use evidence-based strategies to calm the nervous system and lift depressive symptoms. These may include guided imagery and breath work, strategies to unstick you from negative or worrisome thoughts, constructive worrying techniques (yes, that’s a real thing), and more. Since no two people are alike (for example, some people struggle to visualize while others are transported to magical places, some want practical solutions and others just need the space to hear their own thoughts), we practice flexibly and collaboratively.

2. By supporting connection to yourself, your baby, and your family: Clients often report  feeling more themselves and enjoying the parenting experience more once they begin to feel better. This comes from navigating not only the anxiety and mood obstacles, but the changes in identity and confidence as a parent.

3. By helping to prevent symptoms from becoming chronic: Early support reduces long-term impact on mental health, relationships, and family functioning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • There’s no definitive timeline, but without support, symptoms can persist or worsen. Therapy helps reduce symptoms and supports long-term emotional well-being such that you have more time with yourself and your family symptom-free

  • Yes. Therapy meets you where you are and focuses on stabilization, relief, and practical coping strategies. As perinatal specialists, we know that adding in therapy might be the last thing you feel like doing during this tender overwhelming time, and we hold this with a lot of compassion. Clients often look back with wonder at how they were getting through those rough times, and that can be you too.

  • Item Yes. Postpartum anxiety and depression can affect all parents, including partners and adoptive parents. We welcome them all.

  • We are not doctors, so no! We do, however, refer to and work in collaboration with perinatal psychiatrists if and when medication is also part of your treatment plan,

  • We do not accept insurance and are considered out-of-network providers. Go here for more information on this and fee-related information.