This might be for you if you notice
- Sadness, worry or an empty feeling that has lasted more than two weeks
- Trouble sleeping even when the baby is asleep
- Guilt, or doubts about your ability to care for your baby
- Feeling irritable, restless or unlike yourself
- Trouble feeling close to your baby
- A partner who is struggling during pregnancy or the first year
More than the baby blues
Perinatal depression is a mood disorder that occurs during pregnancy and after childbirth. It is different from the baby blues, a term for mild mood changes that do not last long. Feelings of anxiety or unhappiness that are severe, or that last longer than two weeks, deserve attention from a health care provider.
Signs can include a persistent sad, anxious or empty mood, irritability, guilt, loss of interest in things you enjoy, trouble sleeping even when the baby sleeps, trouble bonding with the baby and persistent doubts about your ability to care for the baby. Symptoms can start anytime in the perinatal period and may differ for each person.
Depression is not the only form this takes. Anxiety, obsessive thoughts and trauma symptoms can also show up around pregnancy and birth, and they can affect dads and partners too.
Please hear this clearly: perinatal depression is not caused by anything you have or have not done, and you are not to blame. It is treatable, and you do not need a diagnosis to reach out.
How therapy helps during pregnancy and after birth
Talking with a mental health professional can help you understand and cope with what you are feeling. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the evidence-based therapies for perinatal depression. With CBT, people learn to challenge and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors.
Therapists on our team also use mindfulness-based, person-centered and attachment-focused approaches. Not every therapist uses every approach. In sessions you might work on:
- Thoughts like 'I am failing at this' and what the evidence really says
- Rest, support and asking for help in ways that are realistic with a newborn
- Processing a difficult pregnancy or birth
- Changes in your relationship and your sense of who you are
Therapy only, working alongside your medical team
We provide talk therapy. We do not prescribe medication, and we do not give medication advice. Questions about medication during pregnancy or while breastfeeding belong with your prescriber, such as your OB provider, midwife or primary care doctor. Therapy can sit comfortably beside whatever medical care you choose.
If your partner wants support too, or the two of you are feeling the strain, couples counseling is available. We also offer anxiety therapy and depression therapy at any stage of life.
What online sessions look like with a new baby
Every session is a secure video session, so there is no drive, no parking and no need to arrange childcare around travel. You can join from the couch or the nursery, on a phone, tablet or computer.
Babies are unpredictable, and your therapist understands that. Ask when you book how they prefer to handle feeding, naps and interruptions during a session. You must be physically located in Pennsylvania, West Virginia or Arizona during each session.
Getting started
- Book a free consultationPick a time at book online or call 267-573-9817. The 15-minute consultation is free and a chance to say, in your own words, how you have been feeling.
- Get matchedWe match you with a therapist who is licensed in your state. Tell us what matters to you in a therapist and we will take it into account.
- Check your coverageCoverage depends on your plan and state. See insurance and fees or ask us to verify benefits. Self-pay is available.
- Meet by videoEvening and weekend appointments are available with some therapists.
If you need help right now
Most of what new and expecting parents bring to therapy is not an emergency. It is exhaustion, worry and the sense that this is harder than anyone said. With support, many parents find the heaviness lifts and they can enjoy more of this season. We would be glad to help.
Urgent support
- If you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, call or text 988 or call 911. Locascio Wellness does not provide emergency services.
- Seeing or hearing things that are not there, paranoia or severe confusion after birth can be signs of postpartum psychosis, a psychiatric emergency. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
- The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline offers free, 24/7 access to professional counselors by call or text at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262).
Therapists for perinatal & postpartum therapy
These therapists describe related experience in their own profiles. We will help you find the best fit and confirm who is licensed in your state.
Questions people ask
How does online postpartum therapy work?
You meet with a licensed therapist by secure video from home, using a phone, tablet or computer. There is no travel, which matters when you are pregnant or caring for a newborn. Sessions are a mix of talking through how you feel and learning practical skills. You must be physically located in Pennsylvania, West Virginia or Arizona during each session.
Does insurance cover postpartum therapy?
Many plans cover outpatient therapy, but the details depend on your plan and your state. We are in-network with several major insurers, and self-pay is available. We do not accept Medicaid. Ask us to verify your benefits before your first session so you know what to expect.
Is it the baby blues or postpartum depression?
The baby blues are mild mood changes that pass quickly, often within days of giving birth. Feelings of sadness, anxiety or hopelessness that are severe, or that last longer than two weeks, can be signs of perinatal depression. Only a health care provider can tell which it is, so it is worth reaching out to one.
Can I start therapy while I am still pregnant?
Yes. Perinatal depression and anxiety can begin during pregnancy, not only after birth, and you do not need to wait. Starting during pregnancy also means you already have support in place when the baby arrives. Symptoms can start anytime in the perinatal period, and help is available at every point.
Do you prescribe medication for postpartum depression?
No. Locascio Wellness provides talk therapy only and does not prescribe or advise on medication. Decisions about medication, including during pregnancy and breastfeeding, belong with a prescriber such as your OB provider, midwife or primary care doctor. Therapy can be used alone or alongside medical care, depending on what you and your medical team decide.
Can dads and partners get support too?
Yes. Perinatal mental health conditions can affect dads and partners as well as the person who is pregnant or gave birth. Partners are welcome to book their own therapy with us. Talking about your feelings with your partner and other supportive people is also a helpful step for the whole family.
I am scared to say how I really feel. Will I be judged?
No. Guilt and doubts about caring for the baby are recognized signs of perinatal depression, not a verdict on you as a parent, and you are not to blame for them. Sessions are confidential, with legal exceptions for a risk of serious harm and for suspected abuse or neglect. Saying it out loud to someone trained to listen can be a real relief.
Sources
Published by Locascio Wellness. Last updated October 9, 2026. Clinically reviewed by Anthony Locascio, PsyD, LPC. This page is general information, not medical advice or a diagnosis.