Postpartum Depression and Anxiety Therapy Online
Everyone told you to expect sleepless nights. No one told you about the dread, the tears that won’t stop, or the frightening thoughts about your baby. If you’re struggling during pregnancy or after birth, you’re not alone, it’s not your fault, and postpartum depression and anxiety are treatable. Some of our clinicians have specialized perinatal training, and we offer therapy by secure video in 44 states, so you can get help without arranging childcare or leaving home.
Common Perinatal Mental Health Conditions
“Perinatal” means during pregnancy and the first year after birth. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders affect roughly 1 in 5 new or expecting mothers, and fathers and non-birthing partners can be affected too.
- Postpartum depression: persistent sadness, irritability, guilt, loss of interest, or feeling disconnected from your baby, lasting more than two weeks
- Perinatal anxiety: constant worry, racing thoughts, and trouble sleeping even when the baby sleeps
- Postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): unwanted, intrusive thoughts of harm coming to the baby, followed by checking, avoiding, or seeking reassurance
- Birth trauma and postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD): flashbacks, nightmares, or panic tied to a frightening birth or a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay
- Depression and anxiety during pregnancy, which are just as common as after birth
Who Is at Higher Risk?
Anyone can develop a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder. Risk is higher with a personal or family history of depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder, a difficult pregnancy or birth, pregnancy loss, limited support, or a baby with health problems.
Baby Blues vs. Postpartum Depression
| Baby blues | Postpartum depression | |
|---|---|---|
| How common | Most new mothers | About 1 in 7 |
| When it starts | First few days after birth | Anytime in the first year, or during pregnancy |
| How long it lasts | Up to about two weeks | Longer than two weeks without treatment |
| Treatment | Rest and support | Therapy, and sometimes medication |
If symptoms last longer than two weeks, are getting worse, or make it hard to function, reach out.
Intrusive Thoughts Are Common, and They Don’t Mean You’ll Act on Them
Many new parents have sudden, horrifying thoughts, such as dropping or harming the baby. These thoughts are extremely common, and when they cause intense distress, they’re a sign of anxiety or OCD, not a sign that you’re dangerous. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the leading treatment for OCD, is very effective for postpartum OCD. Learn more about OCD therapy and ERP.
How Therapy Helps
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends counseling, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT), for people at increased risk of perinatal depression. Our clinicians tailor treatment using approaches such as:
- CBT for guilt, perfectionism, and anxious thoughts
- Interpersonal approaches for role changes, relationship strain, and support (ask when you book)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to make room for hard feelings while living your values as a parent
- ERP for postpartum OCD
- Trauma-focused therapies for birth trauma, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Many people notice improvement within 8 to 12 sessions.
Birth Trauma
A birth can be traumatic even if everyone is physically fine. An emergency cesarean, hemorrhage, feeling unheard, or a NICU stay can leave flashbacks, avoidance of medical care, or fear of future pregnancies. Trauma-focused therapy helps the experience become a memory instead of something you keep reliving. See our page on trauma and PTSD therapy.
Online Therapy Built for New Parents
Telehealth removes some of the biggest barriers for new parents:
- No childcare, car seats, or travel
- Sessions during nap time, or with your baby in the room
- Nursing or feeding during a session is fine
- Easy rescheduling when the baby has other plans
Learn how our teletherapy works.
Therapy and Medication
Some people benefit from medication along with therapy, including options considered compatible with pregnancy and breastfeeding. Our clinicians don’t prescribe, but we can coordinate with your obstetrician, midwife, or psychiatrist.
For Partners
Partners can experience depression and anxiety after a baby arrives, too. Therapy is available for partners, and a partner can join a session to learn how to help.
Get Help Right Away If…
Postpartum psychosis is rare but a medical emergency. Signs include confusion, hallucinations, paranoia, extreme agitation, or not sleeping for days. If you notice these, or if you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby that feel like urges rather than unwanted fears, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. You can also call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-852-6262, available 24/7.
Insurance Coverage
We’re in-network with:
- Aetna. See our Aetna page.
- Optum and UnitedHealthcare, in the states listed on our Optum and UnitedHealthcare page.
- Oscar, through the UnitedHealthcare network
- Anthem, accepted depending on the clinician and state
- Blue Cross Blue Shield, Ambetter (in Washington only), and others
We do not accept Medicare or Medicare Advantage plans.
Psychological Healing has 40 clinicians, offering in-person sessions in 20 states and video sessions in 44 states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I have postpartum depression or the baby blues? Baby blues usually ease within about two weeks. If sadness, anxiety, or numbness lasts longer, gets worse, or makes it hard to function, it may be postpartum depression.
Is it normal to have scary thoughts about my baby? Yes. Unwanted intrusive thoughts are very common after birth. When they’re distressing and unwanted, they’re usually a sign of anxiety or OCD, not a risk of harm. Therapy can help a great deal.
How long does postpartum depression last without treatment? It can last months or longer; treatment usually shortens it significantly.
Is postpartum therapy covered by insurance? Usually, yes, as outpatient mental health care.
If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or call 911.
Clinically reviewed by Karan Singh, Ph.D.
Last reviewed October 16, 2026