MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY IN CHICAGO & ONLINE
There's a lot more to this chapter than people talk about.
Pregnancy, becoming a parent, and everything surrounding those experiences can bring up feelings you didn't necessarily expect.
There might be excitement, grief, uncertainty, exhaustion, or a complicated mix of all of them. Sometimes the experience looks nothing like what you imagined.
You can talk about the parts that aren't in the baby books.
Some people come to therapy because they're experiencing anxiety or depression during pregnancy or postpartum. Others are navigating fertility challenges, pregnancy loss, a difficult birth, or the emotional adjustments that come with becoming a parent.
Therapy gives you room to make sense of those experiences, understand how they're affecting you, and find support that reflects what you actually need.
That might mean processing something difficult, working through changes in your relationships or identity, or developing practical ways to manage an overwhelming season of life.
What we can make room for.
01 / Pregnancy & postpartum anxiety Explore this topic ↗
Pregnancy and postpartum anxiety can look like persistent worry, intrusive thoughts, difficulty relaxing, or feeling responsible for anticipating every possible problem. Sometimes it becomes hard to tell where ordinary concern ends and anxiety begins.
Therapy can help you understand what you're experiencing and how it's affecting your everyday life. Together, we can explore the thoughts and patterns keeping you on edge, build coping strategies, and make space for the uncertainty that often accompanies pregnancy and parenting.
02 / Postpartum depression & emotional changes Explore this topic ↗
Not everyone experiences the postpartum period as joyful or fulfilling. Some people feel persistently sad, irritable, numb, disconnected, or overwhelmed. Others feel guilty because their experience doesn't match what they expected.
Therapy provides space to talk about those feelings without judgment. We can explore changes in mood, relationships, identity, and daily functioning while considering what additional support might be helpful. You deserve care that takes your emotional wellbeing seriously, too.
03 / Fertility challenges & pregnancy loss Explore this topic ↗
Trying to conceive, navigating fertility treatment, or experiencing pregnancy loss can affect far more than the plans you had for your family. These experiences may bring grief, anger, uncertainty, isolation, or complicated feelings about your body.
Therapy offers room for the parts of this experience that can be difficult to share with others. We can explore grief, relationships, expectations, and ways of caring for yourself while living with questions that may not have immediate answers.
04 / Birth trauma & medical uncertainty Explore this topic ↗
A difficult delivery, unexpected medical diagnosis, NICU experience, or complicated pregnancy can leave lasting emotional effects. You may find yourself replaying what happened, feeling on edge, or struggling to process how quickly things changed.
Trauma-informed therapy can help you make sense of those experiences at a pace that feels manageable. We can explore what happened, how it's affecting you now, and ways to rebuild a sense of safety and agency without minimizing the seriousness of what you've been through.
05 / Identity shifts & becoming a parent Explore this topic ↗
Becoming a parent can change how you see yourself, your relationships, and the life you imagined. You might love your child while also missing parts of your previous life. Both experiences can exist at the same time.
In therapy, we can explore changing identities, expectations around motherhood, the pressure to do everything well, and what it means to care for yourself while caring for someone else. There's room to figure out who you're becoming without pretending that every part of the transition feels easy.
06 / Relationships, support & family expectations Explore this topic ↗
Pregnancy and parenthood can change the dynamics of a relationship or family. Partners may have different expectations about responsibilities, relatives may have strong opinions, and asking for help can feel more complicated than it sounds.
Therapy can help you explore communication, boundaries, family roles, and the support you need. We also make room for how cultural traditions and generational expectations influence parenting decisions, without assuming those experiences look the same for everyone.
Your experience deserves to be understood in context.
Pregnancy and parenthood don't happen separately from the rest of your life. Your relationships, cultural background, family expectations, medical experiences, and access to support all shape what this period can feel like.
At Mun & Mind, we approach maternal mental health with cultural humility and an understanding that there's no single way to experience pregnancy, loss, or becoming a parent.
We want to understand what's happening in your life, rather than making assumptions about what this chapter should look like.
A few things you might be wondering.
Pregnancy, postpartum, and fertility experiences can bring up questions that aren't always easy to ask. Here are a few things worth knowing.
01 What is maternal mental health therapy, and who is it for?
Maternal mental health therapy focuses on emotional wellbeing during pregnancy, postpartum, fertility experiences, and the transition into parenthood.
It can support people experiencing anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, relationship changes, or difficulties adjusting to new roles and expectations. You don't need a formal diagnosis or a crisis to seek support.
02 How can I tell the difference between baby blues and postpartum depression?
The baby blues typically involve mild mood changes, tearfulness, or emotional sensitivity during the first days after childbirth and usually improve within about two weeks.
Postpartum depression may involve more persistent sadness, irritability, hopelessness, loss of interest, or difficulty functioning. Symptoms can begin during pregnancy or after birth. A qualified healthcare professional can help assess what you're experiencing and recommend appropriate support.
03 Can therapy help after a traumatic birth or difficult NICU experience?
Yes. Difficult births, unexpected medical complications, and NICU experiences can leave lasting emotional effects, including anxiety, grief, intrusive memories, or a sense of lost control.
Trauma-informed therapy can help you process what happened at a manageable pace, understand how the experience continues to affect you, and develop strategies for coping with distress and uncertainty.
04 Can maternal mental health therapy help with infertility or pregnancy loss?
Yes. Fertility challenges, pregnancy loss, and reproductive uncertainty can affect emotional wellbeing, relationships, and your sense of identity.
Therapy can provide space to process grief, disappointment, anxiety, and complicated feelings that may not always be understood by others. Support can also focus on navigating treatment decisions, relationship stress, and uncertainty about the future.
05 Can I attend maternal mental health therapy online in Illinois?
Virtual maternal mental health therapy may be available to eligible clients throughout Illinois, depending on the clinician's credentials, specialty, and availability.
Some psychologists may also provide telepsychology in participating PSYPACT jurisdictions, subject to applicable authorization requirements. Contact Mun & Mind Therapy to discuss your location and find out which clinicians may be a good fit.
You deserve support through this part, too.
There's a lot of attention on pregnancy, babies, and becoming a parent. Your emotional wellbeing deserves attention, too.
Whether you're preparing for a new chapter, trying to make sense of a difficult experience, or simply needing somewhere to talk about how things have been, we're here to help you explore your options.