Perinatal Mental Health Therapy in New York
City Lights Psychology | Flatiron, Manhattan
At City Lights Psychology, perinatal therapy is designed to support individuals and couples navigating the emotional complexities of fertility, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and early parenting. Therapy focuses on helping you manage anxiety, identity shifts, emotional overwhelm, relationship changes, and the pressure that often accompanies this stage of life.
Licensed Psychologists | In-Person & Virtual Sessions | Flatiron, Manhattan
Who We Work With in Perinatal Therapy
Individuals Trying to Conceive
People navigating fertility challenges, IVF, pregnancy uncertainty, repeated disappointment, or the emotional stress that often accompanies trying to conceive.
Pregnant Individuals Managing Anxiety & Emotional Overwhelm
Individuals experiencing heightened anxiety, fear around childbirth, body image concerns, intrusive thoughts, or emotional distress during pregnancy
Postpartum Anxiety & Depression
New parents experiencing emotional numbness, sadness, panic, guilt, irritability, emotional exhaustion, or difficulty adjusting after childbirth.
Parents Experiencing Intrusive Thoughts or Perinatal OCD
Individuals struggling with intrusive thoughts related to the baby’s safety, hypervigilance, compulsive checking, or overwhelming fear and responsibility.
Individuals Processing Birth Trauma or Medical Trauma
People navigating difficult birth experiences, emergency interventions, NICU stays, feelings of loss of control, or lingering emotional distress related to childbirth.
Couples Navigating the Transition into Parenthood
Partners adjusting to shifting responsibilities, communication strain, emotional disconnection, or identity changes after becoming parents.
Individuals Processing Pregnancy Loss & Grief
Support for miscarriage, stillbirth, infant loss, termination for medical reasons, or complicated grief connected to reproductive experiences.
Meet Our Perinatal Mental Health Therapists in Flatiron, Manhattan
Our team includes doctoral-level psychologists experienced in reproductive and perinatal mental health, attachment-focused therapy, trauma-informed care, and anxiety treatment.
Dr. Stephanie Simon – Clinical Director
Dr. Simon specializes in perinatal anxiety, postpartum adjustment, reproductive trauma, and identity-related transitions connected to parenthood. Her work integrates psychodynamic therapy, attachment-focused approaches, CBT-based tools, and trauma-informed care.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist | Specialized in Perinatal Mental Health, Anxiety & Trauma
Perinatal Mental Health Concerns We Address
We work with individuals and couples experiencing a wide range of perinatal mental health concerns, including:
Pregnancy & Postpartum Anxiety
Persistent worry, racing thoughts, fear around the baby’s safety, health anxiety, or ongoing emotional overwhelm.
Postpartum Depression & Emotional Numbness
Low mood, emotional disconnection, irritability, hopelessness, guilt, or difficulty adjusting emotionally after childbirth.
Intrusive Thoughts & Perinatal OCD
Distressing intrusive thoughts, compulsive checking, reassurance-seeking, mental reviewing, or fear-based parenting behaviors.
Birth Trauma & Medical Trauma
Emotional distress following difficult deliveries, emergency procedures, traumatic medical experiences, or NICU-related stress.
Fertility Stress & Reproductive Challenges
Emotional exhaustion, grief, uncertainty, and pressure connected to fertility treatments, IVF, or difficulty conceiving.
Identity Changes & Emotional Adjustment to Parenthood
Difficulty adjusting to new roles, loss of independence, shifting identity, or balancing caregiving with personal and professional responsibilities.
Relationship Stress During Pregnancy & Parenthood
Communication difficulties, emotional disconnection, resentment, parenting stress, or shifting relational dynamics during the transition into parenthood.
Our Approach to Perinatal Therapy – Supportive, Structured & Trauma-Informed
Attachment-Focused Therapy
Therapy explores how emotional experiences, caregiving patterns, and attachment dynamics influence your relationship with yourself, your baby, and your partner.
CBT & DBT-Based Strategies
Practical strategies are introduced to manage anxiety, intrusive thoughts, emotional overwhelm, and stress in ways that fit realistically into parenting and daily life.
Trauma-Informed Therapy
For individuals processing birth trauma, reproductive trauma, or distressing medical experiences, therapy focuses on emotional stabilization, processing, and rebuilding a sense of safety.
Psychodynamic & Insight-Oriented Work
Therapy also explores deeper themes related to identity, caregiving, perfectionism, control, and the emotional expectations placed on parenthood.
How Perinatal Therapy Works at City Lights Psychology
Step 1: Free 30-Minute Consultation
We discuss what you are experiencing, where you are in the perinatal journey, and what type of support may be most appropriate.
Step 2: Intake & Emotional Assessment
Early sessions focus on understanding emotional patterns, stressors, relationship dynamics, anxiety symptoms, or traumatic experiences connected to pregnancy or parenting.
Step 3: Active Therapy & Emotional Support
Sessions focus on emotional processing, anxiety management, identity shifts, communication patterns, and building coping strategies that feel sustainable.
Step 4: Long-Term Adjustment & Integration
As therapy progresses, the focus shifts toward improving emotional steadiness, rebuilding confidence, strengthening relationships, and creating sustainable support systems.
In-Person & Virtual Perinatal Therapy Options
In-Person Therapy in Flatiron, Manhattan
In-person sessions provide a calm, private space for focused emotional support and therapeutic work during pregnancy, postpartum, or reproductive transitions.
Virtual Therapy Across Multiple States
Secure telehealth sessions available across:
New York | New Jersey | Connecticut | Florida
Virtual sessions are often preferred by pregnant individuals, new parents, caregivers, and professionals balancing demanding schedules or recovery needs.
Insurance & Payment Information
City Lights Psychology is primarily an out-of-network practice. A limited number of reduced-fee spots are available for clients without out-of-network insurance benefits, those with financial concerns, and BIPOC clients. Availability can be discussed during the free consultation.
We provide superbills that can be submitted to your insurance company for reimbursement. We recommend checking with your provider regarding deductible requirements and reimbursement eligibility.
HSA/FSA cards and standard payment methods are also accepted and can be arranged during intake.
What We Focus on in Perinatal Therapy Sessions
- Managing anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and emotional overwhelm
- Processing birth trauma and reproductive experiences
- Navigating identity changes related to parenthood
- Supporting attachment and emotional connection
- Improving communication and relationship dynamics
- Reducing guilt, perfectionism, and pressure around parenting
- Building emotional regulation and sustainable coping strategies
Common Emotional Patterns We See During the Perinatal Period
Across clients, certain emotional patterns tend to emerge repeatedly during this stage of life:
Fear of Losing Control
Many individuals experience heightened anxiety around uncertainty, safety, medical outcomes, or making the “right” decisions as a parent.
Guilt & Unrealistic Expectations
People often feel pressure to enjoy every stage of pregnancy or parenting while criticizing themselves for struggling emotionally.
Hypervigilance & Mental Overload
Constant monitoring, worry, overresearching, compulsive checking, or difficulty mentally “turning off” can become emotionally exhausting over time.
Identity Disruption
The transition into parenthood can create a sense of losing parts of yourself, especially while balancing caregiving, work, relationships, and changing responsibilities. These experiences are common, understandable responses to a major life transition and can become more manageable with appropriate therapeutic support.
Ready to Start Perinatal Therapy?
Whether you are navigating fertility challenges, pregnancy anxiety, postpartum overwhelm, birth trauma, or the emotional transition into parenthood, therapy can provide structured support during a period that often feels emotionally intense and isolating.
The first step is a consultation, where we discuss your experiences, goals, and the type of support that may feel most helpful moving forward.
Questions?
About Perinatal Therapy at City Lights Psychology
Do I need to wait until after giving birth to start therapy?
No. Therapy can be helpful while trying to conceive, during pregnancy, postpartum, or at any point during the transition into parenthood.
Can therapy help with intrusive thoughts after having a baby?
Yes. Intrusive thoughts are common during the perinatal period, especially when accompanied by anxiety or OCD-related patterns. Therapy focuses on helping you respond to these thoughts differently without shame or panic.
Can my partner join therapy sessions?
Yes. Partners can be included in sessions when relationship dynamics, communication, or shared adjustment to parenthood are part of the work.
What if I feel emotionally disconnected from my baby?
This experience is more common than many people realize, especially during periods of exhaustion, anxiety, trauma, or depression. Therapy provides a supportive space to explore and gradually strengthen emotional connection without judgment.
Is virtual perinatal therapy effective?
Yes. Virtual therapy can be highly effective during pregnancy and postpartum, especially for new parents managing recovery, childcare, fatigue, or scheduling limitations.
How often are sessions typically scheduled?
Most clients begin with weekly sessions to build consistency and support during emotionally demanding periods, with frequency adjusted over time based on individual needs.
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