Pregnancy (Prenatal Mental Health)

Preparing to welcome a baby can elicit many powerful emotions. Expectant moms and dads can expect to feel excitement, fear and everything in between. Additionally, some women experience a heightened level of depression or anxiety during pregnancy. A mental health professional who specializes in pregnancy can help expectant mothers and their partners address the wide range of issues that pregnancy and childbirth may cause.

Local experts in Pregnancy (Prenatal Mental Health)

Kaysey Crump (she/her)

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

LCSW, PMH-C

Supporting pregnant people during the wild, magical, often challenging time of pregnancy.

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Danae Merrill (she/her)

Licensed Professional Counselor

Certified Rehabilitation Counselor

The time surrounding the process of trying to conceive, infertility, loss, birth trauma, pregnancy, and postpartum can be overwhelming and challenge our resiliency, beliefs, and mental health. Learning to navigate our day to day lives while additionally holding the demands and stress of these times can further add to feelings of overwhelm, grief, isolation, or anxiety. I am familiar with and understand these experiences and will help you to cope with and transition through these experiences.

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Kristen Genzano (she/her)

Licensed Professional Counselor

MA, LPC, NCC

I focus on women’s issues including perinatal mental health. This may include emotional and psychological changes during pregnancy or as you try to conceive. In our work I will take into consideration the many factors—hormones, your environment, social support, family of origin issues— that contribute to your wellbeing.

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Sara Carmona (She/Her)

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

LCSW, PMH-C

I specialize in perinatal mental health which includes making decisions about starting a family and the journey to birth. For some, the path is straightforward. For others, it winds, bends and leads to unwanted places - infertility, loss, sadness, anxiety, or grief. I help families address these concerns so they move toward parenthood feeling exceptionally supported, encouraged and well.

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Megan Sapp (she/her)

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

PMHNP, CNM, FNP

I am also a certified and practicing Nurse Midwife

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Jennifer Jeffcoat

Somatic Practitioner

MPH, CST, PPN-E, PPN-P, CH.t

Our culture around birth is fear, anxiety, and overwhelm when the need is trust, support, and empowerment. I support pregnancy in assisting with processing fears and anxieties through an experiential self-discovery approach that empowers the birth journey for the child and parent(s).

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Kelly Sullivan (she/her)

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

L4631

In my private practice and in my work at a hospital birth center, I have witnessed a wide range of mental health, relationship, and health related issues that people can experience during pregnancy. This awareness informs my work around pregnancy as does the importance of helping people create space and energy for the upcoming labor and delivery and the ensuing adjustment.

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Alicia Turgesen (She/Her)

Marriage and Family Therapist Associate

MA

Listen, pregnancy is a magical thing but we just aren't given *all* the information we need to truly prepare for the day we become parents. Sure, the birthing classes help, but what about classes on how to prepare for the shifts in your mental health, relationship with your partner, or all those uncomfortable feelings of resentment that inevitably show up? When you have non-judgmental space to express yourself and feel supported the impacts go beyond just you!

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Kendyl Watts

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Pregnancy is a time of great excitement and possibility, but it is also physically and emotionally demanding and can be stressful or frightening, particularly for those with a history of trauma. I am passionate about helping individuals* experience all stages of pregnancy from a place of choice and empowerment. (*Not all who are pregnant identify as women; I recognize and affirm all identities.)

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Sarah Nelson (she/her)

Clinical Psychologist

Ph.D.

The seasons of pregnancy and parenthood are marked by huge and layered transitions and complex changes in identity. I offer inclusive, holistic, and holding therapy for individuals who are trying to get pregnant, are pregnant, have experienced pregnancy loss or fertility concerns or for those who are adjusting to parenthood or have parenting concerns. I have specialized training in life-span development, particularly in prenatal and postpartum counseling and in parenting.

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Jona Behrer (she/her)

Licensed Professional Counselor

Pregnancy and postpartum is a journey! It is a highly emotional time as you adjust to your changing body, relationship, and life. For some birthing persons old traumas may surface. Some might experience a traumatic birth. Everyone will agree that being a parent is hard, and sleep deprivation makes everything worse. It is common to experience mood disturbance after giving birth including worsening depression or anxiety. No matter what your experience is, you deserve support along the way.

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Amy Galaviz (she/her)

Licensed Professional Counselor

LPC, LMHC, PMH-C

As a mother of three, I can identify how important is to to receive extra support during such a transitional time. As a practitioner, I focus my work to support women throughout each stage of motherhood from preconception, throughout pregnancy, during postpartum and beyond. Facing motherhood can be difficult, but with the right support you can find the joy it can bring. Reach out to a trained specialist today! www.mindbodymamapdx.com

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Sarah Nelson (she/her)

Clinical Psychologist

Ph.D.

The seasons of pregnancy and parenthood are marked by huge and layered transitions and complex changes in identity. I offer inclusive, holistic, and holding therapy for individuals who are trying to get pregnant, are pregnant, have experienced pregnancy loss or fertility concerns or for those who are adjusting to parenthood or have parenting concerns. I have specialized training in life-span development, particularly in prenatal and postpartum counseling and in parenting.

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Cat Bice (she/her)

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

LCSW, LICSW

Pregnancy and childbirth is expected to be a joyous time, but often no one talks about the pain of loss and the difficult emotions that can come as well. When someone has experienced a traumatic birth, a miscarriage or still birth, has lost an infant, or experienced a NICU stay, the pain can feel lonely and isolating. I see both individuals and couples who are pregnant, post-partum, or working through a trauma around childbirth to help address and soothe this pain.

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