Perinatal Therapy in Nashville, TN
Support for pregnancy, postpartum, trying to conceive, and the emotional transition into parenthood
When pregnancy or postpartum does not feel the way you expected
People often imagine that pregnancy or becoming a parent will feel joyful, bonding, and natural. And sometimes it does. But for many, the lived experience is very different.
You might be going through your day feeling anxious before you even open your eyes. You might be holding it together in front of everyone else, then shaking and weeping in private. You might feel disconnected from your pregnancy, your baby, or even your own body and wonder why no one talks about this part out loud.
Some people come in feeling constantly on edge. Others feel numb, flat, or far away from themselves and feel guilty for not feeling the way they think they “should.” Many are carrying intrusive thoughts they are afraid to say out loud, even to the people closest to them.
If this feels familiar, nothing about your experience means you are doing this wrong. It likely means you are carrying more than you were ever meant to carry alone.
Whether you’re navigating pregnancy, postpartum changes, fertility challenges, or the emotional weight of becoming a parent, I’m here to support you through a season that can feel overwhelming, confusing, or isolating. In our work together, there is no expectation for you to feel a certain way or to ‘be grateful’ for an experience that feels hard.
Amanda is a doula and therapist specializing in perinatal mental health, including pregnancy, postpartum, fertility stress, pregnancy loss, and birth trauma. She works with adults in Nashville and across Tennessee via telehealth.
What sessions are like
You do not need to come in knowing how to explain what is happening.
Most people start by simply describing what life has felt like lately. We slow it down together and make sense of it at a pace that feels manageable, not overwhelming.
There is no pressure to show up regulated or have it figured out.
Supporting you and your relationship
Pregnancy, postpartum, and fertility challenges can also place strain on your relationship. Amanda also offers couples therapy and can support you in navigating communication breakdowns, disconnection, or conflict that often shows up during this season.
How therapy can help
In this work, we focus on what it actually feels like to be you day to day, not just what you understand about what is happening.
Many people come in feeling like their nervous system is constantly “on,” even when nothing is actively wrong. Therapy can help you begin to notice those patterns and gently shift out of survival mode so your body is not carrying the same level of alarm all the time.
This can look like:
Feeling less on edge when things are quiet, instead of waiting for something to go wrong
Sleeping or resting without your mind immediately scanning for what you forgot or what could happen
Experiencing fewer intrusive thoughts, or feeling less controlled by them when they show up
Feeling more present with your baby, your pregnancy, or your daily life instead of watching it from a distance
Having moments of emotional connection again, even if they feel small at first
Feeling more steady in your body instead of constantly bracing or shutting down
We also make space for the parts of this experience that feel harder to name out loud, including grief, fear, anger, or numbness. Nothing has to be edited or minimized in order to be welcome here.
The goal is not to force positivity or “fix” your reactions. The goal is to help your system feel safer so that your responses start to make more sense to you, and feel less overwhelming to live inside of.
What many people are carrying before they say it out loud
“I love my baby, but I don’t feel connected the way I thought I would”
“I feel like I’m constantly bracing for something to go wrong”
“I can’t relax even when I finally have help”
“I feel like I disappeared and became just a caregiver”
“I feel guilty for not enjoying pregnancy or postpartum”
“I’m exhausted but I still can’t sleep or slow down”
These are often the parts people hold silently until there is enough safety to say them out loud.
Therapy for the perinatal season is not just “talking about stress”
Perinatal therapy is specialized support for the emotional, relational, and nervous system impact of pregnancy, postpartum, and fertility experiences.
This can include:
Pregnancy anxiety and postpartum anxiety
Postpartum depression and emotional overwhelm
Infertility and trying to conceive stress
Miscarriage or pregnancy loss
Birth trauma or difficult delivery experiences
The identity shift into parenthood
Emotional disconnection or attachment difficulties
This work is not about pushing through or forcing positivity. It is about helping your system feel safe enough to come out of survival mode.
Therapy with Amanda can help if…
You feel anxious before you even start your day during pregnancy or postpartum
You feel disconnected from your baby, your pregnancy, or yourself and feel guilty about it
You had a birth experience that felt scary, rushed, or out of your control
You are trying to conceive and feel emotionally consumed by tracking, waiting, or disappointment
You have intrusive thoughts about doing things that are scary and unlike you but you cannot shut them off
You feel numb, flat, or like you are going through the motions
Your relationship feels strained since becoming pregnant or having a baby
A note on timing
Many people wait until things feel unmanageable before reaching out, but therapy can also be helpful during pregnancy, early postpartum, while trying to conceive, or after loss.
If something in you is saying “this feels harder than I expected” or “I don’t feel like myself,” that is enough of a reason to start.
Getting started
You do not have to carry this alone or wait until you are at your limit to get support. Contact us or use our easy online scheduling today to schedule a free consultation or your first appointment with Amanda.
