Postpartum and Perinatal Counseling in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Postpartum and perinatal counseling is private support for the emotional side of pregnancy and the months after a baby arrives, from constant worry to feeling flat or not like yourself. Challenges Conquered Counseling offers it at our Fort Lauderdale office, 800 E Cypress Creek Rd, Suite 431, and by secure telehealth across Florida. Call (954) 600-9403.
When the early weeks are harder than you expected
Many people expect to feel nothing but joy after a birth, and are surprised by how much else shows up: exhaustion, worry, tears, irritability, or a sense of distance from the baby. Those feelings are common, and they are not a sign that you are a bad parent.
Perinatal means the time during pregnancy and the first year after birth. Counseling can help at any point in that stretch, including before the baby comes.
What people tell us they notice
Some of what new and expecting parents describe:
Sadness, emptiness, or tearfulness that does not lift
Worry that loops through the night, even when the baby is asleep
Feeling guilty, ashamed, or sure you are not doing it right
Trouble sleeping when you finally can, or sleeping far more than usual
Irritability or anger that feels out of character
Feeling numb, or finding it hard to connect with the baby
Baby blues, or something that needs more support?
The National Institute of Mental Health describes the baby blues as mild, short-lasting mood changes that many women have in the first two weeks after giving birth. Mood changes that are severe, or that last longer than two weeks, may be signs of postpartum depression, which most often begins within the first several weeks after birth and does not usually go away without help.
Only a clinician can say what is going on for you. If you are unsure, that is a good reason to talk with someone rather than waiting to see if it passes. Your obstetric provider or pediatrician can also be a first stop, and your therapist can work alongside them.
Safety first
If you ever have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, or you feel you cannot keep yourself safe, call or text 988 or go to the nearest emergency room. The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is free, confidential, and open all day and night at 1-833-852-6262, and Postpartum Support International runs a helpline at 1-800-944-4773. Counseling is not a substitute for emergency or medical care.
How counseling can help
Sessions are a place to say the unsayable without being judged. Depending on what you bring, the work may include:
Naming what you feel and sorting out which worries are yours to carry
Practical ways to rest, ask for help, and protect sleep where you can
Talking through a difficult birth, a loss, or a change in how you see yourself
Working on how you and your partner share the load Many people meet weekly at first. We cannot promise a specific result or timeline, because every family and every recovery is different.
Partners, loss, and fertility
Partners can struggle too, and a couple may benefit from a joint visit with one of our relationship therapists through couples therapy. Pregnancy loss, a hard road to conceive, and the first months of parenthood are covered on our women's issues and fertility counseling page. If low mood is lasting beyond the baby stage, see depression therapy, and for the daily pressures of raising children visit parenting support counseling.
Meeting by video with a newborn at home
Getting out of the house with a baby is not always possible. Secure telehealth lets you meet from the couch, in a quiet room, or while the baby naps, and some people choose it throughout. You are also welcome at the Fort Lauderdale office. It is the same therapist either way, and we do not mind a baby in the room.
Getting started
Many major insurance plans are accepted, and we check your benefits before the first appointment. The how it works page explains self-pay, telehealth, and what happens at a first visit. To begin, call (954) 600-9403 or use the appointment request form. Please keep detailed health information out of the form and share it in session instead.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if it is the baby blues or postpartum depression?
Baby blues are mild mood changes that tend to ease within about two weeks of birth. Feelings that are severe or last longer may point to postpartum depression. Only a clinician can tell you which it is, so if you are unsure, reach out rather than wait. You do not need a diagnosis to book.
Can I come in before the baby is born?
Yes. Perinatal means pregnancy as well as the time after birth, and many people use counseling to talk through anxiety, a hard history, or big changes before the baby arrives. Call (954) 600-9403 and we will explain how a first visit works and which therapist could be a good match.
Can partners attend or get support?
Partners can have a hard time after a birth too. You can ask about a joint visit, or about individual sessions for a partner. Tell us what you are hoping for when you call and we will explain the options. Everything said in session follows our confidentiality practices, which your therapist will explain at the start.
What if I am afraid of what I am thinking?
Frightening thoughts are more common than people admit, and a therapist is a safe person to tell. If you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, or cannot keep yourself safe, call or text 988 or go to the nearest emergency room right away rather than waiting for an appointment.
Can I bring the baby, or meet on video?
Yes to both. Many parents choose secure video from home so they do not have to arrange childcare, and babies are welcome at our Fort Lauderdale office. Let us know when you call and we will help you plan around feedings and naps. Sessions are about you, with your baby nearby.