The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare professional.
Pregnancy can bring anxiety, birth fears, unexpected changes in your body, or emotions that don’t match the experience you imagined. These challenges can feel especially isolating when the world around you expects you to feel only excitement. Find a therapist licensed in New York who has experience supporting people through pregnancy.
See the therapistsFor many people, pregnancy brings a mix of worry that won’t quiet, sadness they feel guilty admitting, fear about birth, grief from a previous loss, or uncertainty about what comes next. Mental health conditions are among the most common complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Experiencing significant anxiety or depression during pregnancy is one of the strongest risk factors for postpartum depression or anxiety.
Early support during pregnancy can help reduce symptoms, strengthen coping, and support a healthier postpartum transition.
Browse TherapistsA prenatal specialist can help you tell the difference between ordinary pregnancy worry and clinical anxiety, work through fear of childbirth, process a previous loss or traumatic birth before this delivery, and prepare honestly for the transition ahead.
Having support in place during pregnancy can help you feel more prepared for the emotional changes of pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood.
Look for a clinician who names the perinatal season as a core focus, not a sideline. Working with a dedicated perinatal therapist means partnering with someone who understands the unique emotional, relational, and identity shifts of the perinatal season. Then trust the consult call. The right therapist makes you feel seen, understood, and safe enough to share the parts of your story that are hardest to say out loud.
Mativa is a specialized directory of licensed perinatal therapists in New York, where every therapist specializes in perinatal mental health. Mativa stays intentionally small and focused on this one field, so you are not sorting through a general list hoping to find someone who understands this season of life.
Talk therapy is a well-established treatment for anxiety and depression during pregnancy, and evidence-based approaches such as CBT are among the first treatments recommended for perinatal anxiety. If medication questions come up, your therapist can coordinate care with your OB-GYN, psychiatrist, or reproductive psychiatrist. [APA]
No. Bonding does not always happen immediately, and pregnancy can bring a wide range of emotions, including ambivalence, uncertainty, and feeling disconnected. A perinatal therapist can give you space to talk honestly about what you are experiencing without judgment.
Yes. Fear of childbirth can be intense, and when it becomes severe or persistent, it may be referred to as tokophobia. Therapy can help you understand where the fear is coming from and develop ways to feel more prepared and supported. [ACOG]
After a loss, it can be hard to feel the same sense of ease or excitement in a new pregnancy. Many people navigate a mix of hope, uncertainty, and grief. Mativa therapists specialize in supporting people through pregnancy after loss, helping you feel less alone as you navigate this experience.
Yes. Pregnancy can bring worry, fear about birth, and emotions that do not match what you expected to feel. If anxiety feels persistent or starts to interfere with daily life, a perinatal therapist can help you understand what you are experiencing and find ways to manage it.