Perinatal Mental Health is the mental health of the birthing parent/birthing partner before, during, and after the pregnancy and delivery of a child. Perinatal Mental Health has been historically overlooked and under treated within the American health system. Too frequently, mental health concerns are missed in regard to new parents, which can lead to negative short and long-term outcomes for the family. These outcomes can result in parent/child attachment concerns, anxiety, depression, and psychosis that can put both the parent and child’s life at risk.

While our past understanding of Perinatal Mental Health was limited to an awareness of Postpartum Depression, we now understand that new parents can suffer from multiple Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADS). A Certified Perinatal Mental Health Specialist is trained in the assessment and treatment of these disorders. Treatment can address attachment and birth trauma, anxiety, depression, psychosis, and overall family function. Interventions include psychoeducation, mindfulness techniques and coping skills, trauma processing, and collaborative treatment plans.

Elsa Deutschbein, LMHC, PMH-C is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Perinatal Mental Health Specialist in the State of NY. She is an active member of Postpartum Support International (PSI) and the New York Mental Health Counselor Association (NYMHCA). Elsa is also trained in infant mental health, trauma processing, and as a Doula. Her preferred approach to treatment is body-centered and collaborative. Birth is a physiological process that requires a physiological approach to healing. She enjoys helping clients find awareness, rhythm, and regulation within their skin.