Perinatal & Postpartum Anxiety Therapy in Vienna, Virginia

Intrusive thoughts. Constant anxiety. A mind that won’t settle.

You might find yourself questioning everything—your thoughts, your reactions, even your ability to trust yourself.

For many, this shows up during pregnancy or postpartum in ways that feel alarming, confusing, or out of character.

You are not alone—and this is something we treat directly.

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Pregnancy and postpartum can bring significant emotional changes—sometimes in ways that feel unexpected or difficult to make sense of.

Anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and emotional overwhelm can show up quickly, even when things appear “fine” from the outside.

For some, this looks like constant worry, panic, or racing thoughts. For others, it’s intrusive thoughts that feel frightening or out of character, or a quiet sense of feeling unlike yourself while trying to hold everything together.

When distress takes over during this time, it can feel confusing, isolating, and difficult to talk about.

You do not have to manage that alone.

We provide virtual therapy throughout Virginia, along with in-person therapy in Vienna through our partnership with the Behive Wellness community.
Read their introduction to our practice here.

Common Concerns During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Many people come to therapy wondering if what they’re experiencing is “normal”—or something more.

Often, it looks like:

  • • Intrusive thoughts and anxiety

    (fears about harm coming to your baby, or feeling unable to trust your own mind)

    • Perinatal OCD

    (repetitive thoughts, mental loops, checking, or reassurance-seeking that feel impossible to turn off)

    • Constant worry or mental overdrive

    (racing thoughts, worst-case scenarios, difficulty relaxing)

    • High-risk pregnancy or pregnancy after loss

    (heightened anxiety, fear, or feeling on edge due to medical concerns or past experiences)

    • Feeling unlike yourself

    (even while appearing “fine” on the outside)

To understand the difference between typical worries and more intense symptoms, read our guide on Postpartum Anxiety and OCD.

Pregnancy and early motherhood can intensify existing patterns—especially around anxiety, control, and responsibility.

What you’re experiencing doesn’t come out of nowhere. It often connects to deeper ways your mind has learned to respond to uncertainty, stress, or fear.

Our work helps you understand those patterns while also giving you practical ways to move through them.

Concerned About Intrusive Thoughts?

Intrusive thoughts during pregnancy or postpartum are more common than most people realize—and they are highly treatable.

They can show up as:

  • Fear of harming your baby

  • Disturbing or unwanted mental images

  • Doubting your intentions or “what if I did something wrong?”

  • Repetitive checking, reassurance seeking, or mental review

These thoughts are ego dystonic- they feel foreign, unwanted, and deeply distressing.

They are a symptom of anxiety or OCD— not a reflection of who you are.

For some people, this pattern is part of perinatal OCD, which is highly treatable with specialized therapy.

Read more about intrusive thoughts postpartum and why they can feel so real.

How Therapy Works

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Our work is both supportive and structured.

That means:

• Space to talk openly about what you’re experiencing

• A clear understanding of the patterns that may be keeping you stuck

• Evidence-based approaches, including CBT and ERP, when helpful

We don’t just talk about anxiety—we help you change your relationship to it.

If you’re used to functioning well in other areas of your life, it can feel especially unsettling when your mind no longer feels reliable. Therapy can help you regain a sense of steadiness and trust in yourself again.

Schedule a consultation to discuss your specific concerns and next steps.

If what you’re reading feels familiar, the next step is to talk through what’s going on and see whether this approach feels like the right fit.

You don’t need to have everything figured out before reaching out.

Many people start with a consultation to ask questions, get a clearer sense of what they’re experiencing, and decide how they’d like to move forward.

You do not need to wait for this to get worse to get support.

Schedule a Consultation