Therapy for Pregnancy &
Postpartum Stress
Understanding Pregnancy & Postpartum Stress in Black Women
Pregnancy and postpartum can be beautiful, but for many Black women, these seasons also carry unique stressors. If you’ve been feeling exhausted, emotionally overwhelmed, disconnected from yourself, or pressured to “keep it all together,” you’re not alone — and you don’t have to navigate it by yourself.
At Black Girls Mental Health Collective, we specialize in culturally responsive, trauma-informed support for Black mothers and birthing people across California and Georgia, with therapists who understand the realities you face at work, at home, and in your community.
What Pregnancy & Postpartum Stress Looks Like in Black Women
While every mother’s experience is unique, pregnancy and postpartum stress in Black women can look like:
Why Black Women Experience Higher Rates of Pregnancy & Postpartum Stress
Research shows that up to 40% of Black women experience maternal mental health symptoms — nearly twice the national average (https://www.mmhla.org/articles/black-women-birthing-people-mothers-and-maternal-mental-health-fact-sheet). This disparity is not due to individual weakness, but to systemic and cultural realities, including:
Racism & Microaggressions: Daily encounters, even during medical visits, can heighten anxiety and stress (https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2021.00808).
Healthcare Inequities: Higher rates of misdiagnosis, dismissal of symptoms, and inconsistent postpartum screening.
Economic Stress: Disproportionate rates of underemployment, housing instability, and lack of paid leave.
Birth Trauma: Increased risk of emergency interventions, preterm birth, and maternal mortality.
Cultural Expectations: The “Strong Black Woman” expectation discourages seeking help or admitting vulnerability.
Barriers to Getting Help for Pregnancy & Postpartum Stress
Many Black women delay or avoid seeking help because of:
Stigma around mental health — fear of being judged or labeled “weak”
Mistrust of healthcare systems due to historical and personal experiences
Lack of culturally competent providers
Financial and logistical hurdles — childcare, transportation, limited insurance coverage
Fear of family or community misunderstanding
Is Pregnancy & Postpartum Stress Treatable? Absolutely.
Evidence-based therapies — adapted to be culturally responsive — can help you heal, feel grounded, and reconnect with yourself. These include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
How it helps: Challenges thoughts like “I’m a bad mom” or “something’s wrong with me,” reducing anxiety, guilt, and overwhelm.
What it looks like: Practical tools and exercises between sessions to replace negative thinking with balanced, affirming perspectives.
How it helps: Eases stress from relationship changes after baby, conflicts with a partner, or feeling isolated.
What it looks like: Talking through role transitions, practicing better communication, and strengthening support systems.
How it helps: Heals from birth trauma, miscarriage, or difficult pregnancy experiences that keep resurfacing.
What it looks like: Safely revisiting painful memories while using eye movements or tapping to release their emotional weight.
How it helps: Calms racing thoughts, improves sleep, and helps you feel more present with your baby.
What it looks like: Short breathing, grounding, or body-based exercises built into daily routines like feeding or nap times.
How it helps: Brings comfort, strength, and hope during the emotional highs and lows of postpartum recovery.
What it looks like: Using prayer, affirmations, or spiritual practices that fit your beliefs—always guided by your choice.
Integrating Faith & Spirituality
Mindfulness & Stress Reduction
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
The Role of Faith in Therapy
For many Black women, faith is not just belief — it’s our anchor, our history, and our way of making sense of life’s challenges. We recognize that your spirituality, church family, and cultural practices may be central to your identity, and therapy should support, not compete with, those values.
Faith integration in therapy can look like:
Opening or closing sessions with prayer.
Exploring scripture alongside therapeutic insights.
Using meditation, music, or storytelling rooted in your heritage.
Navigating how to set boundaries within faith communities while staying connected.
We also understand that some Black women carry pain from church hurt, exclusion, or spiritual abuse. Therapy can be a safe space to unpack those wounds, rebuild trust in your spiritual self, and explore new forms of connection that nurture rather than harm.
Online & In-Person Pregnancy & Postpartum Stress Therapy — Accessible and Confidential
Whether you’re in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Concord, Atlanta, or anywhere in California or Georgia, you can choose between secure telehealth sessions and in-person appointments. Both options offer a safe, judgment-free space to heal with a Black woman therapist who sees you.
Meet Our Black Women Therapists
Pregnancy & Postpartum Stress Therapy FAQs
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Yes — we accept multiple insurance plans in California and Georgia, including United Healthcare (Optum), Anthem Blue Cross California, Blue Shield of California, Carelon Behavioral Health, Magellan, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Quest Behavioral Health, Aetna, Horizon BCBS of NJ, Independence BCBS PA, and Cigna. We also offer therapy vouchers for eligible Black women during pregnancy or within one year postpartum.
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You don’t need a formal diagnosis to seek support. We can help assess and guide next steps.
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Absolutely. Partner-inclusive sessions can support communication, parenting transitions, and mutual understanding.
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Yes. Faith integration is available if it aligns with your values.
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Yes — and we can address overlapping symptoms in one treatment plan.