Frequently Asked Questions
About Therapy & Working Together
Do I have to be a new mom to work with you?
Not at all. While my practice is called Therapy for New Moms, I work with women across all stages of motherhood — from pregnancy and the postpartum period through toddlerhood, school age, and beyond. The identity shifts, mental load, and emotional weight of motherhood don't have a expiration date. If you're a mother who is struggling, you belong here.
What does a first session look like?
The first session is really just a conversation. There's no pressure to have everything figured out or to know exactly what you need. We'll talk about what's bringing you in, what life looks like for you right now, and what you're hoping therapy might help with. By the end, we'll have a sense of whether working together feels like a good fit — and if it does, we'll start building a plan from there.
How long does therapy usually take?
This is genuinely different for everyone, and I'll always be honest with you about it. Some women come for a focused period around a specific issue like birth trauma or the transition to motherhood. Others find that longer-term support serves them better, especially if they're doing deeper identity or relational work. We'll check in regularly about how things are going and adjust as needed. You are never locked in.
Do you offer in-person or virtual sessions?
I currently provide in-person sessions, virtual sessions and walk and talk sessions.
Do you accept insurance?
I am an out-of-network provider, which means I don't bill insurance companies directly.
I provide something called a superbill after each session. A superbill is essentially a detailed receipt that includes everything your insurance company needs — my license information, the diagnosis code, the session date and fee. You submit it directly to your insurance company, and if you have out-of-network mental health benefits (many plans do), they will reimburse you a portion of what you paid. Depending on your plan, that reimbursement can be significant.
Here's how to find out what you're entitled to before we even meet:
Call the member services number on the back of your insurance card and ask:
"Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits?"
"What is my out-of-network deductible, and has any of it been met?"
"What percentage do you reimburse for out-of-network outpatient therapy once my deductible is met?"
Many women are surprised to find their plan covers 50–80% of out-of-network therapy costs once their deductible is reached. It's worth a 10-minute phone call to find out.
How do I know if you're the right therapist for me?
The most important thing in therapy is the relationship — you should feel safe, seen, and not judged. I'd encourage you to schedule a free consultation and pay attention to how you feel during that conversation. Do you feel like you can be honest? Do you feel understood? Trust that instinct. If I'm not the right fit, I will always help you find someone who is.
Can I do a free consultation before committing?
Yes. I offer a free 15-minute phone or video consultation so you can get a sense of who I am, ask any questions, and decide if you'd like to move forward. You can book that directly through my website.
→ Schedule your free consultation
Postpartum Depression & Anxiety
How do I know if I have postpartum depression?
Postpartum depression doesn't always look like uncontrollable crying. It can look like numbness, rage, disconnection from your baby, feeling like a hollow version of yourself, or just knowing something is deeply wrong without being able to name it. If any of these resonate — or if you've been wondering whether what you're feeling is "normal" for longer than a few weeks — that wondering is worth paying attention to. A professional assessment takes the guesswork out of it entirely.
Is what I'm feeling postpartum depression or just the baby blues?
The baby blues are extremely common — up to 80% of new mothers experience mood fluctuations, tearfulness, and emotional sensitivity in the first 1 to 2 weeks after birth. This is largely hormonal and typically resolves on its own.
Postpartum depression is different. It's more intense, lasts longer than two weeks, and significantly interferes with your ability to function or feel like yourself. If you're past the two-week mark and things aren't improving — or they're getting worse — please reach out. Early support makes a real difference.
I think I might have postpartum anxiety, not postpartum depression. Do you work with that too?
Yes, absolutely. Postpartum anxiety (PPA) is actually more common than postpartum depression and is significantly under-discussed. It can look like racing thoughts you can't turn off, constant fear that something terrible is going to happen to your baby, inability to sleep even when your baby sleeps, physical symptoms like a racing heart or tight chest, or just a relentless sense of dread you can't explain. If this sounds familiar, you're in exactly the right place.
Can postpartum depression start later — not right after birth?
Yes. While postpartum depression most commonly emerges in the first few weeks to months after birth, it can develop or be recognized later — sometimes at 6 months, sometimes at a year, sometimes even during the transition back to work or at weaning. If you're experiencing symptoms now, it doesn't matter how long ago you gave birth. It's never too late to get support.
I had postpartum depression with my first baby. Does that mean I'll have it again?
Having a history of postpartum depression does increase your risk with subsequent pregnancies — but it does not mean it's inevitable. And knowing your history means you can prepare. Working with a therapist during pregnancy, having a support plan in place, and knowing what early symptoms look like for you personally are all protective factors. I work with women prenatally for exactly this reason.
I'm having thoughts that scare me. Is that normal?
Intrusive thoughts — unwanted, distressing mental images or fears about harm coming to your baby — are more common than most people know and are a recognized symptom of postpartum anxiety and OCD. The fact that they horrify you is actually significant — it means your protective instincts are working.
That said, please don't carry this alone. Reach out to a mental health professional who can properly assess what you're experiencing and support you through it.
If you are ever in crisis or feel you may act on a thought, please call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or go to your nearest emergency room.
The Mental Load & Motherhood
Why am I so exhausted even when I get enough sleep?
Because sleep deprivation and cognitive exhaustion are not the same thing. The mental load of motherhood — the constant anticipating, planning, remembering, and managing that runs in the background of your brain at all times — is genuinely physiologically depleting. It keeps your cortisol elevated, which affects your mood, your patience, your immune system, and your sense of wellbeing. You're not lazy. You're overstimulated and under-resourced.
Why do I snap at my kids even when I don't want to?
This is one of the most common things I hear from mothers, and one of the most misunderstood. Snapping isn't a character flaw — it's what happens when your window of tolerance has been exceeded. When we're chronically depleted, our capacity to regulate our emotions shrinks. Things that wouldn't bother us on a good day become unbearable. This is nervous system science, not a reflection of who you are as a mother.
I feel like I've lost myself since becoming a mom. Is that a real thing?
It is absolutely a real thing, and it even has a name: matrescence — the profound identity transformation that happens when a woman becomes a mother. The sense of not quite recognizing yourself, of your old life feeling distant, of not knowing who you are outside of being someone's parent — this is one of the most common and least talked-about experiences in early motherhood. You haven't lost yourself. You're in the middle of a reorganization. And there is support for this.
→ Read more: What Is Matrescence?
Is it normal to feel resentful of my partner after having kids?
Yes — and research backs this up. Studies show that relationship satisfaction drops significantly for most couples in the first few years after a baby, largely due to the unequal distribution of invisible labor, sleep deprivation, and the identity shifts both partners are navigating. Resentment is often a sign that something isn't being named or addressed — not that the relationship is broken. Therapy can be a space to find the language for it.
I love my kids but I don't always like being a mom. Am I a bad mother?
No. You're an honest one. Maternal ambivalence — the experience of loving your children deeply while also sometimes resenting, struggling with, or wanting a break from the role of motherhood — is one of the most universal and least spoken experiences in parenting. Acknowledging it doesn't make you a bad mother. Pretending it isn't there is what tends to cause harm over time.
Important Notes
Is the content on this website therapy?
No. Everything on this website — including blog posts, resources, and social media content — is educational and informational only. It is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment and does not constitute a therapeutic relationship. If you are struggling, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional.
What if I'm in crisis right now?
Please reach out for immediate support:
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988
Crisis Text Line — text HOME to 741741
Postpartum Support International Helpline — 1-800-944-4773
Emergency services — call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room
Still have a question?
If there's something you'd like to know that isn't answered here, you're always welcome to reach out directly. I read every message.
→ Contact me → Schedule a free consultation
Emma Bennett, LCSW #79627 | therapyfornewmoms.com | Maternal mental health therapy for women and mothers since 2017. Educational content only — not therapy.