Perinatal mental health therapy offers a grounded, supportive space to understand what you’re feeling, why it’s happening, and how to move through it with more steadiness. Together, we look at your symptoms, nervous system patterns, and life transitions through a lens that honors both your lived experience and your role as a parent.
Think of it as a place to exhale without pressure to “bounce back,” be cheerful, or explain yourself.
How it Works
proudly serving fellow mamas throughout the state of washington
You’re not alone, and you deserve support from some one who's been right where you are now.
Trying to do everything well but rarely having a moment for yourself.
EXHAUSTION + MENTAL LOAD
Trying to balance who you were with who you’re becoming, and the pressure that comes with both.
ADJUSTING TO A NEW IDENTITY
A difficult delivery, medical complications, or moments that still sit heavier than you expected.
BIRTH-RELATED STRESS OR TRAUMA
A mind that won’t power down, persistent worry about your baby, or fears that feel disproportionate to your situation.
INTRUSIVE OR ANXIOUS THOUGHTS
Have You been struggling with...
Life shifts fast during pregnancy and postpartum, and even the most joyful seasons can feel heavier or more complicated than expected. Perinatal therapy supports anyone who is pregnant, postpartum, trying to conceive, or navigating early parenthood, especially when the experience feels different than you imagined.
Who This Service is For:
A calmer nervous system that supports both you and your baby.
More confidence in your instincts and decision-making.
Less overwhelm and more emotional breathing room.
Common Shifts Might include
Perinatal mental health therapy isn’t about perfection. It’s about helping you feel more grounded, regulated, and supported as life changes around you.
Using evidence-based approaches and a pace that respects your season of life, we work together to create steadier days, clearer emotional footing, and more space for you to feel like you again.
Benefits & Outcomes
You won’t get a “just relax” therapist here. I’m warm, a little humorous, and fully human right alongside you.
My style is practical, collaborative, and honest.
I’m a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with more than a decade of experience supporting people through trauma, major life transitions, and seasons of high stress — including pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenthood.
Before opening Paper Birch Therapy, I spent years working in hospital and emergency settings, including Seattle Children’s Hospital, where I supported families through birth trauma, NICU stays, and childhood illnesses and injuries. That work shaped the way I show up with parents now, steady, compassionate, and deeply attuned to the emotional weight that comes with caring for a child in crisis.
I’m also trained in EMDR and have lived experience with perinatal complications and early-infancy caregiving. Supporting parents during the pregnancy and postpartum journey isn’t just professional for me — it’s personal, and a core part of my practice.
Hi, I'm Vickery
Pregnancy and early parenthood can bring joy, fear, exhaustion, and grief all at once, especially if your journey has included birth trauma, fertility challenges, NICU stays, or unexpected complications. Therapy offers a steady, supportive rhythm where you can understand your nervous system, untangle what’s been weighing on you, and make sense of the moments that still feel sharp. It’s designed to meet you exactly where you are, whether you’re preparing for parenthood, healing after a difficult birth, or navigating the emotional load of caring for a little one.
Here's What to Expect
A pace that respects your season of life
Practical coping strategies
Nervous system basics
We begin by understanding your symptoms, history, and goals. You’ll learn grounding tools you can use at home, especially during moments of overwhelm.
A Steady Start
phase 1
Tools for daily stability
Identifying patterns and triggers
Supportive processing
We look at what’s been emotionally heavy: birth experiences, medical complications, identity shifts, intrusive thoughts, and anything else shaping how you feel day-to-day.
Finding the Right Threads
phase 2
Feeling more grounded, present, and yourself
Reprocessing birth or medical trauma
EMDR for perinatal experiences
If helpful, we may incorporate EMDR or other trauma-informed methods to reduce the emotional intensity of difficult experiences and help your mind + body settle into a calmer baseline.
Reprocessing & Relief
Phase 3
Insurance is accepted, and superbills are available for out-of-network plans.
$200
53-minute session
Perinatal mental health therapy is a meaningful investment in your wellbeing, and your family’s. My goal is to make the process clear and approachable so you always know what to expect.
Investment Overview
YOUR TIME IS NOW
I accept both insurance and private pay for perinatal mental health sessions. If you’re planning to use your insurance, I’m happy to walk you through what your plan covers, what to expect financially, and what your out-of-pocket costs may be.
Under the No Surprises Act, you’re entitled to a Good Faith Estimate outlining the expected costs of your care. You’ll receive this information before we begin, and you can request an updated estimate at any time as your needs or treatment plan evolve.
GOOD FAITH ESTIMATE & INSURANCE
Understanding Your Coverage
Yes. While I work closely with people in pregnancy and early parenthood, I also have extensive experience supporting parents of older kids. I’ve worked in children’s hospitals, group homes, and as a family therapist with families involved with DCFS, which means I understand the complexities that come with parenting at every stage.
Even though my own children are young, my professional background spans childhood trauma, behavioral challenges, and family-system stress, so you’re in the right place no matter how old your kids are.
You don’t have to be a parent (or even actively trying) to get support here. Many people come to therapy wanting to understand their patterns, heal old wounds, or prepare emotionally for the kind of parent they hope to be someday. I also work with individuals navigating infertility, pregnancy loss, or the uncertainty that comes with family planning. Wherever you are in the process, you’re welcome, and we move at a pace that honors your story and your goals.
Absolutely. Partners, support people, and loved ones often carry their own version of stress, fear, and adjustment during pregnancy, postpartum, or fertility challenges. I regularly work with individuals who aren’t the one physically pregnant but are deeply impacted by the journey, whether you’re navigating relationship changes, supporting someone through birth trauma, or processing your own history as you move into parenthood. Your experience matters, too, and you’re welcome here.
Carving out time for therapy isn’t selfish; it’s what allows you to keep showing up in your life without running on empty. Think of this as protected space to slow down, breathe, and actually tend to what’s been piling up. When you feel more grounded and resourced, everything else becomes more manageable.
Yep! The effects of a difficult pregnancy, birth, postpartum period, or early caregiving season don’t magically disappear once your child gets older. Many people find that those early experiences continue to shape how they show up in parenting and relationships years later.
I work with parents at all stages, especially those who are noticing patterns, stress, or emotional responses that trace back to earlier experiences. You don’t need to be in the thick of postpartum to benefit from support; your story and your healing are still important.
You don’t have to figure everything out alone. A free 15-minute consultation is a calm, low-pressure space to ask questions, get clarity, and see whether working together feels supportive for what you’re navigating, whether you’re pregnant, postpartum, or moving through the many complexities of perinatal life.