Perinatal & Maternal Mental Health Specialization

Perinatal and Maternal Mental Health Specialization is a clinical focus area addressing the spectrum of mood, anxiety, and trauma-related disorders that emerge during pregnancy and the postpartum period—including DSM-5-TR diagnoses such as Major Depressive Disorder with Peripartum Onset, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, PTSD, and Postpartum Psychosis—recognizing that this window carries one of the highest risks for new-onset psychiatric illness in a person's lifetime. Clinicians in this specialization are trained to conduct validated screenings (e.g., the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), account for the intersecting biological, hormonal, relational, and social determinants of perinatal mental health, and apply evidence-based interventions—such as Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)—that are adapted for the unique demands of the perinatal period, including considerations around infant attachment and, when relevant, psychopharmacological safety during pregnancy and lactation.