Postpartum Therapy & Maternal Mental Health in West Seattle
For the mom who feels anxious, overwhelmed, or unlike herself — in her body, her mind, or her relationships.
Support for the Spectrum of Pregnancy & Postpartum
This season is big, even if it “looks fine” on paper.
On the outside, you’re hitting the milestones. You’re navigating the daily rhythms of life in West Seattle—the school runs, the grocery trips, the "showing up." But inside, it often feels like the lights have been dimmed.
The transition through pregnancy and the years that follow is more than just a lifestyle change; it is a complete restructuring of your identity, your body, your nervous system, and your relationships. Even when you "love being a mom," you may not feel fully like yourself.
How pregnancy & postpartum therapy can help you:
Therapy in this season focuses on both relief now and long-term healing:
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Reducing anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and overwhelm so you can think more clearly and breathe again.
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Processing birth and medical trauma, pregnancy loss, or a fertility journey that took more out of you than you realized.
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You go from calm to yelling in 0.6 seconds. You’re not a bad mom, but your body is telling you something needs to be addressed.
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Helping you understand what is happening with your desire, body image, and intimacy so you feel less alone and more empowered.
You deserve support in this season.
The intersection of perinatal mental health, trauma, and sexual wellness
Your wholeness matters.Your wholeness matters. We go beyond standard talk therapy to focus on the two things that shape your experience as a mother:
Your Nervous System: We address how sleep deprivation, birth trauma, and sensory overload impact your emotions, your body, and your desire. Using tools like Brainspotting and somatic therapy, we help your body move out of ‘survival mode’ and back into a felt sense of safety.
Your Stories: We unpack the ‘shoulds’ - the messages from childhood, religion, and culture about what it means to be a “good mom.” We help you deconstruct these expectations so you can parent from a place of authenticity rather than performance.
Your Sexual Wellness: We offer a trauma-informed, sex-positive space to discuss desire, body image, and intimacy.
By addressing both your body and your story, we move beyond just "managing symptoms" to help you truly reclaim your whole life after baby.
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Cristine provided such compassionate support for me while I was pregnant and into the newborn season. I had been anxious about so many things and now I’m learning how to give myself compassion, not compare myself to the moms of Instagram, and just be the best mom I can be for my child.
—a well supported mama
Pregnancy & postpartum support can happen through:
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Weekly or biweekly sessions where you have a dedicated space to process your experience, learn tools, and feel less alone.
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If low desire or sexual shutdown is a primary concern, you can choose a structured Desire Reset package tailored to postpartum and early parenthood.
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Half-day intensives for you alone or with a partner to understand what is happening in your relationship and create a realistic plan for connection in this season.
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Periodic groups for moms focused on desire, identity, and nervous-system support after kids, so you can heal in community instead of isolation.
You can start with any of these, and we will help you figure out what makes the most sense for your life right now.
Who we work with
We support mothers who feel like they are "going through the motions" but don't feel like themselves. Whether you are in the thick of the newborn days or your "baby" is now in elementary school at Genesee Hill or Lafayette, you’ve found the right place.
Where we meet
Currently, we operate as a fully virtual telehealth practice. This means we can meet during nap time or between school runs without you ever having to worry about West Seattle bridge traffic or finding a parking spot in Alki.
Why work with me?
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Work with a licensed marriage and family therapist who is certified in perinatal mental health (PMH-C), including perinatal trauma.
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Perinatal mental health is the reason Cristine became a therapist. The importance of supporting moms, birthing people and parents of all forms in this season is unmeasurable. In a culture that devalues mothers, she’s here to support you and watch you bloom into the parent you are meant to be with confidence and joy.
Prior to becoming a maternal mental health therapist, Cristine spent years supporting moms and families as a birth, postpartum and bereavement doula. She knows first hand what families experience and how to help them transition smoothly to parenthood.
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Cristine personally experienced perinatal mood disorders when she had babies….and back when there were fewer resources for new moms. Her lived experience provides a unique ability to empathize with what you are going through. She’s here to help normalize your experience and offer hope for your process and healing. You have everything you need to be the exact mom your baby needs. Together, we’ll get through this.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Currently, we only provide telehealth services, but plan to open an in person office in North Admiral by August 2026.
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Perinatal mental health refers to a person’s emotional and psychological well-being during the period from conception through the first year after childbirth. While many people are familiar with "postpartum depression," perinatal mental health encompasses a wider spectrum of experiences, including anxiety, OCD, birth trauma, and "mom rage."
In West Seattle and beyond, maternal mental health challenges are the most common complication of childbirth, affecting 1 in 5 birthing parents. These conditions are highly treatable with specialized, trauma-informed therapy.
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At this time, Made Whole Counseling is considered out of network with insurance, but can provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance company. Please inquire with your insurance to know what your benefits are.
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Schedule an initial consultation directly through the booking link, we’ll make sure we are a good fit and then get you on the calendar!