Perinatal Mental Health Care

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Agoura Hills, CA
Perinatal Mental Health Care

A private psychology practice in Agoura Hills, CA serving women of all ages and offering unique servi

10/21/2025

I am so honored for my work to be briefly mentioned in this Knowable article (Click my Biolink and select “Featured News Article,” for full article) alongside some of the most iconic researchers in my field. I have been following Dr. Jennifer Payne’s work since her seminal review paper on a “Reproductive Subtype of Depression” in 2009 - for the full length article click my Biolink and select “Featured Research Article.” I had just completed my internship, was graduating with my PhD and her work confirmed that my chosen research in women’s mental health had a bright future!

Dr. Payne, a reproductive psychiatrist at the University of Virginia is a lead investigator on the studies that led to a blood test that predicts a pregnant woman’s risk of with more than 80 percent accuracy. This is very exciting work and my biomarker research is about 10-15 years behind hers - but going strong. To read more about my research click my biolink and select “Featured Blog Post.”

10/14/2025

October is pregnancy and infant loss awareness month and tomorrow (Oct 15th) is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day—a day when families and communities around the world pause to honor the babies and losses forever in their hearts. Each year on this day, candles are lit at 7 pm in your time zone, creating a continuous Wave of Light that encircles the globe in memory of all of the babies.

Many women who experience perinatal loss suffer emotionally. With a strong stigma around sharing miscarriage and stillbirth experiences, it is difficult for a woman to seek support without feeling shame and guilt - even though it is not her fault. Perinatal loss can have long-lasting impacts on a woman’s mental health, such as increased isolation, disrupted sleep, and appetite changes.

Wondering what to say to a loved one whose baby has died? Ask them how they are doing. Tell them you love them and you are there for them whenever they want to talk. Then check in, often.

Wondering what not to say or do? Don’t make assumptions. They may have named their baby, they may not have. Ask. Don’t start any sentence with, “At least...” There is no right way to end that sentence. It doesnt matter if they can try again, or if they have an older/healthy child. Please don’t let your fear or discomfort get in the way of supporting your loved ones.

Please consider reaching out to the Reproductive Psychology Clinic if you are suffering after a , termination, or . We have a Ending a Wanted Pregnancy group - the next series starts soon! For more information please click link in Bio and select “Cedars Sinai Groups.” Please also check out for many more support group options!

09/30/2025

September is NICU awareness month and this Israeli invention, the , is absolutely incredible! Its the world’s first and only wearable incubator, designed for the tiniest preterm infants in their first days and weeks of life.

As we all know, separation in the NICU causes stress and phsiological instability, which in turn cause short and long-term complications for both infants, mothers and partners. Did you know that parents with babies in the NICU are 3X more likely to have and than other ?!?

09/26/2025

Happy people are doing less and living better. You might be confusing a full schedule with a full life. This weekend consider resting more and doing less.

09/10/2025

💙 Today is World Su***de Prevention Day

💙 This week is Maternal Su***de Awareness Week 2025 (September 7–13)

💙 This month of September is su***de awareness month

This is your reminder to please check in on the moms who seem strong on the outside but may be struggling in silence. Motherhood can be isolating and overwhelming. A simple check-in can mean the world to a mom who’s feeling lost.

You are not alone, and there is help. Swipe 👈🏾👈🏽👈🏻 for resources. Please reach out to the su***de and crisis hotline 988, 1-833-TLC-MAMA and the wonderful support of Postpartum Support International.

08/28/2025

Let’s talk about ( )! Some women are very sensitive to the normal fluctuations of their and the sensitivity can begin VERY early on ( ) and cause many physical and emotional symptoms.

Did you know that women are 2-3 times more likely to suffer with and in their lifetime than men, however rates are the SAME before puberty and after ! Reproductive mood and anxiety disorders have been my research and clinical interest since my first year in graduate school. I started my career 18 years ago by investigating risk for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

Not to be confused with , PMDD is a is a chronic condition that significantly affects well-being during the reproductive years. Up to 85% of menstruating women exhibit one or more related symptoms, 20–40% report Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), and only 2–9% report PMDD, with symptoms that interfere with their functioning. Good news - there are treatments that work!!!

You can learn more about my early PMDD research by clicking my biolink and selecting “Research Gate Profile.” I also suggest checking out:

PMDD.Collective

relationship.therapy

08/18/2025

I LOVE Hannah Waddingham and Ted Lasso is a family favorite! So I was honored to also be interviewed for this issue of the magazine!

I’ll be turning 50 next year and agree wholeheartedly that it’s a gift to get older! Swipe to see my quotes on aging into our 50s and how it’s not all doom and gloom (once you get past , which lets face, it is a sh!t-show)!

08/12/2025

August is National Breastfeeding Month! It is a time to raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding, promote breastfeeding support, and celebrate breastfeeding families.

I wholeheartedly agree, particularly because breastfeeding was a goal of mine and I know what it’s like to worry about feeding my baby and it was painful, physically and emotionally. So I agree that families need ALL the support they can get! That being said, I firmly believe that families shouldn’t feel pressured one way or another! From my own challenging experiences I eventually found that half nursing half formula feeding 🍼 worked for us and exclusive breastfeeding wasn’t possible. This was a hard pill to swallow and I got a lot of support from my husband!

Who supports you during your feeding journey?

07/23/2025

The Reproductive Psychology Program offers a variety of services to our community with the goal of helping as many people as we can through their . That’s why we created several specific classes and : perinatal grief, infertility and endometriosis, which are open to anyone in the country, swipe for details.

We also understand that sometimes regular weekly psychotherapy isnt affordable or waiting lists are too long and you need to get started learning skills to manage depression or anxiety symptoms right away! That’s why we have been offering the monthly 4 session Cognitive behavioral therapy series, “Becoming Mother,” since 2020. The name recently changed to “Pathways to Perinatal Peace,” but its the same great series! If you are a California state resident this group is for you!

Choose the virtual group that suits your needs best. Our monthly groups are starting soon! To register for any of our groups, click the link in our bio and select “Cedars-Sinai Groups!”

07/10/2025

🧐🫣🤨

Nothing.

Nothing happened. There were no major fires to put out and no emergencies that I missed. I am happy to report that I could completely rely on my amazing research and clinical team at Cedars Sinai to ensure all patient care and activities were carried out without a hitch.

Everyone says they couldnt handle the stress of not knowing what’s going on - potentially missing something important. Take it from me - its not. Its an amazing relief to disconnect and unplug. We all need it and deserve it.

P.S. It makes us better at our jobs when we come back.

Have you ever completely unplugged on vacation? Share how it went below 👇

06/11/2025

Happy to be interviewed for this recent magazine article on maternal mental health.

Author, Victoria Pelham writes, ‘Just as pregnancy and childbirth challenges the body, the “fourth trimester” after the baby arrives can bend the mind and heart.‘

Swipe 👈🏼👈🏽👈🏾 to read more of the article and to read the whole thing, please click my billing and select “Featured Article.”

06/04/2025

Women are seen by medical providers so frequently while , yet we’re only seen once .

This is not OK.

Now more than ever, need their mental and physical needs met postpartum! If you’re in your request an early postpartum check up to discuss your needs!

Did you need more than 1 postpartum visit?!?!? I know I did!

Address

28328 Agoura Road, Suite 201
Agoura Hills, CA
91301

Telephone

+18182804445

Website

http://www.perinatalmentalhealthcare.com/

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