How to find a perinatal therapist who takes your insurance
The perinatal period can bring up things you did not expect: anxiety, grief, identity shifts, relationship strain, old trauma. A perinatal therapist gets all of that in a way a general therapist might not. Here is how to find one.
Perinatal mental health is a specialty. It covers the emotional and psychological experience of trying to conceive, pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period including pregnancy loss, infertility, birth trauma, postpartum depression and anxiety, NICU experiences, and the enormous identity shift that comes with becoming a parent. A therapist with training in this area understands the specific clinical picture, knows the safe treatment options during pregnancy and while breastfeeding, and will not look alarmed when you describe intrusive thoughts about your baby.
What makes a therapist perinatal-specialized?
There is no single required license for perinatal mental health. Look for therapists who:
- List perinatal mental health, postpartum depression, pregnancy, or maternal mental health among their specialties.
- Have completed training through Postpartum Support International (PSI), which offers certificate programs for clinicians.
- Have a PMH-C (Perinatal Mental Health Certification) credential from PSI.
- Have experience with perinatal loss, infertility, or birth trauma if those are relevant to your situation.
- Are familiar with the EPDS (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) and standard perinatal screening tools.
Navigating insurance in Canada
In Canada, psychotherapy and counselling are not provincially covered in most provinces (Ontario has some publicly funded psychotherapy through specific programs). You will typically access therapy through an extended benefits plan through your employer or your partner's employer. Coverage varies widely: some plans cover a set dollar amount per year for a registered psychologist or social worker, others specify which credentials are covered.
Check your plan documents for:
- Which credentials are covered (psychologist, social worker, registered counsellor, etc.)
- Annual or per-session dollar limits
- Whether a physician referral is required
If you do not have coverage or have exhausted your benefits, ask therapists about sliding scale fees. Many offer them.
Navigating insurance in the US
The US system is more complicated. Most commercial insurance plans cover mental health services, but the network of therapists who take any given plan can be limited. Start with your insurer's provider search tool, filter for therapists, and then check individually whether they have perinatal experience.
Postpartum Support International has a provider directory and can help you find someone in your area. Open Path Collective offers subsidized sessions for people who are underinsured. Many therapists also offer out-of-network superbills you can submit for partial reimbursement.
Questions to ask a potential perinatal therapist
- What experience do you have with perinatal mental health specifically?
- Have you worked with postpartum depression and anxiety? Birth trauma? Pregnancy loss?
- What is your approach to medication conversations during pregnancy or breastfeeding? (They should be willing to coordinate with your prescriber, not dismissive.)
- Do you offer teletherapy? (Important when you have a newborn and leaving the house feels impossible.)
- What is your cancellation policy? (Life with a new baby is unpredictable.)
If you are in crisis right now
If you are struggling right now, you do not have to wait. PSI has a helpline (1-800-944-4773 in the US and Canada, call or text). In Canada, you can also call or text 988. In the US, 988 connects you with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. These are not only for suicidal crises. They are for anyone who is overwhelmed and needs someone to talk to.
Find a perinatal therapist near you
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