As a perinatal mental health therapist serving the amazing families of New York State (including right here in Ithaca!), I've been following the buzz around Artificial Intelligence (AI) in various fields, including mental health. While AI offers intriguing possibilities for certain aspects of well-being, I believe it's crucial to address why it falls short, particularly in the nuanced and deeply relational work of postpartum mental health and online therapy.

There’s something about summer—the slower pace, the longer days, the feeling of exhale after a long stretch of doing, doing, doing. Calendars open up a bit. The sun lingers into the evening. And for many, there's finally a little space to breathe.

While summer often gets filled with beach days, family trips, or time outdoors, it can also be a powerful time to turn inward. That natural pause you're feeling? It’s not just about rest—it's also a chance to reconnect with yourself. And for moms or moms-to-be navigating prenatal anxiety, birth trauma, loss, or depression, this season might be exactly the right moment to begin that healing process.

Bringing a baby into the world is life-changing, beautiful, and often, well, a little overwhelming. If you've ever thought about seeking support during pregnancy or after birth, you might also have run into some confusion or hesitation. It's totally normal to have questions about something unfamiliar, and sometimes, those questions can turn into myths that keep us from getting the help we truly deserve.

As a therapist specializing in prenatal and postpartum mental health, I often hear common assumptions that create misunderstandings about what postpartum therapy (and therapy for pregnant women) is really all about. Let's clear up some of that confusion!