Prenatal Therapy in Denver: Support for Anxiety and Stress During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a time of major transformation.  From the first positive pregnancy test through the morning (let’s be real, all-day) sickness, body aches, fatigue and food aversions, to the registry planning  (and ok, maybe a fight or two with your partner about which stroller you REALLY need) and eventually, the excitement and fear that start to creep in as you inch towards your due date, pregnancy is full of so many ups and downs.  On some days you feel so excited, joyful and ready to be a parent.  On other days you may feel gripped with intense anxiety, fear and a sense of inadequacy.  If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you are certainly not alone - and you don’t have to navigate this chapter of life by yourself.

Prenatal therapy offers a safe, supportive space to process all of the highs and lows of pregnancy. Whether you're dealing with health anxiety, fear of the coming change, or coping with difficult feelings related to a past pregnancy loss or traumatic birth, therapy can help you feel more grounded and less alone. If you’re looking for pregnancy therapy in Denver, you’re in the right place.

Why Pregnancy Can Be So Emotionally Challenging

Pregnancy doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Even a healthy, planned pregnancy can bring unexpected emotional struggles.  When you add in life’s everyday stressors—plus the constant swirl of hormones, changes to your body, and shifting relationships— it’s no wonder that some women feel totally overwhelmed during this time.  

Here are some of the most common emotional challenges that pregnant women face:

• Fear About the Baby’s Health

  Women who have struggled with health anxiety prior to becoming or have a history of health issues, miscarriage or pregnancy complications may be especially susceptible to worries about the health of their babies.  But if we’re being honest, many (if not most) women deal with the occasional worry about if their baby is developing ok, and may even escalate to fears of birth defects or complicated deliveries.  It is so, so hard having something going on in your body for months that you have so little visibility into.  Sometimes the time between appointments (or leading up to your first!) can feel like they stretch on for an eternity.  For some women, these fears can become quite distressing and escalate into frequent Googling or checking in with their doctor about their symptoms. 

• Physical Discomfort and Exhaustion

  The fatigue and discomfort that most women experience at some point during pregnancy is real - it can feel overwhelming, depleting and significantly impact your ability to carry out your regular responsibilities.  Certain circumstances can make this especially challenging - having a job where you’re expected to be on your feet, having a long commute or taking physical care of other members of your family.  Dealing with nausea and fatigue during the first trimester can be so hard, when you’re trying to balance taking care of your health with keeping your pregnancy private until you feel comfortable sharing.  Some women even experience feelings of guilt about their discomfort:  “I know I should be excited, but I just feel so tired all the time.” 

• Changing Roles & Identity

  Preparing for parenthood can bring up a lot of questions regarding identity and the roles that you fill in your life.  Some people worry about their ability to be a good parent, or struggle to picture how they will balance parenting with being a partner, coworker and friend.  

• Relationship Challenges

  Pregnancy can bring up new dynamics in a partnership.  Only one person in the relationship has the physical experience of carrying a baby, and that can sometimes bring up feelings of resentment and loneliness.  As your body changes and pregnancy symptoms increase, you may require extra support from your partner to take care of household responsibilities.  Sometimes partners also struggle to get on the same page about what they value as they prepare for parenthood, or what their expectations are.  All of these factors can put a strain on even the healthiest relationships. 

• Work and Financial Stress

  Preparing for a baby often involves a lot of logistical planning, which may sometimes feel like it takes away from the excitement that you’re “supposed” to feel.  Stress about maternity leave, childcare expenses and healthcare planning can start to pile up.  Sometimes parents have pressure to return to work before their ready, or choose childcare options that don’t feel ideal.  Balancing work, finances and family as you plan for parenthood can feel really overwhelming for many parents. 

• Prior Trauma or Mental Health Challenges

  Women who have a history of trauma (including but not limited to things like pregnancy loss, traumatic birth, complicated pregnancies, sexual assault or domestic violence) may find themselves feeling unexpectedly triggered at different moments in their pregnancies as their bodies begin to change, medical monitoring increases and they cope with fear and uncertainty.  Women dealing with mental health challenges like anxiety, depression or PTSD may also find that their symptoms become heightened at different points in pregnancy. 

How Prenatal Therapy Helps

The good news? You don’t have to figure this all out on your own. Therapy provides a compassionate, non-judgmental space to work through what you’re experiencing and develop the tools to manage it. Whether you're dealing with ongoing anxiety, frustration or just need someone to talk to who gets it, prenatal therapy in Denver can help you feel more calm, confident and present during your pregnancy. 

Here’s how working with a pregnancy therapist for anxiety in Denver can help:

Normalize your experience

So many times, what is really driving our anxiety is the thought “is this normal?”  “am I normal?” “will my baby be normal?”  Prenatal therapy helps you to understand that what you’re going through is valid, that your feelings exist for a reason, and that your experience might be more common than you think.  Just because women throughout all of history have done this doesn’t make it easy - and the challenges are things we don’t often talk about enough.  Pregnancy is tough both physically and emotionally, and your feelings make sense in the context of the huge change you're going through.

Develop coping tools

A prenatal therapist can help you develop coping tools to manage your worries, change your relationship to anxious thoughts and soothe your active nervous system.  This might include things like cognitive tools, mindfulness practices, boundary-setting and communication techniques.  Many of the tools that you’ll learn in therapy can help you manage your anxiety not just during pregnancy, but after the baby comes too.

Heal from past trauma

Pregnancy can sometimes bring up feelings around painful memories, complicated relationships and unresolved emotions.  Therapy offers a space to process past trauma and loss in a way that’s both safe and healing— so it doesn't get in the way of building the connection you want to have with your baby.  Dealing with issues from your own past can help you be the best version of yourself as you prepare to parent your own child.

Deal with relationship stress

Therapy can help you learn skills to communicate more effectively with your partner and make each other feel heard.  During pregnancy it is especially important to make space for taking care of your own needs, and pregnancy therapy can help you feel empowered to speak up for what you need in your relationship, so that you and your partner aren’t left guessing at how to best support each other. 

Find empowerment

A pregnancy therapist can help you explore your fears, expectations and values for birth and parenthood. This can reduce anxiety, boost your confidence, and help you make informed decisions that align with what’s important to you.

Pregnancy Therapy in Denver, Tailored to You

Pregnancy can be beautiful and fulfilling. It can also be stressful, chaotic, and scary. Therapy can be your space to find peace — where you can be honest about how you’re feeling, build tools to cope, and feel more emotionally prepared for what’s ahead.

You deserve to feel supported during your pregnancy. Whether you’re navigating your first pregnancy or your fourth, there’s no “right way” to feel. You may be filled with gratitude and still feel overwhelmed - both things can be true at the same time. You don’t need to wait until things feel “bad enough” to get help. If you’re looking for a pregnancy therapist for anxiety in Denver, know that support is just a phone call away.

Work with a Pregnancy Therapist at Root to Rise Therapy

At Root to Rise Therapy in Denver, Colorado, Victoria supports women through every stage of the perinatal journey. Together with your therapist, you will make space for the full range of emotions you’re carrying during your pregnancy, and work toward more peace, clarity, and connection.

If you’re looking for prenatal therapy in Denver, Boulder, Greenwood Village or anywhere in Colorado, we’d love to support you. You don’t have to carry this all on your own. You deserve support, too.

Ready to get started? Get in touch to learn more or schedule a free consultation.

Other Services at Root to Rise Therapy:

Other mental health services at Root to Rise Therapy include Therapy for Anxiety,  Therapy for Perfectionism, Therapy for People-Pleasing, Cultural Identity Counseling, ADHD Therapy, Counseling for Moms and Postpartum Counseling.   I see clients located inColorado, New York and New Jersey.  Contact me to learn more about how I can help you overcome anxiety and reclaim your life!