The best type of therapist for postpartum depends on what you're going through and the kind of help you need. Licensed clinical social workers, mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychologists can all provide postpartum therapy. Psychiatrists can also help when medication is needed.
You've been having a hard time adjusting to life after having your baby, and you've decided it's time to talk to someone. But who? A clinical social worker? A counselor? A psychologist? A psychiatrist? The more you search, the harder it becomes to know where to start.
The good news is that you don't have to figure it all out on your own. Understanding what each professional does can help you choose where to start.
What Types of Therapists Help With Postpartum Mental Health?
Choosing a postpartum therapist after having a baby can feel confusing, especially when you're not sure how a clinical social worker differs from a psychologist or psychiatrist. If you're comparing the different types of therapists for postpartum mental health, here's what each professional brings to your care:
Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs)
Clinical social work considers how your environment, relationships, and daily circumstances affect your mental health, as explained in the 2025 NASW Practice Standards for Clinical Social Workers. For postpartum mothers, this means an LCSW considers both how you're feeling and how factors like sleep deprivation, family support, or changing responsibilities might be affecting your mental health.
An LCSW with experience in postpartum mental health can help you if you're feeling:
Constantly worried
Overwhelmed
Persistently sad
Disconnected or unlike yourself
Troubled by unwanted, intrusive thoughts
You might also benefit from working with an LCSW if you're struggling with changes in your identity, relationships, or daily responsibilities. In therapy, you'll explore what might be contributing to these feelings and work on practical ways to manage them.
It's also helpful to understand what falls within an LCSW's role. They can diagnose mental health conditions and provide psychotherapy, but they don't prescribe medication. If you need medication or a specialized assessment, they can refer you to an appropriate professional.
Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs)
Just like LCSWs, Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs) provide counseling and psychotherapy to help people work through emotional and mental health difficulties. Those with experience in postpartum mental health help mothers explore what's causing them distress and develop ways to cope with difficult feelings.
Like LCSWs, LMHCs don't prescribe medication. If medication becomes part of your treatment, an LMHC can refer you to a psychiatrist or another qualified medical provider.
The difference is mostly in their professional training. LMHCs focus on counseling theories and approaches to therapy, while LCSWs place particular emphasis on how your relationships and life circumstances affect your mental health.
There's also a difference in what they're licensed to do in New York. LCSWs can diagnose mental health conditions under their existing license, while LMHCs need an additional diagnostic privilege to do so.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs)
Having a baby can change the way you relate to your partner and other family members, especially as you adjust to new responsibilities. LMFTs focus on these relationship dynamics and how they affect your emotional well-being. An LMFT with experience as a perinatal therapist may help you work through difficulties such as:
Resentment toward your partner
Disagreements about parenting
Feeling unsupported at home
Tension with extended family
Difficulty adjusting to changing family roles
Other postpartum therapists, including LCSWs, work with these issues too. What sets LMFTs apart is that relationships are the center of their training.
Despite the name, you don't have to attend therapy with your partner or family. LMFTs also work with individuals, helping you understand relationship patterns and explore different ways of communicating or handling conflict.
Like LCSWs and LMHCs, marriage and family therapists don't prescribe medication. They also share New York's diagnostic privilege requirement with LMHCs. That means they need additional authorization to independently diagnose mental health conditions and develop diagnosis-based treatment plans.
Psychologists
Licensed psychologists have doctoral-level training in psychology, usually earning a PhD or PsyD. Those who work in postpartum mental health provide therapy for concerns such as postpartum depression, anxiety, and birth-related trauma.
One part of a psychologist’s training is psychological assessment and testing. Say you’re constantly worried about your baby’s safety and checking on them again and again, to the point that it takes up your day.
Some checking is a normal part of new parenthood. But when worry and constant checking take over, any experienced perinatal clinician can help work out whether it’s postpartum anxiety, OCD, or both, which matters because they’re treated differently. If the picture is still unclear, a psychologist can add more formal testing.
In New York, psychologists can diagnose mental health conditions without an additional diagnostic privilege. While they don't prescribe medication under New York law, they can refer you to a qualified medical provider if needed.
Psychiatrists
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in mental health. Unlike the other four professionals we've discussed, they can prescribe medication, and manage medical treatment in addition to diagnosing mental health conditions. Your postpartum therapist may refer you to a psychiatrist if:
Your depression or anxiety is severe
You're considering medication
You have or might have bipolar disorder
Seeing a psychiatrist doesn't mean you have to stop psychotherapy. A psychiatrist can prescribe and monitor medication, while your therapist helps you work through difficult emotions and develop ways to cope.
| Type of therapist | Main focus | Can diagnose in New York? | Can prescribe medication? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) | Emotional health, relationships, and life changes after childbirth | Yes | No |
| Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) | Emotional difficulties and coping skills through counseling | Yes, with diagnostic privilege | No |
| Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) | Relationship issues, family conflict, and changing roles | Yes, with diagnostic privilege | No |
| Psychologist | Postpartum mental health, psychotherapy, and psychological assessment | Yes | No |
| Psychiatrist | Mental health diagnosis, medication, and medical treatment | Yes | Yes |
What to Look for When Choosing a Postpartum Therapist
When choosing a postpartum therapist, start by looking for someone who's licensed to practice in your state. A professional license confirms they meet the requirements to provide therapy, but it doesn't necessarily tell you how familiar they are with the challenges of life after having a baby.
To get a better sense of their experience, ask whether they've worked with mothers facing concerns similar to yours and for how long. Pay attention to how they answer and assess whether they seem familiar with what you're describing.
A good postpartum therapist should also:
Explain their treatment approach clearly
Listen to your concerns and preferences
Make you feel heard and respected
Work collaboratively with you
Clearly explain fees and payment options
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Know if I Need Therapy Postpartum?
You might benefit from postpartum therapy if feelings of sadness, anxiety, anger, or overwhelm aren't going away, are getting worse, or are making everyday life harder. Withdrawing from loved ones can also be a sign that you need support.
Some emotional ups and downs are common after childbirth, and the baby blues usually improve within two weeks. Still, even if what you're feeling is part of adjusting to motherhood, you don't have to work through it alone. Therapy can give you space to talk about what's difficult without waiting until things become overwhelming.
What Type of Therapy Is Best for Postpartum?
The best type of postpartum therapy depends on what you're struggling with. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT) are well-supported treatments for postpartum depression.
CBT can also help with postpartum anxiety. If you're experiencing postpartum OCD, a specific form of CBT called exposure and response prevention (ERP) is generally recommended.
You don't have to figure out which approach you need before seeking help. A therapist experienced in postpartum mental health can help you understand what you're experiencing and recommend treatment that fits your needs.
Finding the Right Postpartum Therapist
If you've been wondering what type of therapist is best for postpartum, remember that finding the right person matters just as much as their professional title. You deserve someone who takes your concerns seriously, helps you understand what you're experiencing, and works with you to find practical ways forward.
I'm a licensed clinical social worker with advanced training in CBT, Child-Parent Psychotherapy, and EMDR. I offer online therapy across New York, Connecticut, and Florida, so you can get support from home. Book a first session to take the first step toward getting the postpartum support you deserve.
