Perinatal
Therapy
with Dr. Michelle Litwer, Psy.D., PMH-C
For 11 years, I’ve helped women get relief from obsessive thoughts, anxiety, and the pressure to be perfect — all while learning to trust themselves again.
Are you overwhelmed by the transition into motherhood?
Struggling with intrusive thoughts, anxiety, or fears you’re too afraid to say out loud?
Have you been told that what you're feeling is “normal,” but deep down you know you’re not okay?
You’re not alone. Many women silently carry the weight of postpartum anxiety, pressure to be perfect, and fears that they’re not doing it “right.”
My therapy helps you feel more grounded, supported, and confident in yourself- as a parent, and as a person.
Moms Come To Me
When They:
Feel overwhelmed
Can’t sleep, even when the baby does
Have obsessive thoughts they can’t “turn off”
Questioning if they can do it
Can’t ask for help
Feeling they’ve “lost themselves”
When these struggles are getting in the way of how you want to live or parent, focused therapy can help.
“Comparision is the thief of (mom) joy”
How Perinatal Therapy
With Me Works
I use evidence-based, skills-focused therapy to help you feel more empowered, confident, and in control, even when things feel completely uncertain. This isn’t about “staying positive.” It’s about building the tools you need to handle whatever shows up.
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CBT helps you identify and shift unhelpful thought patterns that affect how you feel and act. In the perinatal period, this can reduce self-blame, catastrophizing, and unrealistic standards of what it means to be a “good” mom.
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DBT skills support emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness and mindfulness. These are especially useful when you’re navigating sleep deprivation, emotional swings, or pressure to do it all perfectly.
Parenthood can bring profound change. I use DBT skills to support you in staying grounded in your values, making space for identity shifts, and rediscovering meaning and purpose in this new chapter.
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ACT focuses on accepting your inner experience without letting it derail your values or goals. In perinatal work, this can mean honoring the hard moments without letting them define you.
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The gold-standard treatment for OCD, EX/RP helps reduce compulsions and avoidance. It’s highly effective for perinatal OCD, especially when you’re dealing with upsetting thoughts or fears you can’t share with anyone else.
My Perinatal Therapy Isn’t
“Just Practice Gratitude,
You’ll Get There”
Motherhood can be meaningful and joyful, and still feel completely overwhelming.
My goal isn’t to “fix” you or tell you to focus on the positives. It’s to help you be supported, stable, and yourself again.
With therapy we’ll:
Stop questioning your decisions
Put you in control of your thoughts
End obsessive worries about you or your baby
Be a more confident mom
Reduce comparison or perfectionism
Reconnect with your identity
Dr. Michelle Litwer, Psy.D., PMH-C
I work with moms
in-person in Philadelphia +
via telehealth across 43 states.
I'm a licensed clinical psychologist and mother of two with over 11 years of experience supporting women through pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenting. I’ve seen firsthand how intense this transition can be, and I know that no one should have to go through it without support.
I’ve been certified in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C) and trained in gold-standard, evidence-based therapies to help women feel more in control of their lives again.
Education, Trainings, & Certifications
Certified in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C)
Staff Psychologist & Postdoctoral Fellow, CBT/DBT Associates
Predoctoral Internship, Faulk Center for Counseling (APA Accredited)
Psy.D., Clinical Psychology, Nova Southeastern University
B.S., Psychology, University of Florida
DBT Intensive 10-Day Training Course (Part I and II), Charlie Swenson, M.D., Nachas Consulting, Brooklyn, New York
4 Steps To
Get Started
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Fill out the free consultation form, and we’ll find time to chat. It’s your chance to ask any questions and see if I’m the right fit to work with you.
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If we decide to move forward, we’ll schedule an intake session. This 60-minute appointment gives us time to explore what’s bringing you in and lay the groundwork for therapy.
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In our first meeting, you can expect a comfortable space to share what brings you to therapy, and we'll begin to explore your goals and how we can work together to achieve them.
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Each session is personalized to your needs. Together, we’ll build insight, practice new skills, and work toward meaningful change.
You don’t have to
manage all of this solo.
Perinatal therapy isn’t just about getting through the day- it’s about helping you feel like you again.
Whether you’re adjusting to life with a newborn, navigating scary thoughts, or silently wondering if you’re the only one feeling this way, you don’t have to do it alone. This is a space for honesty, long term relief, and support.