Perinatal & Postpartum Counselling Calgary
Pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood bring some of the biggest changes a person will ever go through — physically, emotionally, and in your sense of who you are. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, low, or just not like yourself, you’re not alone, and support is available. At Solasta, our registered psychologists offer evidence-based perinatal and postpartum counselling in Calgary to help you navigate this transition.
What Is Perinatal Mental Health, and How Can Therapy Help?
Perinatal refers to the period spanning pregnancy through the first year after birth — a stretch of time when mental health changes are common, expected, and very treatable, yet often go unspoken. Hormonal shifts, sleep disruption, identity change, and the sheer weight of caring for a new life can all contribute to anxiety, depression, intrusive thoughts, or a sense of disconnection that feels hard to explain to people who haven’t been through it.
Perinatal mental health struggles are not a reflection of how much you love your baby, and they’re not a sign you’re failing. They’re common, well-understood, and respond well to the right support.
Individual counselling — tailored specifically to pregnancy, postpartum, and new parenthood — helps you understand what you’re experiencing, build practical coping strategies, and reconnect with a sense of steadiness during a time that can feel anything but steady.
Our Calgary Perinatal & Postpartum Therapists
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What We Help With
Perinatal and postpartum experiences look different for everyone. Some of what we commonly support includes:
Depression presents differently depending on the person, their history, and their circumstances. At Solasta, we work with a full range of depressive presentations — from first episodes to chronic, recurrent depression.
Some of the most common forms we address include:
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression goes beyond the “baby blues” — it can involve persistent sadness, exhaustion, difficulty bonding with your baby, and feelings of guilt or inadequacy that don’t lift on their own. It’s treatable, and reaching out early makes a real difference.
Postpartum & Pregnancy Anxiety
Persistent worry, racing thoughts about your baby’s safety, difficulty relaxing even when things are going well, or physical symptoms of anxiety are common during pregnancy and after birth. Therapy can help you regain a sense of calm and control.
Postpartum Intrusive Thoughts and OCD
Many new parents experience unwanted, distressing thoughts about harm coming to their baby. These thoughts are far more common than most people realize, and having them does not mean you would act on them. Talking to a therapist who understands perinatal OCD can bring significant relief.
Birth Trauma and Difficult Birth Experiences
A birth that didn’t go as planned — whether due to medical complications, a sense of loss of control, or a frightening experience — can leave lasting emotional effects. Therapy can help you process what happened and move forward.
Identity Shifts and the Transition to Parenthood
Becoming a parent changes your relationships, your body, your career, and your sense of self. Feeling grief for your old life alongside love for your new one is a normal — if rarely discussed — part of the transition.
Pregnancy Loss and Fertility-Related Grief
Miscarriage, pregnancy loss, and fertility struggles carry a grief that deserves dedicated space and support, whether or not they’re connected to a current pregnancy or postpartum period.
What to Expect During Perinatal & Postpartum Counselling
We take a compassionate, non-judgmental approach — this is a space where you can say the hard things without fear of being judged as a parent.
Comprehensive, Judgment-Free Assessment
We’ll start by understanding your specific experience — your pregnancy or birth history, your current symptoms, and what support looks like for you and your family right now.
A Safe Space to Say the Hard Things
Many perinatal clients tell us this is the first place they’ve felt able to speak honestly about how hard things have been. There’s no judgment here — only support.
Evidence-Based Therapies
We match the approach to your specific presentation. Common approaches for perinatal mental health include:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) — helps identify and shift the anxious or negative thought patterns common in the perinatal period.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) — particularly effective for processing birth trauma or difficult medical experiences.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) — helps build psychological flexibility and reconnect with what matters most during a period of major identity change.
Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) — supports processing grief, loss, and relational strain during the transition to parenthood.
Why Choose Solasta for Perinatal & Postpartum Counselling in Calgary?
This stage of life is hard enough without feeling like you have to explain the basics before getting real support. Our therapists offer perinatal and postpartum counselling in person in Calgary and online across Alberta, with most clients able to book within days.
A free consultation call is a good place to start — no commitment required.
CAP
All of our psychologists are registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists.
PAA
Many of our psychologists are members of the Psychologists’ Association of Alberta.
CCPA
Many of our psychologists are members of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.
If You Are In Crisis
If you’re experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please reach out for immediate support. You can call or text 988 (Suicide Crisis Helpline), or contact the Calgary Distress Centre at 403-266-4357, available 24 hours a day.
FAQs
Is it normal to feel this way after having a baby?
Yes. A wide range of emotional experiences — from anxiety and sadness to numbness or even resentment — are common during the perinatal period. Feeling this way doesn’t make you a bad parent, and it’s not something you have to push through alone.
How is this different from general counselling?
Perinatal-focused therapists understand the specific physical, hormonal, and identity-related factors at play during pregnancy and postpartum, so you don’t have to spend the first several sessions explaining the basics of what you’re going through.
When should I reach out for support?
Any time — during pregnancy, right after birth, or months into parenthood. There’s no “too early” or “too late.” If something feels off, that’s reason enough to reach out.
Can I bring my baby to sessions?
For in-person or online sessions, we’re happy to work around your baby’s needs — this is a normal part of perinatal counselling and nothing to feel self-conscious about.
Is this covered by insurance?
Many extended health benefit plans in Alberta cover counselling and therapy sessions. We recommend confirming your specific coverage with your provider, and we provide receipts after every session for submission to your insurer.
How much does perinatal counselling cost?
Sessions start from $160, depending on your therapist and whether you see a registered psychologist or a counselling intern at a reduced rate. We’ll confirm exact costs with you before booking.
Our Calgary Office Space
Our thoughtfully designed counselling spaces are crafted to create a warm, welcoming environment where you can feel completely at ease.
Get Started With Solasta in Three Easy Steps
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In-person or Online
Visit our welcoming Calgary office or meet with your therapist online from the comfort of your home.