Dr. Emily Guarnotta
PsyD, PMH-C
Dr. Emily is a clinical psychologist, a certified perinatal mental health specialist (PMH-C), and the founder of Phoenix Health. She created Phoenix Health to make specialized mental health care accessible to every parent.
Articles reviewed by Dr. Emily Guarnotta
Finding Outpatient Care After a Postpartum Psychosis Hospitalization
Discharge from the hospital is not the end of treatment, it's the beginning of a new phase. Here's exactly how to find outpatient psychiatric and therapy support after a postpartum psychosis hospitalization.
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Postpartum Psychosis: What to Do If You Think Someone Is Experiencing It
Postpartum psychosis is a psychiatric emergency. Here's how to recognize it, what to do immediately, and what treatment and recovery involve.
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Understanding Weaning Breastfeeding Anxiety: Causes, Symptoms, and Support
Feeling anxious, weepy, or unlike yourself while weaning? Learn why weaning triggers anxiety, the hormones behind it, and what actually helps.
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Nightmares After a Difficult Delivery? Understanding and Finding Your Path to Peaceful Sleep
The arrival of a new baby is often imagined as a time of pure joy, but what happens when the shadow of a difficult birth experience follows you into your nights? If you're finding yourself reliving distressing moments from your delivery through vivid nightmares, please know you are not alone, and wh…
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Decoding Pregnancy Jitters vs. Clinical Anxiety: Know the Difference
Pregnancy is often painted as a time of pure joy and glowing anticipation. And while there’s so much excitement, let’s be honest: it can also bring a whirlwind of "what ifs" and new concerns you’ve never navigated before. Many expectant mothers feel the societal pressure for a "glowing" pregnancy, w…
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No, CPS Won't Take Your Baby for Postpartum Depression
Of all the fears that keep new and expectant mothers from seeking help for their mental health, one is more powerful and more terrifying than the rest: Will they take awaymy baby?
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"Touched Out": A Guide to Managing Sensory Overload as a New Mom
Feeling "touched out" as a new mom? Understand postpartum sensory overload, its symptoms, causes, and get actionable strategies for managing overwhelm and finding relief.
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When Dark Thoughts Come During Pregnancy: You're Not a Monster, You're Human
Maybe it's 2 a.m. and you've typed "dark thoughts when pregnant" into your phone, terrified of what you'll find. Maybe a thought flashed through your mind today that was so disturbing you can't bring yourself to say it out loud: What if I hurt my baby? I don't want to be pregnant anymore. What if I …
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The Thoughts You're Afraid to Say Out Loud: Understanding Perinatal Intrusive Thoughts
You're standing at the top of the stairs, holding your baby. A flash of terror cuts through your mind: What if I just dropped him?
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"He Doesn't Understand": What to Do When Your Husband Is Not Supportive Postpartum
Postpartum resentment toward your husband is real and more common than anyone admits. Here's what's happening between you — and what actually helps.
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Feeling Depressed at 36 Weeks Pregnant? You're Not Alone
You're supposed to be glowing. Nesting. Folding tiny clothes with joy and counting down the days until you meet your baby. Everyone keeps telling you this is the most beautiful time—these final, precious weeks before everything changes.
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The Unspoken Grief of a Chemical Pregnancy: Your Loss is Real
You saw the line. It was faint, but it was there. Your heart raced with a joy that felt sacred and overwhelming. Then, days later, it was gone—as if it had never happened at all. But you know it did happen. And now you're left wondering if you're allowed to grieve something the world can barely see.
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Feeling Depressed After Stopping Breastfeeding? Here's Why.
You've been counting down to this moment for months. Freedom from pumping schedules. Your body back. Sleep that doesn't revolve around feeding windows. But three weeks after your last nursing session, you're crying in the Target parking lot over absolutely nothing, feeling like a stranger in your ow…
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Transitioning from One Child to Two: Preparing for the Emotional Shift
You're staring at the positive pregnancy test, and instead of pure joy, you feel something closer to panic. Will I love them the same? Am I ruining my first child's life? How will I manage two kids when one already feels overwhelming?
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What is Postpartum Depersonalization and Derealization? A Guide to That "Out of Body" Feeling
Do you ever feel like you’re not quite real? Like you’re watching your life as a movie instead of living it? Maybe you look in the mirror and don’t recognize the person staring back, or the world around you seems foggy, distant, and strange. If you’re having these feelings after giving birth, it can…
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Can You Get PPD a Year After Giving Birth? Understanding Late-Onset Postpartum Depression
There's a common misconception that the postpartum period—and the risk for postpartum depression—is confined to the first few weeks or months after birth. You might navigate the initial newborn chaos, get past the "baby blues" phase, and think you're in the clear. But then, at six, nine, or even twe…
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Feeling Distant From Your Partner After Baby?
It's normal to feel disconnected from your husband or partner after a baby. Learn why exhaustion, shifting roles, and resentment happen, and find practical steps to rebuild intimacy and connection.
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Our PMH-C certified therapists specialize in perinatal mental health and can typically see you within a week.