The fourth trimester is real. So is everything you're adjusting to.
Therapists in Tacoma, Washington
"The baby is here and everyone celebrates β but nobody warned me how hard this part would be."




+9 moreNo commitment. We'll confirm your coverage before your first session.
Virtual therapy for Tacoma families
Your spouse just deployed from JBLM, the baby is two months old, and the postpartum class you signed up for meets across town at 10am, which is the only nap window you have. For military families at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, postpartum often arrives in the worst possible logistical configuration, and postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety follow. Civilian families across Tacoma's North End, Stadium District, University Place, and Gig Harbor face the South Sound version of the same problem: high housing costs, limited specialist perinatal therapists in the local market, and the cost-and-childcare math of getting to an in-person appointment with a newborn. Phoenix Health therapists hold PMH-C certification, the specialty credential in perinatal mental health, and have experience with TRICARE and military families. Sessions happen by secure video from home, with no drive to base or downtown. We specialize in postpartum depression, perinatal anxiety, birth trauma, and pregnancy loss. Gig Harbor families can access the same care without paying the bridge toll.
Tacoma neighborhoods: North End Β· Stadium District Β· University Place Β· Gig Harbor
You might benefit from therapy ifβ¦
- βYou're in the first 3 months postpartum and you didn't expect it to feel like this
- βYou're running on no sleep and people keep telling you to sleep when the baby sleeps as if that solves it
- βYou're struggling with feeding, healing, or your relationship with your body
- βYou feel isolated even when people are around
- βYou don't know what's normal for this phase and what's a warning sign
- βYou want support before things get worse, not after

Dr. Emily Guarnotta
Psychologist & Founder
From our founder
The fourth trimester is the phase I built Phoenix Health to serve. It's when you have the least time, the least sleep, and the most need, and the system was not set up for that. Virtual care that meets you where you are, with therapists who already know this terrain, is what makes the difference.
What therapy looks like
Your therapist
Most Phoenix Health therapists hold PMH-C certification β the gold standard in perinatal mental health.
Real clients. Real relief.
What our clients say about their experience.
βββββ
β"I couldn't figure out why I felt so disconnected. I was doing everything right, the baby was healthy, everyone said I was doing great. My therapist helped me understand that the gap between how it looks and how it feels is exactly where postpartum struggles live. Once she named it, I could start addressing it."β
β first-time mom
βββββ
β"I thought I'd love being home with my baby. I was bored and lonely and exhausted in a way I hadn't expected, and then I felt guilty for not being grateful. My therapist helped me understand that the fourth trimester isn't just about the baby. It's also about what happens to you, physically, hormonally, socially, in those first months."β
β stay-at-home mom
βββββ
β"Nobody told me that baby blues resolving and feeling okay are not the same thing. Six weeks out I was functional. Four months out I realized I hadn't felt like myself in months and wasn't sure I knew what that meant anymore. My therapist helped me figure out the difference between adjusting and struggling, and helped me get support before it got harder."β
β new mom
βββββ
βI cried through the first three weeks. My therapist did a session with me on day 18, told me what was likely the baby blues, what to watch for, and how to take care of myself. That hour bought me months of clarity.β
β Allie, 1 month postpartum
Expert care.
Covered in Washington.
- βAetna (incl. CVS Health, First Health, & Meritain)
- βBCBS (incl. Anthem, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, & state plans)
- βCigna / Evernorth
- βUnited Healthcare (UHC) / Optum (incl. UBH, UMR, Surest, Oscar, & Oxford)
Most clients pay less than $20 per session.
Accepted Insurance Networks





Ready to start Fourth Trimester therapy? Hereβs how it works.
The whole process takes about 5 minutes. We handle insurance β you just show up.
- 1
Book your free call
A quick 15-minute chat to hear what you're going through, answer your questions, and make sure we're a great fit for your needs. No cost, no commitment.
- 2
Get matched
We'll pair you with the right specialist for your specific situation. We'll also check your insurance, so you know your exact cost per session before moving forward.
- 3
Start your first session
Meet your therapist from the comfort of home. No commute, no waiting rooms, no judgment. Most clients notice a real difference within just 2 to 3 sessions.
No commitment Β· Most insurance accepted Β· Available this week
Common questions
- As soon as you want support. Many clients start in pregnancy specifically so they have someone in place by the time the baby arrives, but starting at week 2 or week 6 or week 10 are all fine. The earlier, the more time the support has to help.
- A perinatal-trained therapist can usually tell in one session. Some heaviness in the first weeks is expected. Sustained sadness, anxiety, numbness, or hopelessness past the 2 to 3 week mark is a different picture and worth treating. The screening itself is reassuring either way.
- Phoenix Health is virtual, so you don't go anywhere. Many clients do sessions in pajamas, on a couch, sometimes with the baby on them. Your therapist will work with the conditions you actually have, not the ones you wish you had.
- You don't need anyone else's permission to get support. The fact that you're asking is a good signal. Many partners come around once they see the benefit, but you don't have to wait for that to start.
- Yes. Phoenix Health provides telehealth therapy to residents of Washington. Sessions are conducted via secure video from your home, office, or anywhere private β no commute required. All Phoenix Health therapists are licensed and authorized to practice in Washington.
- PMH-C (Perinatal Mental Health Certification) is awarded by Postpartum Support International (PSI) to clinicians who have completed advanced training in perinatal mental health β covering postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, birth trauma, and related conditions. It represents the gold standard of specialization in this field.
- If you're struggling β with your mood, your thoughts, your relationship, or just how you're coping β that's enough of a reason to talk to someone. You don't need a diagnosis. A free consultation is a low-commitment first step.
From the Phoenix Health resource center
Articles and guides about fourth trimester
Trusted by leading voices in parenting and mental health
OBs, doulas, and pediatricians refer their patients to us because we specialize in maternal mental health.
The sooner you start,
the sooner you'll
feel like yourself again.
You've been surviving. It's time to start healing.
No commitment Β· Covered by insurance Β· Available this week
Learning resources
πΌRead our Fourth Trimester guides βOften goes alongside






