Grief and parenthood can coexist. Neither cancels the other out.
Therapists in San Francisco, California
"Grief doesn't pause for a pregnancy or a new baby. And no one teaches you how to hold both."
+9 moreNo commitment. We'll confirm your coverage before your first session.
Virtual therapy for San Francisco families
You're back at standup eight weeks postpartum, smiling on Zoom while your stitches still hurt. You've been told the right things about leave and balance, but the unspoken expectation is that high-performing people in this city handle this. Postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety do not care how senior you are. New parents across the Mission, the Castro, SOMA, the Sunset, the Richmond, and the Haight describe the same quiet pattern: the city makes it easy to be productive and hard to be vulnerable. Add in rent that makes one income unworkable, parental-leave policies that vary wildly by employer, and a partner whose company expects them back fast, and the postpartum window can feel less like recovery and more like a sprint you're losing. Phoenix Health therapists hold PMH-C certification, the specialty credential in perinatal mental health, and see Bay Area clients entirely by secure video. Sessions fit between meetings, during a nap, or before bedtime. Our clinicians specialize in postpartum depression, perinatal anxiety, birth trauma, and the specific kind of identity shift that high-achieving parents rarely have language for. Asking for help right now is the most productive thing on your list.
San Francisco neighborhoods: the Mission · the Castro · SOMA · the Sunset · the Richmond · the Haight
You might benefit from therapy if…
- ✓You're carrying a major loss alongside pregnancy or new parenthood, and the two keep colliding
- ✓You're grieving a parent who never met the baby, or who can't be here in the way you needed
- ✓A previous pregnancy loss is coming back hard during this pregnancy or postpartum
- ✓You feel like you're not allowed to grieve because the baby is here and healthy
- ✓You're angry at people who don't understand why you're still struggling
- ✓You're afraid that grieving will hurt your bond with your baby, or that being happy will betray the person you lost
Dr. Emily Guarnotta
Psychologist & Founder
From our founder
Grief in the perinatal period is one of the most underestimated experiences I see. People expect you to be radiant, and meanwhile you're missing someone who isn't here to meet this baby. I tell my clients early that we don't make this smaller. We make space for it. That's a different kind of work, and it does bring peace.
What therapy looks like
Our Grief & Loss specialists in San Francisco, California
Most Phoenix Health therapists hold PMH-C certification — the gold standard in perinatal mental health.
Sailys Concepcion
LMHC, LPC, LPCC, PMH-C
Sailys is a bilingual therapist who helps parents navigate the emotional journey of pregnancy, postpartum, infertility, and loss across California, Florida, Georgia, Arizona, Washington, and Louisiana.
Licensed in CA, LA, WA, AZ, GA, FL
Analisa Velasco-Lopez
LCSW
Analisa is a bilingual Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California who offers a holistic and trauma-informed approach to supporting parents through every stage of their family-building journey.
Licensed in CA
Nadine Mejia
LCSW, PMH-C
Nadine is a licensed clinical social worker who helps parents navigate postpartum depression, grief, and major life transitions in California, South Carolina, and Florida.
Licensed in CA, SC, FL
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Natalia Cruz Navarro
LCSW
Natalia Cruz Navarro is a bilingual therapist who supports parents through pregnancy loss, birth trauma, and postpartum mental health challenges in California.
Licensed in CA
Real clients. Real relief.
What our clients say about their experience.
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“"After three failed IVF rounds, I was told to 'just stay positive.' My therapist was the first person who acknowledged the grief, the anger, and the exhaustion and helped me process what I'd been through. I finally felt seen."”
— hopeful mom
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“We lost our son at 22 weeks. The world moved on immediately. I was expected to recover, try again, look forward. My therapist helped me understand that the love doesn't go away just because the pregnancy did, and that I was allowed to mourn him as the person he was going to be. That acknowledgment was everything.”
— loss mom
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“After my second miscarriage, everyone told me to stay positive for next time. What I needed was someone to sit with me in the loss, not rush me past it. My therapist gave me that space. She helped me grieve without a timeline, and taught me that grief and hope can exist at the same time. I needed to hear that.”
— after two losses
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“My dad died eight weeks before my daughter was born. Everyone at her christening kept saying she looked like him. I couldn't breathe. My therapist helped me find a way to hold the joy and the missing in the same hand. It took time, and it was worth it.”
— Joelle, first-time mom
Expert care.
Covered in California.
- ✓Aetna (incl. CVS Health, First Health, & Meritain)
- ✓BCBS (incl. Anthem, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, & state plans)
- ✓Cigna / Evernorth
- ✓United Healthcare (UHC) / Optum (incl. UBH, UMR, Surest, Oscar, & Oxford)
- ✓Magellan Healthcare
Most clients pay less than $20 per session.
Accepted Insurance Networks
Ready to start Grief & Loss therapy? Here’s how it works.
The whole process takes about 5 minutes. We handle insurance — 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 · Most insurance accepted · Available this week
Common questions
- Yes, and it's also worth treating. Many parents feel that loving the baby means they aren't allowed to grieve. That's not true, but the guilt itself can become its own layer that needs care. Therapy gives you permission, and a structure, for holding both.
- Previous losses often resurface during a new pregnancy or birth. Anniversary reactions, body memories, and the contrast with a current healthy pregnancy can bring it all up again. That's not a sign that earlier work failed. It's a sign that this stage is asking for its own round of processing.
- Talking about it in a structured, therapeutic way tends to help, not hurt. Avoidance is what tends to make grief heavier over time. Your therapist will pace the work so it never floods you.
- It varies. Some people see meaningful shifts in 3 to 6 months. Complicated or traumatic grief often takes longer. The goal isn't to be done. It's to find a way to carry it that doesn't take up your whole life.
- Yes. Phoenix Health provides telehealth therapy to residents of California. Sessions are conducted via secure video from your home, office, or anywhere private — no commute required. All Phoenix Health therapists are licensed and authorized to practice in California.
- PMH-C (Perinatal Mental Health Certification) is awarded by Postpartum Support International (PSI) to clinicians who have completed advanced training in perinatal mental health — covering postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, birth trauma, and related conditions. It represents the gold standard of specialization in this field.
- If you're struggling — with your mood, your thoughts, your relationship, or just how you're coping — 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 grief & loss
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 · Covered by insurance · Available this week
Learning resources
🕊️Read our Grief & Loss guides →Often goes alongside