Grief and parenthood can coexist. Neither cancels the other out.
Therapists in El Paso, Texas
"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 El Paso families
El Paso sits 800 miles from Houston, closer to Los Angeles than to Dallas, in the far western corner of a state that often forgets it. The city is majority Latino, has a large active-duty military population at Fort Bliss, and has a mental health infrastructure that reflects its geography and its funding: limited perinatal specialists, long wait times, and a cultural expectation in both Mexican-American and military communities that you handle things inside the family. Postpartum depression and perinatal anxiety don't respond to that expectation. They also don't respond to the geographic reality of being in one of the most isolated large cities in the country. A PMH-C certified therapist within reasonable driving distance is genuinely hard to find in El Paso. Most families end up on wait lists, or going without, or navigating care across the border, which is its own logistical complexity. William Beaumont Army Medical Center (WBAMC) is the primary military healthcare facility at Fort Bliss. Military families dealing with postpartum or perinatal mental health can access TRICARE-covered telehealth, which removes the wait and the drive. Phoenix Health therapists hold PMH-C certification and typically see El Paso clients within one week of intake, by secure video. We accept TRICARE for active-duty dependents and major civilian insurance plans. For families in West El Paso, East El Paso, Horizon City, and Socorro, telehealth is the most practical path to a perinatal specialist without the wait.
El Paso neighborhoods: West El Paso · East El Paso · Northeast El Paso · Horizon City · Socorro
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 El Paso, Texas
Most Phoenix Health therapists hold PMH-C certification — the gold standard in perinatal mental health.
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Tiara Okoruwa
PhD, LCSW
Tiara is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Texas specializing in perinatal mental health, supporting expecting and new parents through anxiety, grief, and the transition to parenthood using a trauma-informed, integrative approach.
Licensed in TX
Amanda Flowers
LPC, PMH-C
Amanda is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Montana specializing in perinatal mental health, supporting clients through pregnancy, postpartum, and infertility using a collaborative, trauma-informed, and mind-body approach.
Licensed in TX, MT
Ashlyn Parides
PHD, PMH-C
Dr. Ashlyn is a licensed psychologist and certified perinatal mental health provider (PMH-C) in Texas, licensed to practice in over 40 states through PsyPact.
PsyPact provider — 40+ states
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 Texas.
- ✓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)
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 Texas. 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 Texas.
- 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