What you eat in this season affects how you feel, heal, and function.
Therapists in Newark, New Jersey
"I'm trying to eat well but I don't know what my body actually needs right now."
+4 moreNo commitment. We'll confirm your coverage before your first session.
Virtual therapy for Newark families
Some weeks in Newark, the hardest part of new parenthood is not the baby. It is everything packed around the baby: the bus or the Light Rail to a job that did not get any lighter, the pediatrician across town, the relatives who mean well and have opinions about how this should be going. When postpartum depression or perinatal anxiety shows up in the middle of all that, it is easy to read it as being tired, or as being bad at something everybody else seems to manage. It also depends on where you are. A parent in the Ironbound may be raising a child between languages and between two sets of expectations. In Forest Hill, Weequahic, Vailsburg, or University Heights, getting to an in-person appointment can mean a transfer, a hunt for parking, and a sitter you would have to find first. Many people put off asking for help because of that math alone, and then spend months wondering why they do not feel better. Phoenix Health offers therapy across Newark entirely by secure video, with a New Jersey licensed clinician who focuses on infertility, pregnancy, loss, and the postpartum period. We are in-network with Aetna and Cigna in New Jersey. You can meet from the bedroom with the door closed, from your car at lunch, or from the couch while the baby sleeps. If something has felt wrong for a while, that is reason enough to talk to someone.
Newark neighborhoods: the Ironbound · Forest Hill · Weequahic · Vailsburg · University Heights
You might benefit from therapy if…
- ✓You're pregnant and confused about what to actually eat, beyond the list of foods to avoid
- ✓You have gestational diabetes and need real guidance on managing blood sugar through food
- ✓You're postpartum and exhausted in a way that doesn't feel like normal tired
- ✓You're breastfeeding and unsure if what you're eating is enough, or if it's affecting the baby
- ✓You're noticing mood changes you wonder might be related to what — or how much — you're eating
- ✓Body image and your relationship with food have become complicated since the baby
Dr. Emily Guarnotta
Psychologist & Founder
From our founder
When I had my first child, I was shocked by the challenges I faced as a new mother.
Like so many women, the shame of postpartum depression and anxiety kept me silent for nearly two years. When I began working with postpartum clients, I was struck by how many stories were so similar to my own.
I founded Phoenix Health to make it easier for new mothers like me to find the right help.
What therapy looks like
Your therapist
Most Phoenix Health therapists hold PMH-C certification — the gold standard in perinatal mental health.
Stories that may sound familiar
These are examples, not client reviews. We don't publish our clients' words. What's said in therapy stays there.
“My emergency C-section left me with nightmares and panic attacks. I couldn't talk about the birth without shaking. Therapy helped me process the trauma and reclaim my story. I'm pregnant again now, and I actually feel ready.”
“I had intrusive thoughts that terrified me. I was too ashamed to tell anyone, even my partner. My therapist explained postpartum OCD and helped me understand I wasn't dangerous. The intrusive thoughts are 90% gone now. I wish I'd reached out sooner.”
“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 had been through. I finally felt seen.”
“I thought eating well during pregnancy just meant taking a prenatal vitamin and avoiding sushi. By the time I got my GD diagnosis and found a perinatal dietitian who actually explained blood sugar to me, things finally made sense. I didn't feel like a failure anymore.”
Expert care.
Covered in New Jersey.
- ✓Aetna (incl. CVS Health, First Health, & Meritain)
- ✓Cigna / Evernorth
Most clients pay less than $20 per session.
Accepted Insurance Networks
Ready to start Nutrition 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
- Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) is a billable nutrition service provided by a Registered Dietitian for specific diagnoses — including gestational diabetes and eating disorders. It is distinct from general nutrition coaching. Coverage depends on your diagnosis, your state, and your plan. Phoenix Health can help you check before your first appointment.
- Yes, in clinically meaningful ways. Iron deficiency — even without full anemia — is associated with cognitive fog, fatigue, and low mood. Omega-3 depletion postpartum is linked to higher rates of postpartum depression in research. Vitamin D insufficiency affects mood and immune function. These are correctable, and addressing them is part of a complete picture — not a replacement for therapy when that's what's needed.
- Specialization matters. A perinatal dietitian works specifically with pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding clients and understands the clinical details of gestational diabetes, hyperemesis, food aversions, lactation nutrition, and body image challenges unique to this phase. Phoenix Health's dietitian works alongside the PMH-C therapist team, so the nutrition and mental health sides of the picture are addressed together.
- Start with a consultation. GD management through nutrition focuses on carbohydrate distribution across meals, pairing principles, and blood glucose monitoring patterns — not elimination. For many women, Medical Nutrition Therapy is covered by insurance. A free 15-minute consultation can confirm coverage and match you with the right support.
- Yes. Phoenix Health provides telehealth therapy to residents of New Jersey. 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 New Jersey.
- 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 nutrition
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.
Your body is doing
extraordinary things.
Let's feed it accordingly.
Perinatal nutrition support — including Medical Nutrition Therapy — available nationwide.
No commitment · Covered by insurance · Available this week
Learning resources
🫐Read our Nutrition guides →Often goes alongside