Dads and partners struggle too. That's worth talking about.
Therapists in Brooklyn, New York
"Nobody asks how the dad is doing. But I'm struggling too."
+9 moreNo commitment. We'll confirm your coverage before your first session.
Virtual therapy for Brooklyn families
You know what postpartum depression is. You've read the books. You have a therapist friend. You are still surprised by how hard the actual experience of it has been, and you're still putting off finding help because the logistics feel impossible with a baby. Brooklyn parents describe this exact pattern constantly. From Williamsburg and Park Slope to Crown Heights, Bed-Stuy, Greenpoint, and DUMBO, new parents are well-informed and still under-supported. Childcare for an in-person appointment is its own logistical nightmare. Insurance networks are confusing. The voice in your head says it's not bad enough yet, and the months tick by. Phoenix Health therapists hold PMH-C certification, the specialty credential in perinatal mental health, and see Brooklyn families entirely by secure video. No stroller on the F train. No babysitter for an office visit. We specialize in postpartum depression, perinatal anxiety, birth trauma, and pregnancy loss, and we work with your insurance. Getting started is one form.
Brooklyn neighborhoods: Williamsburg · Park Slope · Crown Heights · Bed-Stuy · Greenpoint · DUMBO
You might benefit from therapy if…
- ✓You're irritable, snapping at your partner, or losing patience in ways that aren't you
- ✓You feel useless, in the way, or like you can't do anything right at home
- ✓You're working more, drinking more, or pulling away because home feels heavy
- ✓You're worried about your partner and trying to hold everything else together
- ✓You feel left out of the baby relationship and ashamed of feeling that way
- ✓Nobody has asked how you're doing in months
Dr. Emily Guarnotta
Psychologist & Founder
From our founder
Partners and dads get left out of perinatal mental health conversations constantly, and it costs families. I built Phoenix Health to include the whole household, because if you're the partner who is white-knuckling through this, you matter too, and the help available to you is real.
What therapy looks like
Our Paternal Mental Health specialists in Brooklyn, New York
Most Phoenix Health therapists hold PMH-C certification — the gold standard in perinatal mental health.
Lyndsay Ward
LCSW, PMH-C · Licensed therapist
An attachment theory expert who helps you unpack how your childhood shows up in your parenting.
Licensed in NY
Golda Fleischman
LMSW · Licensed therapist
A birth doula before she was a therapist, she helps you prepare for a birth or process a hard one.
Licensed in NY
Deborah Edelson
LCSW, PMH-C · Licensed therapist
30+ years in practice, and still no one-size-fits-all: "You are the expert on your own life."
Licensed in NY
Jessica Rudzinski
LPC, LMHC, PMH-C · Licensed therapist
A postpartum depression survivor herself, with a decade supporting families in their own homes.
Licensed in SC, NY, FL
Real clients. Real relief.
What our clients say about their experience.
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“"I threw myself into being useful because that was the one thing I could control. I fixed things. I handled logistics. I was the one who held it together. And six months in, my wife noticed I hadn't laughed in weeks. My therapist helped me understand that caregiving without receiving care is its own kind of crisis. I didn't know I was allowed to need something."”
— dad of 2
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“Everyone was focused on my wife (which made sense, she'd just given birth). But I was drowning too and there was nowhere to put it. I couldn't tell anyone I wasn't okay because I was supposed to be the stable one. My therapist helped me see that my mental health wasn't separate from my family's wellbeing. It was directly connected.”
— new dad
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“I thought dads didn't get this. I was wrong. I was short-tempered, disconnected, going through the motions. I wasn't sleeping, but not because of the baby. I just couldn't. My wife saw it before I did. My therapist helped me understand it was depression, not weakness, and that getting help was the most present thing I could do for my family.”
— dad of 1
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“I had been working late on purpose for six months. I told myself I was supporting the family. My therapist helped me see I was avoiding home because I felt useless there. Once I addressed that, my relationship with both my wife and my son changed.”
— James, dad of one
Expert care.
Covered in New York.
- ✓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)
- ✓EmblemHealth (GHI / HIP)
- ✓Fidelis Care / Ambetter (including Medicaid)
- ✓Northwell Direct
Most clients pay less than $20 per session.
Accepted Insurance Networks
Ready to start Paternal Mental Health 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. Roughly 1 in 10 fathers and non-birthing partners experience perinatal depression or anxiety. It often presents as irritability, withdrawal, or anger rather than the classic sadness, which is part of why it gets missed.
- Both of you matter, and the research is clear that when one partner is struggling, the other's well-being directly affects family outcomes. Getting your own support is not taking away from her. It's adding to the resources the family has.
- It's common, especially in the early months when the birthing parent often has more of the physiological bond. Disconnection often improves with intentional time together, less competition with your partner over caregiving, and sometimes therapy to address what's underneath the disconnection.
- Therapy is confidential. You decide what to share and when. Many partners eventually choose to share what they're working on, which can deepen the relationship, but that's your call.
- Yes. Phoenix Health provides telehealth therapy to residents of New York. 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 York.
- 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 paternal mental health
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 Paternal Mental Health guides →Often goes alongside