Postpartum Depression and Anxiety Counseling in Chicago and Greater Illinois
Pregnancy and postpartum mental health are important to pay attention to for your health and for your baby’s well-being.
Postpartum Depression Therapy and Perinatal Support in Illinois
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You really want to be a good mom. There are so many things you feel like you need to know, and so many things you don't know yet. You feel like everyone is judging you, like you're constantly under a microscope. This baby needs so much from you. And you really want to get this right.
The questions don't stop. What if you ate sushi before you knew you were pregnant? Did the medication you took hurt your baby? Does your baby even like you? These thoughts find you in the middle of the night. You're so nervous and confused, and no matter how hard you try to push the worry down, it keeps rising back up.
Sometimes you feel like you can't do this. You're so tired. Everyone else seems to be doing a better job than you. You're afraid you're never going to get the hang of this, that you're going to be a bad parent, and that this feeling is just who you are now.
And maybe the hardest part is that you can't say any of this out loud. Because you wanted this. Because you're grateful. Because you're supposed to be glowing and in love and soaking up every moment. Instead, you're exhausted and scared and quietly wondering if something is wrong with you.
You want to enjoy this time. And you're just not right now.
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU FOR FEELING THIS WAY
The fact that you are asking these questions, that you are this worried about getting it right, is not a sign that something is broken in you. It is a sign of how much you love this child. The love is there and always has always been. It is just buried right now underneath the exhaustion, the fear and the weight of trying to hold everything together on your own.
You don't have to keep carrying this alone. And you don't have to wait until things get worse before you ask for help
SUPPORT FOR THE JOURNEY TO PARENTHOOD IN ILLINOIS
I'm Sarah Schufreider, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in Chicago, Illinois (License # 149016639), and I work with women who are trying to conceive, actively pregnant, and postpartum as they navigate the emotional rollercoaster that comes with becoming a parent.
With over 17 years of experience in the field, I have sat with women in exactly this place, and as a mother of 6 kids (yes, you read that correctly, 6!), I have lived the experience of new motherhood many times over. The women I work with are not struggling because they are weak or incapable. They are struggling because the journey to parenthood is full of unexpected twists and turns, and they have been trying to navigate uncertain terrain without anyone on the road beside them. That is what I am here for.
So much of the suffering that shows up in early parenthood comes from trying to control things that are ultimately outside of our control. The desperate need to know if you are doing it right.
My work with clients focuses on helping them learn to accept what is outside of their control so they can redirect their energy toward what is within it. By utilizing therapy techniques that pull from modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), client I work with clients to identify their strengths and goals. Over time, clients report feeling less hijacked by anxiety, more grounded in their decisions, and more genuinely empowered in their parenting. Many clients describe a shift from feeling like they are constantly in crisis to feeling like they can actually breathe again.
The women I work with are not looking for someone to tell them what to do. They are looking for someone to help them trust themselves. That is the work we do together.
WHAT POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY THERAPY ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE
Because life with little ones is unpredictable, I offer virtual sessions throughout Illinois. This means you can get consistent support without adding another draining appointment to an already full calendar, without disrupting your baby's schedule, and without having to leave the house on the days when leaving feels impossible.
SIGNS THAT INDICATE MORE THAN JUST BABY BLUES
It is expected that a woman will feel a variety of emotions while trying to conceive, being pregnant, and going through the postpartum period. However, sometimes those emotions can become too intense and last for too long. Here are some signs to look out for that could indicate that what you are experiencing could use additional support.
Depressed mood or severe mood swings
Crying too much
Difficulty bonding with your baby
Withdrawing from family and friends
Loss of appetite or eating much more than usual
Inability to sleep, called insomnia, or sleeping too much
Overwhelming tiredness or loss of energy
Less interest and pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
Intense irritability and anger
Fear that you're not a good mother
Hopelessness
Feelings of worthlessness, shame, guilt or inadequacy
Reduced ability to think clearly, concentrate or make decisions
Restlessness
Severe anxiety and panic attacks
Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
Recurring thoughts of death or suicide
Additionally, reach out to a medical provider immediately if you are experiencing any of these symptoms for
More than two weeks.
They are getting worse.
They are making it hard for you to care for your baby.
You are having thoughts of harming yourself or your baby.
(Source: Postpartum depression - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic)
*** If you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, OR if you are experiencing severe confusion or hallucinations:***
Call 911 or go to your local emergency room
OR
Call a mental health crisis line or helpline:
National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262), a free 24/7 line for pregnant and postpartum women.
Postpartum Support International (PSI): 1-800-944-4773, helpline for support and referrals
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT GETS WORSE
If you are searching for postpartum depression support in Illinois, or if you are pregnant or trying to conceive and already feeling the weight of it, you do not have to wait to reach out. Therapy is not a last resort. It is a place to come before the ground falls out from under you entirely.
I’d love to help you.
Click to schedule your free 15- minute phone consultation for postpartum depression counseling in Illinois.
Sarah Schufreider, Menopause Mental Health Level 1 Certified Therapist
My other specialties incorporate mid-life issues including menopause mental health, anxiety, relationship support, parenting special needs kids, SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions), and grief.
Frequently Asked Questions About Postpartum Depression Counseling in Illinois
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- Anxiety symptoms begin to lessen as you learn to work with your nervous system instead of against it.
- You develop tools for sitting with uncertainty without it swallowing you whole.
- Your confidence in your decisions grows, not because you stop making mistakes, but because you stop needing to be perfect to feel like you are enough.
- You begin to find moments of genuine enjoyment in parenting, moments that feel real and not performed.
- You stop feeling so isolated in this stage of life and start to feel like you have someone genuinely in your corner.
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This is one of the most common questions new parents ask, and it is a good one. There is a wide range of emotional experiences that are completely normal in early parenthood, including exhaustion, worry, and moments of feeling overwhelmed. But when those feelings are persistent, when they are getting in the way of your daily life, your sleep, your relationships, or your ability to feel connected to your baby, that is worth paying attention to. You do not need to have a diagnosis to reach out. If something feels off, that feeling matters. Therapy can help you sort through what you are experiencing and figure out the support that fits.
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No. I work with women across the full spectrum of the perinatal experience, including those who are trying to conceive, currently pregnant, and postpartum. You do not need a diagnosis or a referral. If you are struggling emotionally at any point in the journey to parenthood, that is enough reason to reach out.
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Not even a little. In fact, this is one of the most painful and isolating parts of early parenthood, the gap between how you thought you would feel and how you actually feel. I work with women who are deeply loving, deeply committed parents who are also deeply exhausted and scared. Those things can all be true at the same time. The therapy space is one where all of it is welcome, without judgment.
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It is never too early. In fact, beginning therapy during pregnancy can be especially valuable. It gives you time to build a relationship with your therapist before the baby arrives, develop coping tools in advance, and have support already in place for the postpartum period. I work with women at every stage of the perinatal journey, including those who are still expecting.
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Yes. The emotional weight of trying to conceive is real and often underacknowledged. The uncertainty, the hope, the disappointment, the medical appointments, the waiting, all of it takes a toll. I work with women who are in the trying-to-conceive phase and understand the unique grief and anxiety that can accompany it.
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Reaching out for support is not an admission of failure. It is one of the most courageous and self-aware things a new parent can do. The parents who seek help are not the ones who cannot handle things. They are the ones who are paying attention. Asking for support is a strength, and it is one of the most powerful things you can model for your child.
Disclaimer: Six Hearts Counseling PLLC and Sarah Schufreider, LCSW provide therapy, not medication management. In order to provider appropriate care within our expertise and scope of practice, we will coordinate with the client’s OB or prescriber for medical and medication needs.
Page last updated: October 21, 2026
