Understanding the Perinatal Spectrum
You Don't Have to Carry This Alone
Pregnancy, childbirth, and the first year of parenting bring incredible change. Along with joy and excitement can come exhaustion, worry, self-doubt, and emotions that feel difficult to explain. You may love your baby deeply while wondering why you do not feel like yourself.
If that sounds familiar, you are not alone. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders affect one in five women during pregnancy or after birth. These experiences are common, treatable, and nothing to be ashamed of.
At Milestone Counseling Group, Holly Brumm specializes in helping moms and families navigate the emotional challenges that can come with pregnancy, postpartum, fertility struggles, and pregnancy loss. Whether you feel overwhelmed, anxious, emotionally drained, or simply unlike yourself, counseling can help you understand what you are experiencing and begin moving forward with confidence.
What Is the Perinatal Spectrum?
Many people hear the word "postpartum" and immediately think of the rare and frightening stories they have seen on the news. Holly says that is not what most parents experience.
The perinatal spectrum includes the time from conception through the baby's first year of life. It also includes people experiencing infertility or pregnancy loss. During this period, your body, hormones, relationships, routines, and identity are all changing at once.
Those changes can affect everyone differently.
Some parents feel persistently sad. Others struggle with constant worry or racing thoughts. Some have trouble sleeping even when the baby sleeps. Others feel guilty because they believe they should be happier than they are.
As Holly explains,
"Most postpartum challenges are about low mood, fatigue, or anxiety, not disconnection or danger. It's about adjustment and finding your footing again."
Many parents assume these feelings are simply part of becoming a parent, making it difficult to recognize when additional support may help.
Common signs include:
- Feeling anxious or overwhelmed most days
- Persistent sadness or hopelessness
- Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed
- Difficulty sleeping even when you have the opportunity
- Feeling constantly on edge
- Intrusive thoughts that create fear or guilt
- Feeling disconnected from yourself, your partner, or your usual routines
One of the most misunderstood symptoms is intrusive thoughts.
Holly often reassures parents by saying,
"These thoughts don't mean you're dangerous. They mean you're overwhelmed, and talking through your thoughts and concerns helps."
Understanding that these experiences are common often brings enormous relief.
How Counseling Can Help
Many parents tell themselves they simply need to push through this season. Between caring for a newborn, lack of sleep, and trying to keep up with everyday responsibilities, finding time for yourself may seem impossible.
Holly sees several reasons people delay getting support. Busy schedules, guilt, stigma, and the belief that struggling is simply part of parenthood often keep parents from reaching out.
As Holly explains,
"There's still this idea that you should handle it yourself. But no one is meant to do this alone. It takes a village, and therapy can be part of that support."
Counseling provides a place to slow down, make sense of what you are experiencing, and develop practical strategies that fit your life.
At Milestone Counseling Group, therapy is designed to work with the realities of parenting. Babies are welcome during appointments, sessions are available both in person and virtually, and partners or support people can participate when appropriate.
Holly primarily uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), two evidence-based approaches that help clients better understand their thoughts, emotions, relationships, and life transitions during pregnancy and early parenthood.
She also helps connect families with community resources and support groups that can reduce feelings of isolation.
As Holly says,
"Support groups help moms feel less alone. Therapy offers a deeper level of healing, but both can be life-changing."
Meet Holly Brumm
Holly is a Licensed Independent Social Worker, LISW-S. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Miami University and her Master’s Degree in Social Work from The Ohio State University. Holly has over 13 years of experience working with children, adolescents, young adults and families. She has worked in both intensive home-based and outpatient therapy settings. These experiences have helped her gain knowledge in crisis intervention and systems collaboration. She has spent the majority of her professional career in the outpatient setting, utilizing many evidence-based practices. Holly is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Behavior Activation and Family Systems Theory. Individualizing care and utilizing a strength-based approach is of utmost importance to her. She specializes in the areas of anxiety, depression, ADHD, behavior management, adjustment difficulties (grief) and parent management. She feels passionate about women's health and how impactful this can be on mental health throughout the lifespan and is certified in perinatal mental health (PMH-C).
What Treatment May Include
Every person's experience is different, so therapy is tailored to your individual needs.
Treatment may include helping you:
Understand Changing Emotions
Recognize how hormonal changes, stress, and major life transitions can influence your emotional well-being.
Challenge Anxious Thinking
Learn practical ways to recognize negative thought patterns and respond with healthier perspectives using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Adjust to New Roles
Interpersonal Therapy helps many parents navigate changing relationships, new responsibilities, and shifts in personal identity after becoming a parent.
Build a Stronger Support System
Therapy often includes identifying trusted people, community resources, and support groups that can help reduce isolation and provide encouragement throughout this stage of life.
What to Expect
Starting counseling can feel intimidating, especially if you have never met with a therapist before.
Your first session is an opportunity to get to know Holly, talk about what has been happening, and discuss what you hope will improve. There is no expectation that you have everything figured out before you arrive.
Babies are welcome during appointments, and sessions can accommodate nursing, naps, or diaper changes. Virtual appointments also make it easier to receive support without adding more stress to an already busy schedule.
Therapy moves at your pace and focuses on the concerns that matter most to you.
Why Clients Connect with Holly
Clients appreciate Holly's calm, approachable style and her ability to meet people where they are without judgment.
She combines research-backed treatment with genuine compassion while recognizing that every family's experience is different.
One concept Holly often shares is "Both-And Parenting."
You can love your baby deeply and still feel exhausted.
You can feel grateful while also needing a break.
You can want the best for your family while recognizing you need support yourself.
Helping parents accept both truths often reduces guilt and creates room for hope.
As Holly reminds her clients,
"The first step can feel the hardest. But once you talk to someone who understands, it's like a weight starts to lift."
What does "perinatal" mean?
Perinatal refers to the period from conception through your baby's first year of life. It also includes experiences related to infertility and pregnancy loss.
How do I know if what I'm feeling is normal?
Many emotional ups and downs are expected during pregnancy and early parenthood. If sadness, anxiety, worry, exhaustion, or emotional distress begin affecting your daily life or relationships, talking with a counselor can help you better understand what you are experiencing.
Can I bring my baby to counseling?
Yes. Holly welcomes babies during sessions and understands that feeding, naps, and diaper changes are simply part of life with a newborn.
Do you offer virtual appointments?
Yes. Both in-person and telehealth appointments are available, making counseling more accessible during busy stages of parenting.
Will my partner be involved?
If it would be helpful, partners or other important support people are welcome to participate in sessions. Family involvement often improves understanding and communication.
What types of therapy does Holly use?
Holly primarily uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), both evidence-based approaches shown to help people experiencing perinatal depression and anxiety.
What if I think I should just push through it?
Many parents feel that way. Holly encourages people to seek support before things become overwhelming. As she says,
"Trying to handle it alone can make things harder for the parent and the family. You don't have to be in crisis to ask for help."
Is recovery possible?
Yes. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are common and treatable. With the right support, many parents regain confidence, reconnect with themselves, and find greater enjoyment in this season of life.