You wake before dawn, the baby asleep on your chest in fragments of doze and wakefulness. The house is still, but your mind is already racing. You lie there trying to steady your breath, but the heaviness in your chest feels too familiar. You’ve slept maybe two hours total, and already the questions start looping: Is she breathing okay? Did I feed her enough? What if something’s wrong and I don’t notice?

This is the part of motherhood no one really talks about — the space between exhaustion and panic, when the world is quiet, and you’re wide awake, holding everything together.

You move through the motions of the morning: changing diapers, warming bottles, soothing cries. Your body aches in ways you didn’t expect. The incision tugs when you stand, your pelvis feels unstable, and your breasts ache and leak. You catch your reflection in the mirror and barely recognize yourself. Puffy eyes. Hollow cheeks. A version of you that feels lost between who you were and who you’re supposed to be now.

You Feel Yourself to Unraveling

By midmorning, your partner is at work, and the quiet feels too loud. You cradle your baby and hum softly, but tears still come — hot, unexpected, and full of shame. You tell yourself to stop crying, to pull it together. You tell yourself other moms handle this just fine. But inside, you feel like you’re unraveling.

You stay busy — folding laundry, loading the dishwasher, scrolling your phone — but your heart won’t slow down. You can’t stop checking things, can’t stop the what-ifs.What if something happens to her? What if something happens to you? What if you never feel like yourself again?

You need more connection

When a friend texts, “How are you?” you hesitate. You want to say, “We’re doing great,” but instead you write, “It’s been a hard day.” She offers to bring lunch. You almost say no because you don’t want her to see the mess, the tears, or the fear. But you say yes anyway. When she comes, she doesn’t try to fix you. She just hugs you, holds the baby, and reminds you that you’re not alone. For a moment, you feel seen — and you realize how deeply lonely you’ve been.

Later that night, you wonder if this is still “normal,” or if it’s something more. You open your phone and search for postpartum therapist Virginia, postpartum therapist Maryland, or postpartum therapist DC. You scroll through pages until one catches your eye — a therapist who helps moms with postpartum anxiety, depression, and the feeling of being completely overwhelmed. The words describe exactly what you’ve been living, even the parts you haven’t said out loud.

Something inside you shifts. Maybe this is your enough. Maybe it’s time for help.

We’re Sultana Karim and Jennifer Blue, both perinatal therapists serving Virginia, Maryland, and DC. Together, we facilitate the Perinatal DBT Group, a group designed to help pregnant and postpartum moms who are struggling with anxiety, depression, and overwhelm feel calm, confident, and connected in their parenting journey.

Through Perinatal DBT, we blend Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), attachment-based parenting, and mindfulness to help you move from survival mode toward steadiness and connection. In this skills-based therapy group for moms in Virginia, DC, and Maryland, you’ll find a space where you can be real about what’s happening — a place where you can finally say, “I’m struggling,” and be met with understanding instead of judgment.

In each group session, we’ll practice coping strategies for stress, communication, and letting go of the endless “what ifs.” You’ll learn how to ask for help without guilt, communicate openly with your partner, and set boundaries that protect your peace. Many moms begin to feel calmer, less reactive, and more connected to themselves and their families.

As therapy progresses, you’ll start to regulate your emotions in ways that also help soothe your baby. You’ll gain tools to manage postpartum anxiety and depression with compassion instead of criticism. You’ll see yourself becoming the parent you hoped to be — not perfect, but present.

By the time most moms complete the Perinatal DBT group, they say they finally feel like themselves again. They laugh without guilt, rest without panic, and show up for their babies and partners with clarity and confidence. They feel grounded, hopeful, and proud of the person and parent they’ve become.

It’s okay if you’re scared to reach out. It’s okay if you’re not sure whether what you’re feeling “counts” as postpartum anxiety or depression. You don’t need to have the right words or know exactly what kind of help you need.

If you’re feeling anxious, disconnected, or unsure of yourself as a new mom, our Perinatal DBT group therapy for moms in Virginia, Maryland, DC, and Michigan that can help you feel less alone.

You deserve to rest without guilt.
You deserve to feel joy without fear.
You deserve to find yourself again.

When you’re ready, reach out. Whether you’re searching for support groups for moms in Virginia, therapy groups for moms in DC, or postpartum anxiety therapy in Maryland, Perinatal DBT is a space where you can exhale, reconnect, and begin to heal.

You don’t have to keep walking through this in the dark. 

Pay-Per- Session

- Intake Evaluation (60 mins.): $175

- Group Session: $60 per group 

- Individual Skills (20 mins.): $75 

Prepaid Package (Save $50)

- $800 total: includes intake, 10 group sessions, & 1 individual skills sessions

Financial Assistance

If cost is a barrier, you can request a FREE 15 minute consultation to discuss scholarships and sliding scale options. Scholarships are available for DC, MD, & VA residents. 

Insurance
This is an out of network services. Free concierge billing support is available for claim submission.