Therapy for Postpartum Depression and Anxiety in Encino, CA
Welcome. I'm Annalisa Barrett, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and the emotional challenges of new motherhood. If you've been feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or not like yourself since becoming a parent, you are not alone — and meaningful support is available. I offer compassionate, and collaborative postpartum therapy in Encino, both in-person & virtual sessions available. Virtual sessions available to anyone living in California.
Beyond perinatal mental health, I work with individuals, couples, and children navigating anxiety, depression, ADHD, relationship distress, and phase-of-life transitions. My background as a trained prenatal yoga teacher and postpartum doula allows me to offer specialized, whole-person care for women, their partners, and families during pregnancy, birth, and the transition to parenthood.
Welcome — Please Come On In
My name is Annalisa Barrett, and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in Encino, California. I engage in talk therapy with individuals, couples, and children who present with anxiety, depression, ADHD, relationship distress, phase-of-life issues, and other areas of need and focus.
I have a deep background in caring for the perinatal community as a trained prenatal yoga teacher and postpartum doula. For women, their partners, and their families, the transition to motherhood and parenthood can be challenging to navigate — and this is a specialized area where I am uniquely qualified to offer expertise and support.
My approach is one of respect, acceptance, and empathy. I understand it takes bravery to reveal one's vulnerabilities to a stranger. My goal is to provide a non-judgmental space to explore the emotions, behavior patterns, and traumas that may be holding you back from the life you envision for yourself.
Postpartum Depression and Anxiety: We Weren't Meant to do This Alone
Postpartum depression and anxiety are among the most common — and most under-treated — complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Roughly 1 in 7 new mothers experiences postpartum depression, and an even greater number experience postpartum anxiety, postpartum OCD, or what clinicians call perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs). Many women suffer silently because they fear being judged, fear losing their baby, or believe what they're feeling is "just how new motherhood is supposed to feel." It isn't.
As a postpartum therapist with specialized training in perinatal mental health, prenatal yoga, and postpartum doula work, I bring a uniquely whole-person perspective to therapy for postpartum depression and anxiety. I understand the biology of the postpartum period, the relational shifts in your partnership, the identity disorientation of new motherhood, and the very real isolation that can come with caring for a newborn. Therapy is a place where you can finally exhale, be honest, and rebuild a sense of self that feels steady and recognizable.
Common Signs of Postpartum Depression
- Persistent sadness, emptiness, or tearfulness most days
- Feeling disconnected from your baby or unable to bond
- Guilt, shame, or believing you are a "bad mother"
- Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
- Fatigue beyond normal newborn-stage exhaustion
- Changes in appetite or sleep that aren't tied to the baby
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Intrusive thoughts about self-harm or harming the baby
Common Signs of Postpartum Anxiety
- Racing thoughts you can't seem to slow down
- Constant worry about the baby's safety, breathing, or feeding
- Feeling on edge, restless, or unable to sit still
- Compulsively checking on the baby through the night
- Physical symptoms: tight chest, nausea, dizziness, heart racing
- Panic attacks or a sense of impending doom
- Difficulty falling asleep even when the baby is sleeping
- Intrusive, unwanted thoughts (postpartum OCD overlap)
If any of this sounds familiar, please know: postpartum depression and anxiety are treatable. With the right therapeutic support, the vast majority of mothers feel measurably better within weeks of starting therapy. You do not have to wait until things "get bad enough" — early intervention makes recovery faster.
How Therapy for Postpartum Depression and Anxiety Works
There is no single "right" way to do postpartum therapy. My approach is integrative — I draw on multiple evidence-based modalities and adapt to what each client needs in a given session. In our work together, you can expect a steady, attuned therapeutic relationship built on trust, honesty, and directness.
What we'll work on together
We'll gently explore the emotional, somatic, and relational dimensions of your postpartum experience. That often includes processing the birth itself, renegotiating your partnership, grieving the version of yourself that existed before baby, and rebuilding a sense of agency and identity. We'll also address specific symptoms — the racing thoughts, the intrusive worries, the disconnection — with targeted, practical tools.
What you can expect to feel
Most clients report feeling a sense of relief in the very first session — simply from being heard and from knowing they are not "broken" or alone. Within a handful of sessions, the heaviness usually begins to lift. Sleep improves. The baby starts to feel less like a stranger. You begin to recognize yourself again. Therapy is not magic, but it is reliably effective for postpartum depression and anxiety.
Who I Help
While postpartum depression and anxiety are a primary specialty, my practice serves a wider range of clients and presenting concerns. I work with:
Perinatal & New Parents
Postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, postpartum OCD, prenatal anxiety, birth trauma, fertility-related distress, pregnancy loss, identity shifts in new motherhood, and partnership strain in the transition to parenthood.
Individual Adults
Anxiety, depression, ADHD, attachment patterns, life transitions, grief, work stress, and the long tail of unresolved childhood experience.
Couples
Relationship distress, communication breakdown, intimacy challenges, parenting disagreements, infidelity recovery, and the kinds of disconnection that show up after a baby arrives.
Children
Anxiety, emotional regulation, behavioral challenges, school-related stress, and family-system support for kids navigating change.
- Postpartum Depression
- Postpartum Anxiety
- Postpartum OCD
- Birth Trauma
- Prenatal Anxiety
- Pregnancy Loss
- PMADs
- Anxiety
- Depression
- ADHD
- Couples Therapy
- Child Therapy
- Phase-of-Life Transitions
My Approach & Therapeutic Modalities
I place developing a trusting, valuable relationship with my clients above all else — achieved through attunement, relatability, non-judgment, honesty, and directness. I use a variety of evidence-based techniques in my practice, including:
Psychodynamic Therapy
Relating current symptoms and issues to childhood adaptive strategies.
Attachment Repair
Understanding established attachment style and working toward secure attachment through the therapeutic relationship.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Uncovering, challenging, and shifting faulty thinking patterns that fuel anxiety and depression.
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy
Connecting to your personal value structure and creating goals to move toward a life aligned with your values.
Somatic Awareness
Bringing awareness to emotions and felt sensations that live in the body — especially helpful in postpartum recovery.
Mindfulness Awareness
The practice of being present using breath, visualization, and other sensory cues — drawing on prenatal yoga training.
Education, Credentials & Training
Master's Degree (M.A.)
Clinical Psychology, Emphasis in Marriage & Family Therapy
Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA
Bachelor's Degree (B.A.)
Psychology, Minor in Anthropology
University of California, Los Angeles
Teaching Credential
Primary Grades (K-6)
California State University, Channel Islands
Licensed MFT
California Board of Behavioral Sciences
License #140819
CAMFT Member
California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists
RYT 500, RPYT
Registered Yoga Teacher & Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher
YogaWorks
Postpartum Doula
Trained at Bini Birth, Sherman Oaks
by Kathrin Auger, DONA International Board Member
Advanced Trainings
Compassionate Inquiry with Gabor Maté · Somatic Therapy with Sarah Baldwin · Relational Life Therapy with Terry Real
In-Person in Encino & Virtual Therapy Across California
I see clients in person at my home office in Encino, California, and offer secure virtual therapy to anyone residing in California. Sessions are typically 50 minutes and can be booked for longer when clinically appropriate.
My practice serves clients throughout the San Fernando Valley and greater Los Angeles area, including Encino, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Tarzana, Woodland Hills, Calabasas, Bel Air, Brentwood, and Beverly Hills — as well as virtual postpartum therapy clients from San Diego, Orange County, Ventura County, the Bay Area, Sacramento, and anywhere else in California.
Frequently Asked Questions About Postpartum Depression & Anxiety Therapy
What is the difference between baby blues and postpartum depression?
The "baby blues" affect up to 80% of new mothers and include short bouts of tearfulness, mood swings, and overwhelm in the first two weeks after birth. Baby blues resolve on their own. Postpartum depression is more persistent (lasting more than two weeks), more severe, and interferes with your ability to care for yourself or your baby. If sad, anxious, hopeless, or numb feelings linger past the two-week mark, it's worth reaching out to a postpartum therapist for an assessment.
How do I know if I have postpartum anxiety?
Postpartum anxiety is often missed because new motherhood involves some degree of worry as a baseline. The signs to watch for: racing thoughts you can't slow down, constant fears about the baby's safety or breathing, compulsive checking, physical symptoms like a tight chest or racing heart, panic attacks, and difficulty sleeping even when the baby is sleeping. If worry feels intrusive, exhausting, or out of proportion, it likely qualifies as postpartum anxiety — and it responds very well to therapy.
Can postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety happen at the same time?
Yes — and this is actually one of the more common presentations. Many mothers experience a blend of postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety simultaneously, sometimes with features of postpartum OCD layered in. These conditions live on a spectrum known as perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), and treatment addresses them together rather than as separate problems.
How long does postpartum depression and anxiety last?
Without treatment, postpartum depression and anxiety can last months or even years — they do not always resolve on their own. With therapy, most mothers feel meaningful improvement within 6–12 sessions. Some clients work with me for several months; others for longer, depending on their goals. Early intervention makes a significant difference in how quickly you feel like yourself again.
When should I seek therapy for postpartum depression?
You should seek therapy any time the postpartum experience feels heavier or scarier than you expected — and absolutely if symptoms have lasted more than two weeks. You do not need to be in crisis to begin postpartum therapy. In fact, the earlier you reach out, the faster the recovery curve. If you are having thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, please call or text 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) and contact me as soon as possible.
Do you offer virtual postpartum therapy in California?
Yes. I offer secure, HIPAA-compliant virtual therapy to anyone residing in California. Virtual postpartum therapy is especially well-suited to new mothers — you can attend sessions while your baby naps, without arranging childcare or leaving the house. I also see clients in person at my Encino office for those who prefer face-to-face work.
Is it too late to start postpartum therapy if my baby is older?
It's never too late. Many of my clients first reach out 6, 12, or even 24+ months after birth — sometimes when a second pregnancy approaches and old feelings resurface, or when delayed birth trauma finally has space to be processed. Postpartum mental health is not bound by a calendar; the work is just as effective whenever you start.
Can my partner come to therapy with me?
Absolutely. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I work with couples individually and as a unit. The transition to parenthood is one of the most relationally demanding seasons a couple can face, and including your partner in some (or all) of the work often accelerates healing. Partners can also experience their own postpartum mood and anxiety symptoms — paternal postpartum depression is real, and worth addressing.
What therapy modalities do you use for postpartum depression and anxiety?
I integrate psychodynamic therapy, attachment-based work, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), somatic awareness, and mindfulness-based practices drawn from my prenatal yoga training. The combination lets us address postpartum depression and anxiety on multiple levels — cognitive, emotional, somatic, and relational — rather than relying on a single approach.
How long are sessions and how do I book a free consultation?
Sessions are typically 50 minutes, and longer sessions can be booked when clinically helpful. I offer a complimentary 15-minute phone or video consultation so you can get a sense of fit before committing. You can book your free consultation here or reach out by email below.
Ready to Feel Like Yourself Again?
If you are struggling with postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, or any of the emotional challenges of new parenthood, reaching out is the hardest step. I'd be honored to support you. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation, and let's see if we're a good fit.
Annalisa Barrett, LMFT · License #140819 · Encino, California [email protected]
If you are in crisis, please call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or call 1-833-9-HELP4MOMS (the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline).