Why Perinatal Mental Health Support Matters (From a Northern Virginia Perinatal Therapist)

Say hi to Abby Heit, a Northern Virginia Perinatal Therapist

There are certain people I trust deeply when it comes to supporting mothers – not just professionally, but human to human. I had the opportunity to sit down with Abby, a licensed clinical social worker and perinatal mental health therapist, to talk about her journey into this work, her own experience of motherhood, and what she wishes more parents knew as they enter this season. This conversation is for anyone navigating pregnancy, postpartum, or the early years of parenting – especially if you’re realizing how tender and complex this time can be.

Working in the maternal mental health space is something that found me early in my career. At 24, fresh out of my MSW program, I began working with pregnant and parenting teenagers in Washington, D.C., at Children’s National and Washington Hospital Center. That experience was formative; I learned so much from those young parents about resilience, trauma, and the realities of parenting in the face of adversity. Their strength left a lasting impression on me.

As I became more involved with Postpartum Support International, I wanted to deepen my work in this area and pursued my PMH-C certification. That process involved submitting my prior clinical experience, completing specialized training, and passing the PMH-C exam. It’s been a deeply meaningful journey, and I feel privileged to walk alongside parents during such a tender and transformative time in their lives

Working with us means being deeply heard and supported in a way that might feel different from everyday conversations with friends or family. Our goal is to create a therapeutic space where clients can safely unburden themselves, whether it’s from painful memories, overwhelming emotions, or daily stressors, and begin to explore their experiences through a new lens. We prioritize warmth, compassion, and honesty, and we aim to hold space for our clients in a way that fosters true healing and growth.

I’m a mom of two boys, ages 6 and 3. My first son was born in 2020, three weeks before lockdown. Given my prior work experience, I thought I was well-prepared to handle motherhood, when in reality, that experience knocked me off my feet. I couldn’t believe how unprepared I felt despite having worked with families with small children for years. That experience encouraged me to find a way to better support mothers through the perinatal period.

What surprises me most is how much my clients help me, too – often without even realizing it. Being a perinatal therapist doesn’t mean being immune to the struggles of motherhood, marriage, or identity. I’ve felt lonely, overwhelmed, and uncertain, just like many of the people I support. Sometimes, I wish I could gather all my clients in one room so they could see how deeply connected their experiences are. There’s something incredibly joyful in witnessing that shared humanity and knowing that none of us are truly alone in this.

What’s 1-3 pieces of advice you would tell someone about to become a parent, whether they’re becoming a completely new parent or a new parent again? What would you tell them as a way to set them up for success, whatever that might look for them?