Guiding you through the challenges of infertility, pregnancy, postpartum changes, and loss with care and understanding—supporting individuals on their unique journeys.
Perinatal Therapy
At Mental Wellness Montclair, we provide therapy for individuals, couples, and families navigating the emotional ups and downs of fertility challenges, pregnancy, postpartum life, and early parenthood.
Our certified therapists offer affirming, culturally sensitive support tailored to your unique experience—whether you’re expecting, expanding your family through adoption or surrogacy, or adjusting to life with a new child.
What defines the Perinatal Period, and when is professional support recommended?
The perinatal period begins when you start the journey to grow your family and continues through your baby’s first year of life—a time filled with change, growth, and new experiences for you and your loved ones.
For LGBTQ+ individuals, this journey can take many beautiful forms—through pregnancy, surrogacy, adoption, or other paths to parenthood. No matter how your family is built, this period often brings big physical, emotional, and social changes as you adjust to welcoming and caring for your new baby.
While it can be a joyful and exciting time, it can also be challenging. Many parents experience mood changes, stress, or worry, and that’s completely normal.
If feelings of sadness, anxiety, or overwhelm become difficult to manage, reaching out for help is a sign of strength. Support is available—and getting help early can make a meaningful difference for both you and your baby.
Therapy and Mental Health during the Fertility Journey
The journey to grow your family can take many forms—through conception, fertility treatments, surrogacy, or other paths—and it can bring a mix of hope, anticipation, and emotional challenges. It’s normal to experience stress, grief, or uncertainty along the way. Therapy and emotional support can provide a safe space to process these feelings, strengthen connections, and care for your mental health. No matter what your path to parenthood looks like or who’s included in your family, you deserve support and understanding every step of the way.
Support for Infertility, Miscarriage and Loss
Experiencing infertility, miscarriage, or pregnancy loss can be deeply painful and isolating. These experiences affect many people, no matter the path to parenthood, and it’s normal to feel grief, sadness, or confusion. Emotional support and therapy can help you process your feelings, navigate complex emotions, and find ways to care for yourself and your relationships. You don’t have to face this journey alone—support is available for every step along the way.
Pregnancy and Mental Health
Pregnancy is a time of exciting change, but it can also bring unexpected stress, worry, or mood changes. It’s normal to feel a mix of emotions as you adjust physically, emotionally, and socially to pregnancy. For LGBTQ+ parents and families of all kinds, these changes may come with unique challenges and experiences. Therapy and mental health support can help you navigate anxiety, depression, or other concerns, strengthen your support system, and take care of your well-being—so you can feel more confident and supported during this important time.
Supporting LGBTQ+ Families
Building a family as an LGBTQ+ individual or couple can bring joy, hope, and sometimes stress or uncertainty. Therapy and mental health support can help you navigate these emotions, strengthen relationships, and care for your well-being—so you and your loved ones can thrive throughout your family-building journey.
Postpartum Mental Health
The period after birth can be joyful, overwhelming, and full of change all at once. Many parents—regardless of how their family is built—experience mood swings, anxiety, or sadness as they adjust to life with a new baby. These feelings are common, but when they become intense or persistent, support can make a real difference. Therapy and mental health care can help you process your emotions, strengthen your relationships, and find balance as you navigate the challenges and joys of caring for your baby. Reaching out for help is a sign of strength, and support is available for every parent and family.
Support and Coping through Life’s Transitions
Developing coping strategies, practicing self-care, and seeking ongoing therapy can help you navigate these changes with confidence and resilience. Support isn’t just for times of crisis—it can provide guidance, reassurance, and tools to manage the ups and downs, helping you and your family thrive through every phase of this journey.
Jess Andresini, LPC, PMH-C
Life is filled with ups and downs, joys and struggles. The path to beginning therapy can feel daunting and can sometimes stop us in our tracks, unsure of what to do next. My hope is to demystify therapy and remind people that support is out there, we are not meant to go it alone. I approach each person with openness and curiosity, tailoring the process to honor their story, strengths, and challenges. By creating a safe and supportive space grounded in empathy, I strive to help clients feel truly seen and understood so they can move toward meaningful change with greater ease and confidence.
Jess is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Master’s degree in Counseling and certification in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C).