Occupational Therapy for Postpartum Anxiety
Introduction
If you’re seeking treatment (especially occupational therapy treatment) for postpartum anxiety, we want you to be as informed as possible so we can truly partner to create the best course of treatment for YOU.
In occupational therapy, we tend to work from a wide variety of evidence-based assessments and treatments. This gives us the flexibility to meet the specific needs of each patient. Below, you’ll see the assessment and treatment options your therapist may use, along with the evidence that supports them.
At the bottom of this page, you’ll find therapists near you who specialize in maternal health.
Please note that this page is for educational purposes and should not substitute advice from your medical provider.
A quick note on why to pursue therapy for postpartum anxiety
Postpartum anxiety is a common diagnosis affecting between 11% and 21% of new mothers.
Treatment for postpartum anxiety can include cognitive behavioral therapy, lifestyle changes, mindfulness-based interventions, and medication. OT professionals are uniquely equipped to provide a variety of complementary interventions that support individuals with postpartum anxiety, including strategies to improve sleep, promote relaxation, and enhance self-regulation.
A major benefit of occupational therapy for this population is that, when provided early in the care journey, OT can address multiple areas of both maternal and infant health. Occupational therapists can provide pelvic floor therapy, offer support with tummy time and developmental milestones, screen for cardiac health, etc.
Related Assessments
Assessments are powerful tools to help us partner in your care. They establish a clear baseline, direct our treatment efforts, and give us a reliable way to track your progress over time. Your team may select some specific measures that fit your unique situation. Here are some examples:
Possible Goal Areas
Therapy only works when there is buy-in from the patient. It is important that you work with your therapist to set treatment goals that truly reflect what’s important to you.
Goal Bank for Clinicians
Each goal is intended as a starting point. The functional motivation behind each goal should be identified collaboratively with the client.
Focus on functional goals, rather than impairment-based goals
Client will identify and implement 3 personalized coping strategies (e.g., deep breathing, grounding exercises, journaling) to manage anxiety symptoms during daily routines within 2 weeks.
Client will engage in 3 structured social or community-based activities (e.g., baby group, walk with a friend, virtual support group) over 6 weeks to reduce isolation and enhance social participation.
Client will demonstrate use of mindfulness techniques during anxiety-provoking tasks (e.g., feeding, baby crying) in 4 out of 5 opportunities within 5 weeks.
Client will establish and follow a consistent nighttime sleep routine at least 4 nights per week to support restorative sleep and reduce anxiety within 4 weeks.
Client will engage in 20 minutes of light to moderate physical activity at least 3 times per week to promote emotional regulation and reduce anxiety symptoms within 6 weeks.
Client will participate in one meaningful leisure or creative activity for at least 30 minutes, 2 times per week, to enhance overall well-being within 6 weeks.
Treatment Interventions
After a thorough evaluation and goal-setting process, it is time to start making progress. Below are treatment interventions that can be implemented as part of a holistic therapy program.
Establish therapeutic relationship
Education
Cognitive behavioral approaches1,11,14,16
Mindfulness based practices14-16
Grounding
Breathing
Relaxation exercises
Sensory input10,12,13
Music
Kangaroo care
Regulation, creating “toolbox”
Exercise and movement2,6,11
Engagement in meaningful activities2,6,11
Leisure exploration and participation
Sleep routines and quality8
Social support and social connectedness1,3,5,11,13,17
Support emotional regulation techniques1,4,5
Role playing
Deep breathing
Journaling
Visual imagery
Self-soothing techniques
Expressive writing
Red Flags for Clinicians to Consider
Refer to a psychiatrist if symptoms are severe, persistent, worsening, or impact a person’s ability to bond with their child.
Indicators of postpartum psychosis which require immediate attention can include: mood swings, paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, extreme agitation, hyperactivity, and reduced need for sleep.
If the client has thoughts of harming self or baby, seek out help immediately:
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (United States & Canada)
National Maternal Mental Health Lifeline (United States)
Discharge Suggestions
At discharge, our goal is to set you up for ongoing success—and to make sure you can identify clear indicators of when it may be appropriate to reach out for help again. Your occupational therapist may provide:
Resources within the community that will help further support you
A plan for you to follow if your symptoms return or get worse
Strategies to help you stay consistent with the lifestyle habits and coping strategies that will best help set you up for success
Education Resources for Clients
Here is further reading and resources for clients experiencing postpartum anxiety.
Education Resources for Clinicians
Here are further resources to help your clients.
Choosing a Therapist
When searching for an occupational therapy professional to provide treatment for postpartum anxiety, you may want to look for someone with multiple focus areas relevant to your condition (e.g., “anxiety,” “maternal health,” “insomnia,” or “pelvic floor therapy”).
One particularly relevant certification to look for is “PMH-C,” which stands for Perinatal Mental Health Certified.
Below, you can find OT professionals who have tagged maternal health as a focus area.
Khadijah Guy
OTD, OTR/L, CLT, DCS
Occupational Therapist
Full Circle Therapy & Wellness
Phoenix, Arizona
Health Promotion, Home Modifications, Insomnia & Sleep, Leadership, Lymphedema, Maternal Health, Pelvic Health, Population Health
Alyson Stover
MOT, JD, OTR/L, BCP
Capable Kids; University of Pittsburgh, AOTA
Hermitage, Pennsylvania
Coaching, Health Policy, Health Promotion, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Knowledge Translation, Lifestyle Medicine, Leadership, Maternal Health, Nature-based, Neurodiversity, Prevention, Population Health, Social Determinants of Health
Kara Welke
OTD, OTR/L, CLT
Next Level Occupational Therapy
Thompson, North Dakota
Aging in Place, Coaching, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Dementia, Depression & Mood Disorders, Home Modifications, Knowledge Translation, Leadership, Lymphedema, Maternal Health, Neurorehabilitation, Pelvic Health, Prevention, Seating and Mobility, Vestibular & Balance Rehab
Bethany Vitko
OTR/L, CLT, Women's health
Bethany Vitko Wellness; B | Well OT
Lincoln
Anxiety, Cancer, Chronic Conditions, Chronic Pain, Coaching, Fitness, Health Promotion, Home Modifications, Lifestyle Medicine, Leadership, Lymphedema, Maternal Health, Pelvic Health, Prevention, Population Health
Caleb Head
OTR/L
Simpsonville, South Carolina
Chronic Conditions, Chronic Pain, Dementia, Home Modifications, Maternal Health, Medication Management, Parkinson’s, Stroke
Lauralee Gordon
OTR/L
Flow Therapeutics, LLC
Richmond, Virginia
ADHD, Anxiety, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Conditions, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Dementia, Fitness, Hand Therapy, Home Modifications, Insomnia & Sleep, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Maternal Health, Multiple Sclerosis, Neurodiversity, Neurorehabilitation, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal, Parkinson’s, Pelvic Health, Prevention, Rare Diseases, Seating and Mobility, Sexuality/Intimacy, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, TBI, Tourette syndrome
Briana Bonner
OTD, OTR/L
Dr. Bri The OT
Saint Johns, Arizona
ADHD, Aquatic Therapy, Assistive Technology, Autism, Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Conditions, Coaching, Fitness, Grant Writing, Health Policy, Health Promotion, Hippotherapy, Home Modifications, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Lifestyle Medicine, Leadership, Maternal Health, Nature-based, Neurodiversity, NICU, Population Health, Rare Diseases, Seating and Mobility, Sexuality/Intimacy, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, TBI, Trauma & PTSD
Salmin Chacha
OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
AL NOOR TRAINING CENTRE
dubai
ADHD, Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Aquatic Therapy, Aphasia & Communication Disorders, Assistive Technology, Autism, Burns, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Conditions, Chronic Pain, CIMT, Coaching, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Dementia, Depression & Mood Disorders, Developmental Delays, Dystonia, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Ergonomics, Emergency Department, Feeding and Eating, Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), Grant Writing, Hand Therapy, Health Data, ICU/Critical Care, Insomnia & Sleep, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Knowledge Translation, Lifestyle Medicine, Low Vision Rehabilitation, Maternal Health, Medication Management, Mitochondrial Disorders, Multiple Sclerosis, Nature-based, Neurodiversity, Neurorehabilitation, NICU, Pelvic Health, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Rare Diseases, Rheumatic Diseases, Seating and Mobility, Sexuality/Intimacy, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, Swallowing & Dysphagia, TBI, Trauma & PTSD, Vestibular & Balance Rehab
Kate Holbrook
OTD, OTR/L, CBIS, CPST
Des Moines University
West Des Moines, Iowa
ADHD, Assistive Technology, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Conditions, Coaching, Dystonia, Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), Health Policy, Health Promotion, Home Modifications, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Leadership, Maternal Health, Mitochondrial Disorders, Neurodiversity, Neurorehabilitation, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Rare Diseases, Seating and Mobility, Social Determinants of Health, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, TBI, Trauma & PTSD
Marissa Ruhl
MOTR/L, CLT-LANA, CPAM
Thrive Occupational Therapy Health and Wellness PLCC
Omaha, Nebraska
Cancer, Chronic Pain, Fitness, Health Promotion, Lifestyle Medicine, Lymphedema, Maternal Health, Pelvic Health, Prevention, Sexuality/Intimacy, Trauma & PTSD
Marlene Handler
MS, OTR/L, TIPHP, CSOT
The Lifted Lotus, PLLC
Brooklyn, New York
Anxiety, Chronic Pain, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Fitness, Health Promotion, Insomnia & Sleep, Maternal Health, Pelvic Health, Sexuality/Intimacy, Trauma & PTSD
Angela Robertson
OTR/L, ADHD-RSP
Occupational Therapy With Angela, LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
ADHD, Anxiety, Autism, Chronic Conditions, Coaching, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Depression & Mood Disorders, Health Promotion, Insomnia & Sleep, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Lifestyle Medicine, Leadership, Maternal Health, Medication Management, Multi-tiered System of Supports, Neurodiversity, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Prevention, Trauma & PTSD
PJ Bhakta
OTR, OTD, PCES, CSOT
Consultant
TheraSolutions Consulting, LLC
Cedar Park, Texas
ADHD, Chronic Pain, Coaching, Depression & Mood Disorders, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Ergonomics, Fitness, Hand Therapy, Health Data, Health Policy, Health Promotion, Industrial Rehabilitation, Insomnia & Sleep, Knowledge Translation, Lifestyle Medicine, Leadership, Maternal Health, Neurodiversity, NICU, Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal, Pelvic Health, Prevention, Population Health, Sexuality/Intimacy, Social Determinants of Health, Sports Medicine & Performance, Trauma & PTSD
Rebecca Villa
OTD, OTR/L, RYT-200
Student
San Diego, California
Aging in Place, Anxiety, Chronic Conditions, Coaching, Health Promotion, Home Modifications, Insomnia & Sleep, Lifestyle Medicine, Maternal Health, Pelvic Health, Prevention, Population Health, Sexuality/Intimacy, Trauma & PTSD
Jessica shrum
COTA-L
HEALTHPRO
Herrin, Illinois
Aging in Place, Anxiety, Coaching, Fitness, Feeding and Eating, Knowledge Translation, Leadership, Maternal Health
Natalie White
OTR/L
Mayo Clinic Health System
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Dementia, Maternal Health, Neurorehabilitation
Julie Meslin
MS, OTR/L
Putnam Valley, New York
Aging in Place, Autism, Coaching, Health Promotion, Leadership, Maternal Health
Carsyn Thomas
OTS
Xavier University
Cable, Ohio
ADHD, Anxiety, Autism, Chronic Conditions, Chronic Pain, Feeding and Eating, Hippotherapy, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Maternal Health, Multiple Sclerosis, Nature-based, Neurodiversity, Neurorehabilitation, NICU, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Rare Diseases
Kamille Perry
OTS
Xavier
Cincinnati, Ohio
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Aquatic Therapy, Cerebral Palsy, Dementia, Fitness, Hippotherapy, Insomnia & Sleep, Low Vision Rehabilitation, Maternal Health, Multiple Sclerosis, Neurodiversity, Neurorehabilitation, NICU, Pelvic Health, Sexuality/Intimacy, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke
Ashley Elma
OTS
Student
Xavier University
Cincinnati, Ohio
ADHD, Autism, Cancer, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Hand Therapy, Home Modifications, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Lifestyle Medicine, Lymphedema, Maternal Health, Neurodiversity, Neurorehabilitation, NICU, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Prevention, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, TBI, Trauma & PTSD, Tourette syndrome
Camryn McCoy
OTS
Student
Cincinnati, Ohio
Chronic Conditions, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Fitness, Maternal Health, Neurorehabilitation, Pelvic Health, Sexuality/Intimacy, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, TBI
Melina McSweeny
S/OT
Student
Xavier University
Columbus, Ohio
Dementia, Insomnia & Sleep, Maternal Health, NICU
Destiney Carmichael
OTS
Student
Xavier University
Cincinnati, Ohio
Aging in Place, ADHD, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Anxiety, Assistive Technology, Autism, Burns, Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Conditions, Chronic Pain, CIMT, Cognitive Rehabilitation, Dementia, Dystonia, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Fitness, Feeding and Eating, Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), Home Modifications, Insomnia & Sleep, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Lymphedema, Maternal Health, Multiple Sclerosis, Nature-based, Neurodiversity, Neurorehabilitation, NICU, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Parkinson’s, Pelvic Health, Prevention, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Rare Diseases, Rheumatic Diseases, Seating and Mobility, Sexuality/Intimacy, Social Determinants of Health, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, TBI, Trauma & PTSD, Vestibular & Balance Rehab
Mackenzie Zlotnik
OTS
Student
Xavier University
Springboro, Ohio
Aging in Place, ADHD, Aquatic Therapy, Assistive Technology, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Dementia, Fitness, Home Modifications, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Maternal Health, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal, Pelvic Health
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article has helped you understand what therapy for postpartum anxiety entails, and whether you are a good candidate!
This article is updated regularly based on new research. If you have any research you would like us to consider for our next update, please contact us.
Contributors
Carlin Reaume
OTD, OTR/L, DipACLM, PMH-C, PCES
Sarah Lyon
OTR/L
Sarah Lyon, OTR/L, is the CEO of OT Potential. Sarah earned her BA from St. Olaf College and her master’s degree in occupational therapy from New York University. Her diverse clinical background spans multiple settings, including critical access, acute trauma, and state inpatient psychiatric hospitals. In 2011, she founded OT Potential to fulfill the industry's need for reliable, high-quality occupational therapy resources and continuing education.
As a recognized content creator, Sarah has collaborated with top healthcare brands like VeryWell Health, WebPT, and MedBridge. She blends her clinical expertise with a talent for creating clear, action-oriented content that empowers practitioners to excel. Passionate about elevating the OT profession, she has been featured on numerous industry podcasts. Sarah ultimately returned to her roots, running OT Potential and raising her family in her hometown of Aurora, Nebraska.
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