Becoming a parent, or parenting between cultures · Denver and telehealth

Perinatal & Parenting Therapy

Pregnancy or postpartum that isn’t what you were promised, and raising kids between two sets of expectations. Whether you are expecting, in the first year, or years in and still carrying your own childhood into your parenting, this is work we know well.

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How it often shows up

A pregnancy or postpartum season that feels nothing like the one you were told to expect.
Anxiety that circles the baby, or a sadness you feel guilty for having.
Being told it is just hormones, or just the baby blues, when it has gone on for weeks.
Old conflicts with your own parents resurfacing now that you are the parent.
Two sets of expectations about how children should be raised, and you in the middle.
Wanting to give your children a culture you are not sure you fully have yourself.
Hearing your parent’s voice come out of your mouth, and not liking it.

If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself or your baby, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or dial 911.

Pre- and Postpartum Mood Disorders

Pregnancy and the postpartum period (from birth through the first year) can be exciting and extremely challenging. The hormonal and physical changes are significant on a woman’s body – then, add on top of that the learning curve of becoming a mom, adjusting to new family and marital dynamics, identity and role confusion, sleep deprivation, and it is no surprise that this season is one of the most intense that a woman goes through!

Whether you are struggling with postpartum stress, or a true perinatal mood disorder (i.e., postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, trauma), the good news is that you do not have to suffer alone AND research shows that treatment works. From one mom to another, we understand how overwhelming it can be and how lonely it can feel during those early years. We are here to help you take care of your mental health as you build a strong foundation for you and your family.

Parenting

Parenting is a complex journey, and for many, it's deeply intertwined with cultural identity. We understand that raising children involves more than just meeting their basic needs—it’s about nurturing their identity, passing down language and traditions, and helping them navigate a world that may look different from the one you grew up in. Whether you're a parent of a multiracial child figuring out how to honor both backgrounds, a first-generation parent balancing cultural expectations with modern pressures, or someone hoping to reintroduce your heritage to a child who feels removed from it, these unique challenges can feel overwhelming. We provide a supportive space to help you address the nuances of cultural identity development, manage the pressures of juggling many roles, and strengthen the bonds within your family, empowering you to raise resilient and culturally confident children.

Parenting with your own childhood in the room

Many new parents find their own childhood arriving uninvited: the discipline, the criticism, the silence, the sacrifice. Becoming a parent is often the moment people decide to be different, and then discover that wanting to be different isn’t enough.

We work on the pattern before it repeats: where it came from, what it protected your parents from, and what you want to keep. If that is the heart of it for you, our page on intergenerational trauma and family patterns goes deeper.

Common questions

Is it the baby blues, or something more?

The baby blues are common and usually lift within about two weeks. Symptoms that last longer, get worse, or include intrusive thoughts, panic, or feeling disconnected from the baby may be a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder. Those are treatable, and the earlier the better. Our post on who is at risk is a good place to start.

Can I start during pregnancy?

Yes. Pregnancy is often the best time to begin, especially if you have a history of depression or anxiety, a difficult relationship with your own parents, or a lot riding on this season going well.

My kids are older. Is this still for me?

Yes. The perinatal work is specific to pregnancy and the first year. The parenting work is for any parent, at any stage, and much of it is about the patterns you carry rather than the age of your child.

Does culture matter here?

Almost always. How a family expects a new mother to rest, who helps and how, what children owe their parents, and whose traditions win when two cultures disagree all shape this season. We work with that context rather than around it. See our page on Asian American and bicultural therapy.

What does the work look like?

We start underneath the symptom. Together we look at the patterns you’ve carried from your past into your present, the stories you tell about yourself, and the cultural dynamics that shaped both. Then we gently untangle and reweave the parts of your identity and experience that have been frayed by pain, shame, or trauma, so what’s left is a stronger, more durable sense of who you are.

Telehealth is available, which for many new parents means meeting from home while the baby naps.

Who does this work

Amy King, PsyD · Founder + Psychologist

Dr. King has completed advanced trainings in Perinatal Mood Disorders through Postpartum Support International. She is trained in the treatment of personality disorders, complex and chronic mental illnesses, and perinatal mood disorders.

From one mom to another, we understand how overwhelming it can be and how lonely it can feel during those early years.

Read Dr. King’s bio