Perinatal and Postpartum OCD Therapy in St. Petersburg, FL

Perinatal and Postpartum OCD is a specialty focus area within our practice. Perinatal and postpartum OCD care is clinically led by Kimberly Young Brazill, LMHC, with a focus on evidence-based treatment for OCD during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Many people experience unexpected anxiety, fear, or intrusive thoughts during pregnancy or after having a baby. These thoughts can feel distressing, confusing, and out of character, and often lead to significant fear about what they might mean.

You are not alone in this experience. Perinatal and postpartum OCD is a common, treatable form of OCD that is often misunderstood.

Perinatal and postpartum OCD involves intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that often center on the baby’s safety or wellbeing. In response, many people develop patterns aimed at reducing anxiety or preventing feared outcomes.

These patterns may include:

• Repeated checking or monitoring
• Seeking reassurance from others or internally
• Avoiding situations or objects related to feared thoughts
• Mental reviewing or attempting to “figure out” thoughts
• Persistent fear despite reassurance or evidence to the contrary

These experiences can feel exhausting and isolating, even for people who are otherwise functioning well and deeply committed to their role as a parent.

Intrusive thoughts are a symptom of OCD, not an indication of intent, desire, or character.

OCD often targets what matters most, which is why these thoughts feel so distressing. The presence of a thought does not mean it reflects who you are or what you want to do.

Treatment focuses on changing your relationship with intrusive thoughts and reducing the behaviors that keep anxiety and OCD cycles going.

Using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), we work on:

• Reducing reassurance seeking and avoidance
• Practicing responding differently to intrusive thoughts
• Building tolerance for uncertainty and discomfort
• Re-engaging with parenting and daily life with more flexibility

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is also used to help you step back from intrusive thoughts and reconnect with your values, even in the presence of anxiety.

This support may be helpful if you:

• Feel afraid to share your thoughts with others
• Are experiencing persistent anxiety that feels hard to control
• Spend significant time trying to “figure out” or neutralize thoughts
• Feel disconnected or overwhelmed in your parenting experience
• Want evidence-based support for OCD during pregnancy or postpartum

Perinatal and postpartum OCD is highly treatable. If you are interested in therapy or would like to schedule a consultation, you are welcome to reach out. Our practice provides evidence-based care that is compassionate, structured, and tailored to your stage of life and needs.