Perinatal therapy in Gainesville, FL

Support for pregnancy, postpartum, and everything in between

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You're not supposed to just push through this

What you're going through has a name, but that doesn't make it easier to carry.

You might be anxious in ways you can't quite explain, during pregnancy, after birth, or somewhere in the fog of the postpartum months. You might be wondering whether you're bonding the way you're supposed to, whether something is wrong with you, or whether this is just how it's going to be now. Maybe you've asked for help and felt like nobody really followed through. Maybe you've been handed a pamphlet.

These feelings, the anxiety, the overwhelm, the "am I crazy?" moments, are more common than most women are ever told. But common doesn't mean you have to white-knuckle your way through it alone.

Perinatal therapy at Roots & Branches is for anyone navigating the emotional and relational weight of the reproductive chapter: pregnancy, postpartum, infertility, loss, or simply preparing for what's coming. If you've been trying to figure it out on your own and it's not working, this is where that changes.

What perinatal therapy actually covers

Perinatal therapy is mental health support designed specifically for the reproductive period, from fertility and pregnancy through the postpartum months and the transition into parenthood.

It covers more than postpartum depression. Perinatal therapy can help with anxiety during pregnancy, postpartum OCD, grief after pregnancy or infant loss, the emotional toll of infertility treatment, late-diagnosed ADHD that surfaced postpartum, and the relationship strain that often comes with a new baby. If you're pregnant or a new parent and something feels hard, emotionally, relationally, or otherwise, this is the work.

Sessions can be individual, or a partner can be invited in to support planning and shared understanding.

Why Ashley does this work

Ashley Waithe came to perinatal therapy through her own postpartum experience. She went through what many of her clients describe: the questionnaires nobody followed up on, the appointments where she was the one who had to push for support, the frustrating gaps between healthcare providers who weren't talking to each other. That experience led her to seek training and eventually to understand how widespread it is, and how much better it could be.

Today, Ashley holds the Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C) through Postpartum Support International, one of the few therapists in the Gainesville area to carry this credential. She also brings EMDR certification to her perinatal work, which she uses with clients who are processing anxiety, past trauma, or the emotional dimensions of sexual pain, sometimes in collaboration with a local pelvic floor PT.

Her approach centers on preparation, not crisis response. Clients work with Ashley to build tools before they need them, create postpartum support plans during pregnancy, and make sure both partners are on the same page, so that when hard moments come, you're not starting from zero.

What to expect when you work with Ashley

1. Your first session — You'll talk through what you're experiencing, what support you currently have, and what you're hoping for. If you're interested in EMDR as part of your perinatal work, Ashley will give you an overview and answer your questions before moving forward.

2. Building your plan — Together, you'll identify what's most pressing, whether that's anxiety management, a postpartum preparation plan, processing a loss, or something else entirely. Sessions can be individual, and a partner can join when that's helpful.

3. Leaving more prepared — The goal isn't just to feel better in the moment. It's to have tools, a plan, and enough support that postpartum doesn't have to be something you survive. Many clients describe leaving sessions feeling more informed, more confident, and less alone.

What changes when you have the right support

Feeling less alone in it — Having a therapist who genuinely understands the landscape, and who came to this work through her own experience, makes the difference between being heard and being managed.

Going into postpartum with a plan — One of the strongest things you can do during pregnancy is prepare for postpartum before it arrives. Clients who work with Ashley during pregnancy often say they felt more equipped and less caught off guard than they expected to be.

Both of you, on the same page — When a partner joins for a session or two, it can shift things significantly. You don't have to translate your experience to them alone. Sessions can include both of you so that support feels shared, not one-sided.

More tools, less white-knuckling — Anxiety, overwhelm, and the hard feelings of the perinatal period don't have to run the show. Therapy builds specific tools for managing them, tools that stay with you after sessions end.

Questions about perinatal therapy at Roots & Branches

  • More often than not, yes, but normal doesn't mean you have to handle it without support. Postpartum anxiety, depression, OCD, and overwhelm are common experiences that aren't always named or addressed in routine care. A first conversation can help clarify what you're experiencing.

  • Yes. Sessions are usually individual, but bringing a partner in for one or more sessions is an option and can be really useful, especially for postpartum planning, shared concerns, or making sure both of you feel supported and aligned.

  • Absolutely. If bringing your baby is what it takes for you to come in, please bring them. Infants and newborns are welcome. Toddlers are trickier; if you have concerns about childcare, reach out and we can figure out what works.

  • Yes, and this is one of Ashley's strongest areas of focus. Prenatal sessions can include postpartum planning, anxiety management tools, and conversations that help you and your partner go into those first months with more clarity and support in place.

  • No. What feels impossible right now is usually workable with the right support. Many clients describe feeling more hopeful, more capable, and more like themselves again after working through this together.

Ready to feel more supported?

If you're pregnant, postpartum, or navigating the grief or uncertainty that can come with this chapter of life, you deserve support that's actually built for it.

Ashley Waithe is a PMH-C certified therapist in Gainesville, FL, offering in-person sessions and telehealth across Florida. Same-week appointments are often available.

Book a session online, or reach out by email if you have questions.