AUTHOR

Emily Guarnotta PsyD

(She/her/hers)

Private Practice

Licensing & Certifications:

Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Certified Perinatal Mental Health Provider (PMH-C)

Professional Background

Dr. Emily Guarnotta is a licensed clinical psychologist and Certified Perinatal Mental Health Provider (PMH-C). She specializes in working with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, like postpartum depression and anxiety. She also works with individuals of all backgrounds dealing with anxiety, depression, and life adjustments. Dr. Guarnotta is the co-founder of Phoenix Health, a therapy practice that specializes in online therapy for maternal mental health conditions, including prenatal and postpartum mental health concerns, infertility, and grief and loss.

In addition to helping mothers trying to cope with infertility, miscarriage, pregnancy, and the postpartum period, Dr. Guarnotta also works to help fathers, adopted parents, and LGBTQ families. You do not have to be a birthing mother to struggle with emotions related to trying to build a family or adjusting to a new baby.

Dr. Guarnotta takes an integrative approach to psychotherapy, meaning that she draws from different types of therapy to help meet the needs of her clients, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and psychodynamic therapy. She believes that each person that comes to therapy is unique and treatment should be tailored to the individual.

Currently, Dr. Guarnotta balances her time providing psychotherapy to her clients and writing about various mental health issues. She hopes to increase mental health awareness, decrease stigma, and help make information on mental health more accessible.

Professional Affiliations:

American Psychological Association
Postpartum Support International

Education:

M.A., Clinical Psychology, California School of Professional Psychology
PsyD., Clinical Psychology, California School of Professional Psychology

Why I Write for Choosing Therapy:

I write for Choosing Therapy because it’s my mission to educate the public on mental health concerns, especially those pertaining to new parents. Though we have come very far, there is still a lot of stigma surrounding mental health. I strongly align with Choosing Therapy’s approach of providing accurate and evidence-based information.

Areas of Focus

Working with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, including postpartum depression, anxiety, PTSD, and OCD
Grief counseling for individuals who have suffered a miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss
Support for individuals struggling with infertility
Therapy for parents experiencing challenges adjusting to new parenthood or coping with parenting stress

Featured Articles

Anxiety While Pregnant: Causes & Treatments of Perinatal Anxiety

Anxiety has been found to be more common than depression among pregnant and postpartum women. As many as 15.8% of pregnant women, and up to 1 in 5 women in the postnatal period will experience diagnosable levels of anxiety.

July 7, 2020

Can Postpartum Depression Be Prevented?

Postpartum depression is a common complication of childbirth that can develop at any point within the first year after giving birth. There are several factors that can increase the likelihood that a woman develops this condition.

July 7, 2020

Can Stress Cause a Miscarriage?

In short, evidence does not suggest a direct link between stress and miscarriage. However, experiencing chronic or toxic stress during pregnancy can increase the risk of birth complications, including miscarriage, low birth rate, or premature birth. Concerned mothers should focus on reducing stress by getting enough sleep, eating nutritious meals, and seeking support.

July 7, 2020

Dealing With Perinatal Loss: What You Can Do & Who Can Help

Perinatal loss is the loss of a baby during pregnancy or delivery. It is a common experience, with as many as 10 to 15% of pregnancies ending in loss. Families who suffer a perinatal loss may experience a range of grief reactions, including shock, anger, and depression. Remaining connected with your support system, finding ways to honor the deceased child, and speaking with a professional can help you cope with a pregnancy loss.

July 7, 2020

“You deserve to feel well. So many people struggle with mental health concerns without getting the right treatment and support. When it comes down to it, for many people there is an underlying core belief that they are “not enough” or just need to keep on pushing. If you’re having a hard time, you deserve to feel better. There is no reason to deny yourself the help that is available.”

Emily Guarnotta, PsyD