ONLINE THERAPY
Navigating the mental health system can be overwhelming. Finding a therapist trained in the reproductive period that takes your insurance, is affordable, accessible and available is next to impossible. PS-WA is dedicated to reducing barriers people face in accessing high quality mental health care. Our new therapy program is designed to provide the care you need, where you want it: in your home, in the community, online, or in the office.
Due to COVID-19 we are only offering online services at the moment. We look forward to being able to expand our services in time. We have 5 highly skilled therapists and interns with both lived and professional experience serving childbearing families.
Online therapy for common experiences including:
We treat a variety of common concerns including infertility, perinatal loss, birth trauma, postpartum adjustment issues such as depression, anxiety, and panic, breast/chestfeeding stress/trauma, relationship concerns since baby, and unwanted feelings such as anger, rage, irritability.
To access our therapy program please complete a request for services
1-888-404-7763
* se habla español
therapy@perinatalsupport.org
Insurance, sliding scale & free therapy available.
Services available regardless of income or insurance.
INSURANCE
We are currently in network with Premera, Lifewise, and Cigna, Molina and Aetna. Whether you are in network with one of these companies or have another insurance plan we are happy to support you to navigate your insurance and treatment options. Please look at our therapist bios to learn more about which therapists are in network with your plan.
SLIDING SCALE & FREE THERAPY CARE
We can complete a benefit check to determine your out-of-pocket costs, as well as determine a sliding scale option that will work for you. Lastly, we can offer free of charge services for families who are experiencing severe financial hardships.
Waiting for therapy? Join a support group now:
PSWA Pregnancy & Postpartum Group
Meet our online therapy team:
Meyleen Velasquez, LCSW, LICSW, PMH-C, RPT-S
Clinical Therapy Program Manager (she/her)
Meyleen is an immigrant Latina psychotherapist specializing in perinatal and infant mental health. Meyleen has a doctorate in social work and focused her research on anti-racist and anti-oppressive mental health services. Her practice supports birthing people and clinicians working from an anti-oppressive framework. Meyleen identified as a Brown person for most of her life until several years ago when Vitiligo changed how she navigates the world.
Haley Brandenburg, LICSWA
Therapist (she/her)
My name is Haley Brandenburg. I hold an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Washington State University and a Masters degree in clinical Social Work from Walla Walla University. I have experience conducting therapy groups with children and adolescents within an educational setting.
Haley takes all Medicaid plans and is in network with all the plans listed above.
Elizabeth Moore Simpson, MSW, LSWAIC
Therapist and PERC Program Manager (she/her)
Elizabeth, MSW, LSWAIC, has worked with new and growing families for over ten years. With an infant-early childhood mental and maternal health lens Elizabeth has practiced as a doula, child and family therapist, restorative justice circle keeper, and community organizer for racial and economic justice. Now, she is the manager of the Parent Resilience Program at PS-WA and carries a handful of clients in the PS-WA clinical therapy program.
Emily Raabe, LSWAIC
Therapist (she/her)
My name is Emily Raabe. I am a mother to a two and four year old, and I am working with families through the transitions of parenthood. I hold an undergraduate degree from San Francisco State in Psychology, and am currently pursuing a Masters in Social Work at the University of Washington. My focus is on perinatal female identifying populations.
Emily can see clients with any Medicaid plans, or low cost/sliding scale.
Brionna "Bri" Butz
Therapist Intern (she/her)
I am honored to partner with you in your perinatal journey. I have a holistic, whole-person contextual approach and highly value authenticity, connection in relationships, and having fun.
I have specific interests in working with infertility, trauma, grief/loss, relational conflict, attachment, and pregnant and postpartum women. I practice from a place of humility, curiosity, honoring and embracing differences, yielding the space to be what you need.
Bri can see any client with Medicaid, or low cost/sliding scale
Emma Summer, LMHCA, PMH-C
Therapist (she/her)
I come to counseling from over a decade working with perinatal families as a doula. Through my experience attending hundreds of births and accompanying families in their homes as they adjusted to postpartum life, I learned the importance of specialized support during this tender and expansive time.
Emma can see any client with Medicaid, and is in network with Premera, Cigna, Aetna, First Choice/Kaiser, Lifewise, Molina and Community Health Plan WA.
Debora Nascimento de Araujo Dold, MSWc
Therapist Intern (she/her)
My name is Debora, I was born and raised in Brazil and have lived in Seattle for about seven years. I am passionate about working with families and children, specifically immigrants. For many years I have been working toward supporting Latinx families, mostly individuals who identify as a woman, with their social and emotional needs through education and psychoeducation.
Anupa Gewali, MSWc/MPHc
Therapist Intern (she/her)
Anupa is a clinical social work intern at the University of Washington. She has a background in virtual support groups and working with peripartum youth, specifically with using a cognitive behavioral therapy framework. She is also training in practices of motivational interviewing and mindfulness activities to integrate with treatment.
Anupa can see any client with Medicaid, or offers low cost/sliding scale.
Desirée Luerene Israel, LCSW-C, LICSW, CBS
Clinical Supervisor (she/her)
Using her own experience and compassion in hopes to heal others, Desirée completed training as a birth doula in 2014 and Postpartum Support International’s (PSI) Components of Care Training on Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) in 2015. Additionally, Desirée completed the Maternal Mental Health Intensive training through Seleni Institute in March 2017 and serves as a Maryland co-coordinator for PSI.
Salma Ledezma, BSW
Intake Coordinator (she/her)
My name is Salma Ledezma and I am a current MSW student that focuses on clinical social work. I hold a BSW from James Madison University.
Mary Hill, LICSW, PMH-C
Therapist (she/her)
You are not alone, and you are not broken. Our work together isn't to fix, but rather to heal. Come experience what compassionate care feels like, and find a safe space to say the scary things out loud. My practice is trauma-informed, culturally humble, and queer-affirming.
Mary can see any client with Medicaid, and is in network with Cigna. Mary will soon be in network with all PS-WA plans listed above.
Kristine Lynam, LICSW, PMH-C
Clinical Supervisor (she/her)
My name is Kristine (she/her) and I began working with birthing parents in 2002 as a medical social worker. I quickly learned that I really enjoyed working in our Obstetrics and Gynecology clinic as well as with NICU families and began to specialize in this area. At my first PSI conference I felt inspired by the work being done in this community and worked with our Perinatal Psychiatrist to bring therapy services to outpatient clinics so that parents could get everything they needed to be well in one place. Mostly recently, I worked at Seattle Children’s NICU as a perinatal therapist. I have practiced in both Minnesota and Washington and am an approved clinical social work supervisor in both states.
Escarleth De Leon, M.S., LMFT
Therapist (she/her)
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Washington State with experience in
serving children and families. I believe that supporting families during the perinatal stage is
crucial and this is what led me to join this team. I have worked in Community Mental Health,
schools, home-visiting and in private practice settings.
"I wish someone had told me what to expect. I wish someone had talked about what they went through, or directed me toward finding out what other women went through, so that I didn't feel so utterly crazy."