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Postpartum therapy in Chanhassen, MN

For the moms navigating postpartum rage, matrescence, identity loss, and the kind of burnt-out that sleeping won't fix

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Postpartum rage • Matrescence • Touched out • Still yourself in there somewhere • Postpartum rage • Matrescence • Touched out • Still yourself in there somewhere •

The baby is sleeping through the night now. The fog lifted. You're back at work, back in a routine, back to functioning. And still — something is off. You don't feel like yourself. You're angrier than you expected to be. You love your kids in a way that physically hurts, and you also feel like you've disappeared somewhere inside of that love.

If that's where you are, this page is for you.

Postpartum isn't a window that closes at six weeks, or six months, or when your kid starts school. The psychological shift that happens when you become a mother, what researchers call matrescence, can take years to integrate.

You thought it would get easier once you weren't in the thick of it.

And for many women, it never gets the support it deserves.

What postpartum therapy can help with

I work with moms navigating a wide range of postpartum experiences, including:

The hypervigilance that won't turn off, the catastrophic thinking, the inability to rest even when you have the chance.

The flatness, the disconnection, the feeling that you're watching your life from behind glass.

The anger that comes out of nowhere, that scares you, that you don't know how to explain to your partner or your kids or yourself.

The identity disorientation of becoming a mother. Who you were before, who you are now, and the grief of figuring out whether those two people can coexist.

Unwanted, distressing thoughts about your baby or about harm. These are more common than most people know, and they are treatable.

The distance between you and your partner, the resentment, the way caregiving has reorganized every dynamic in your life.

The fear that you're not bonding the right way, or not doing it fast enough, or that your childhood patterns are already showing up in how you parent.

where it shows up

What working together looks like

We'll start by understanding what's actually going on for you, not just symptom management, but the full picture: your history, your relationships, the expectations you're carrying, and what you actually need to feel more like yourself again.

I use ACT, IFS, and CBT, not because they're the popular options, but because they work. I'm also trained to address the deeper relational patterns that often surface during pregnancy, the ones that connect back to your own childhood, your relationships, and the identity questions that pregnancy tends to crack open.

Available in-person in Chanhassen and via telehealth across 40-plus states. Check out more on the Billing page. 

Sessions are individualized. it means I'm not running you through a protocol or a checklist.

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You're functioning fine on the outside and exhausted on the inside. 

You feel guilty about how you're feeling, which makes you feel worse. 

You're more irritable or more withdrawn than you want to be.

You don't feel like yourself, and you haven't for a while.

Postpartum therapy might be right for you if

You're experiencing any of the following:

You love your kids and also feel trapped, touched out, or like you've lost something you can't name.

Your baby isn't a newborn anymore and you wonder if what you're feeling even counts (hint: it does) 

Why work with a PMH-C psychologist 

Most therapists have some training in postpartum mood disorders. Fewer have the specialized credentials to treat the full clinical picture of what postpartum mental health actually involves.

I'm a Perinatal Mental Health Certified provider (PMH-C), one of fewer than 1,600 psychologists in the country to hold that credential, and a psychologist with 10-plus years of post-licensure experience. I understand postpartum not just clinically but from the inside. I opened my practice when my youngest was one. My husband travels for work most weekdays. I have lived the postpartum season in the way that most of my clients are living it right now.

That lived understanding doesn't replace clinical training. It just means you won't have to explain the basics.


Not all therapists are trained in perinatal mental health.

Meet Dr. treff

"Melissa is a perfect combination of being warm, relational, and scientifically grounded in her approach to perinatal mental health. She understands the pressure put on women and moms to be perfect and selfless. She knows how to support women in challenging these expectations and learning how to also take care of ourselves. She’s an incredible person and therapist, especially for neurodivergent moms looking for therapy."

- Jenna Brownfield

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

Is it too late to get postpartum support if my baby is older?

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No. There's no expiration date on postpartum mental health support. Many of the moms I work with have kids who are toddlers or older. The identity and relational shifts of early parenthood can take years to process, and getting support at any point is worthwhile.

What is matrescence?

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Matrescence is the developmental process of becoming a mother, first described by anthropologist Dana Raphael and increasingly recognized in perinatal psychology. Like adolescence, it involves a significant identity shift, psychological reorganization, and a renegotiation of relationships and sense of self. It can be disorienting, even for moms who wanted this and love their children deeply. It has a name, and it's something therapy can genuinely help with.

What's the difference between postpartum depression and the baby blues?

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Baby blues typically resolve within two weeks of delivery. Postpartum depression is more persistent, more disruptive, and doesn't resolve on its own. It can show up as sadness, rage, numbness, anxiety, or a combination. If you've been struggling for more than a few weeks, it's worth talking to someone.

Can I bring my baby or toddler to sessions?

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Yes. In-person sessions are baby and toddler friendly. If that's what makes it easier for you to show up, bring them.

Do you only see clients in Chanhassen?

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No. I see clients in person in Chanhassen and via telehealth across 40-plus states through my PsyPact membership.

Do you take insurance?

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I'm an out-of-network provider. Sessions are $185 for 60 minutes. Many clients use out-of-network benefits, an HSA/FSA, or an EAP plan. I accept Headspace and Lyra EAPs. See full billing details →

You've been holding this long enough.

A free 15-minute consultation is the first step. No paperwork, no pressure, just a chance to talk and figure out together if this is the right fit.

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