Perinatal Counseling for Pregnant and Postpartum Parents in Columbia, Missouri
Perinatal counseling supports parents through the emotional, relational, and psychological changes that can accompany pregnancy, birth, and early parenting. This includes support for anxiety, depression, trauma, ambivalence, and adjustment, as well as space to explore identity shifts, relationships, and evolving life goals during this period.
Erica Kroll, M.Ed., LPC, a licensed professional counselor specializing in perinatal mental health, provides counseling for individuals and families throughout Missouri via a secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform. She is currently accepting new clients and specializes in mental health support during pregnancy, postpartum, and the transition to parenthood.
Your therapist
Erica Kroll, M.Ed., LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor · EMDR-Trained
Erica holds a Master of Education in Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri and has spent more than two decades supporting families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum as a therapist, birth doula, childbirth educator, and prenatal yoga teacher. Her counseling work is trauma-informed and grounded in EMDR training.
Erica also provides general counseling for adults at ericakroll.com.
HIPAA-Compliant Telehealth · Licensed in Missouri · EMDR-Trained · Accepting New Clients
Session Details
Fee: $130 per 45-50 minute session
Format: Secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth anywhere in Missouri
Insurance: Out of network; superbills provided for possible partial reimbursement
Sliding scale: Options may be available upon request
Availability: Currently accepting new clients
Pregnancy Counseling
Pregnancy can bring a wide range of emotions, including excitement, fear, uncertainty, grief, or ambivalence. Counseling during pregnancy offers space to explore these experiences while building emotional awareness and coping skills that support both mental health and preparation for birth.
Pregnancy counseling may support you in exploring birthing options and models of care, processing previous birth experiences or losses, clarifying your values and preferences for birth, and learning to advocate for yourself within medical settings. Sessions may also focus on reducing prenatal anxiety, depression, or obsessive thoughts, increasing body awareness for birth, and developing coping strategies for labor and contractions.
For individuals with a history of trauma, including sexual abuse or prior medical trauma, counseling can support recognition of triggers and development of strategies for safety and regulation during pregnancy and birth.
Postpartum Counseling
The postpartum period can be emotionally complex and difficult to navigate. Many parents experience conflicting emotions, mood changes, anxiety, or intrusive thoughts after the birth of a baby. Early support can help reduce distress and prevent symptoms from becoming more severe.
Postpartum counseling may include processing birth experiences, adjusting to changes in identity and relationships, navigating conflict with a partner, addressing lack of support from family or friends, and receiving screening and treatment for postpartum depression, anxiety, or obsessive compulsive disorder. Counseling can also support early parenting challenges and the transition into new routines and responsibilities.
If you are looking for a postpartum therapist or counseling for new moms, Erica provides telehealth therapy throughout Missouri and is currently accepting new clients.
Preconception Counseling
Preconception counseling supports individuals who are considering pregnancy or navigating complex feelings about becoming a parent. This may include processing previous traumatic birth experiences, pregnancy loss, abortion, or infertility, as well as exploring fears, ambivalence, or life transitions related to pregnancy and parenting.
Sessions can also support thoughtful exploration of birthing options and models of care, helping you weigh values, risks, and preferences before pregnancy.
Perinatal Counseling Specialties
Pregnancy & Birth Counseling
Explore birthing options
Resolve birth trauma or loss
Develop and clarify a vision for your birth
Learn to advocate for yourself in your care
Prenatal depression, anxiety or OCD
Reduce anxiety, ambivalence, or fear
Increase body awareness for birth
Develop and recognize your inner resources for birthing
Learn coping strategies for contractions
Navigate your care during birth
Address past sexual abuse or trauma and learn to recognize and cope with triggers during pregnancy and birth
Screening, support and treatment for depression, anxiety, OCD, or other mental health concerns
Postpartum Counseling
Many individuals experience conflicting emotions after having a baby, or scary thoughts that worry you. Addressing these early can prevent escalation and severity
Explore birth experiences, from the most difficult to the most joyful
Lack of support from partner, friends and/or family
Treatment and screening for postpartum depression, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder
Address difficulties adjusting to parenting and lifestyle change
Conflict with partner
Early parenting and adjustment
Preconception Counseling
Resolve past traumatic birth experience
Resolve previous experiences of abortion
Address past sexual abuse or trauma
Explore fears, life transitions, and ambivalence about becoming a parent, being pregnant, or giving birth
Explore birthing options and weigh pros and cons of models of care
Frequently Asked Questions
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