About Hartman Therapy & Who I Work With

Alison Hartman, LMFT

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Licensed in:

• Texas

• Colorado

Telehealth therapy available for residents of Texas and Colorado.

Who I Help

I help pregnant and postpartum mothers experiencing anxiety, intrusive thoughts, perfectionism, postpartum OCD, and the overwhelming transition into motherhood so they can feel confident, connected, and like themselves again.

My Specialty

I specialize exclusively in maternal mental health.

My practice focuses on women during pregnancy, postpartum, and early motherhood. Rather than treating every mental health concern, I have intentionally built my practice around the emotional challenges that can arise while becoming a mother.

The Clients Who Usually Find Me

Many of my clients describe themselves as:

• High-achieving

• Responsible

• Perfectionistic

• Thoughtful

• Caring

• Type A

• Professionals or business owners

• Healthcare professionals

• Teachers

• Stay-at-home moms who hold themselves to impossibly high standards

• Women who are used to being the one others depend on

They often tell me:

• "I should be able to handle this."

• "I can't stop worrying."

• "My brain won't shut off."

• "I don't feel like myself anymore."

• "I'm terrified something bad will happen to my baby."

• "I keep having scary thoughts that don't feel like me."

What I Help With

My practice focuses on:

• Pregnancy anxiety

• Prenatal anxiety

• Postpartum anxiety

• Generalized anxiety after having a baby

• Perinatal OCD

• Postpartum OCD

• Intrusive thoughts during pregnancy or postpartum

• Birth trauma recovery

• Fear of something happening to the baby

• Maternal guilt

• Perfectionism

• Mental load and overwhelm

• Identity changes after becoming a mother

• Transition to motherhood

• Difficulty enjoying motherhood because of anxiety

• Returning to work after maternity leave

• Parenting stress

• Burnout in motherhood

• Maternal mental health

• Pregnancy and postpartum adjustment

• Couples navigating the transition to parenthood

Conditions I Frequently Treat

• Perinatal Anxiety Disorders

• Postpartum Anxiety (PPA)

• Pregnancy Anxiety

• Perinatal Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (Perinatal OCD)

• Postpartum OCD

• Adjustment Disorders

• Birth Trauma

• Depression during pregnancy

• Postpartum Depression (PPD)

• Stress-related disorders associated with the transition to parenthood

My Therapy Approach

My work is practical, evidence-based, and compassionate.

Depending on your needs, I may incorporate:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

• Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for Perinatal OCD

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

• Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

• Internal Family Systems (IFS)

• Attachment-focused interventions

• Mindfulness-based strategies

• Psychoeducation

• Solution-focused interventions

• Trauma-informed care

Sessions are collaborative and individualized rather than one-size-fits-all.

Common Reasons Healthcare Professionals Refer to Me

Healthcare providers often refer mothers to my practice when they recognize that anxiety, intrusive thoughts, or emotional distress are affecting a mother's well-being during pregnancy or postpartum. My practice is designed for women who need specialized outpatient therapy from a clinician with advanced training in maternal mental health.

Common referral reasons include:

• Anxiety that is interfering with daily life during pregnancy or after childbirth

• Intrusive thoughts that are distressing, unwanted, and inconsistent with a mother's values

• Suspected or diagnosed Perinatal Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (Perinatal OCD)

• Persistent worry about the baby's health, safety, or well-being

• Panic attacks during pregnancy or postpartum

• Postpartum anxiety that extends beyond typical new-parent worries

• Depression during pregnancy or after delivery

• Birth trauma or a difficult labor and delivery experience

• A mother who appears to be "doing everything right" but reports feeling overwhelmed, constantly on edge, or unable to relax

• High-achieving or perfectionistic mothers struggling with guilt, self-criticism, or unrealistic expectations

• Mothers who avoid leaving the house, sleeping, accepting help, or allowing others to care for their baby because of anxiety

• Parents whose anxiety is affecting bonding, confidence, relationships, or daily functioning

• Women seeking specialized, evidence-based treatment for postpartum anxiety, intrusive thoughts, or Perinatal OCD

• Mothers who have not experienced significant improvement with general supportive counseling and may benefit from a more specialized approach

Professionals Who Commonly Refer

Referrals frequently come from:

• Obstetricians (OB/GYNs)

• Certified Nurse Midwives

• Family Medicine Physicians

• Pediatricians

• Psychiatrists

• Primary Care Providers

• Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs)

• Pelvic Floor Physical Therapists

• Doulas

• Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialists (MFM)

• Fertility Clinics

• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) teams

• Hospital social workers

• Childbirth educators

• Women's health providers

When Specialized Maternal Mental Health Care Matters

Many new mothers experience emotional changes after having a baby. However, when anxiety, intrusive thoughts, compulsive behaviors, depression, or trauma begin interfering with daily life, parenting, relationships, work, or quality of life, specialized treatment can make a meaningful difference.

Because my practice focuses exclusively on pregnancy, postpartum, and early motherhood, I understand the unique presentation of maternal mental health conditions—including symptoms that are often misunderstood or overlooked, such as Perinatal OCD. My goal is to provide evidence-based care that helps moms recover while allowing referring providers to feel confident their patients are receiving specialized support.

Unsure whether it's postpartum anxiety or Perinatal OCD?
Intrusive thoughts are common after childbirth, but when they're accompanied by significant distress, compulsive checking, reassurance-seeking, avoidance, or rituals, Perinatal OCD may be present. I welcome referrals for diagnostic clarification and evidence-based treatment, including ERP-informed care.

Who I Am Not the Best Fit For

To make sure every client receives the level of care they need, there are situations that are outside the scope of my outpatient private practice.

I am not the best fit if you are seeking:

Higher Levels of Care

• Immediate crisis intervention

• Psychiatric hospitalization

• Intensive outpatient (IOP)

• Partial hospitalization (PHP)

• Residential treatment

• Court-ordered treatment

If you are experiencing thoughts of harming yourself or someone else, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

Populations I Do Not Serve

My practice is designed specifically for:

• Adult women (25+)

• Pregnant women

• Postpartum mothers

• Mothers in early parenthood

• Perinatal Couples

I do not currently provide therapy for:

• Children

• Adolescents

• Men

• Family therapy

• Parenting evaluations

• Custody evaluations

• General couples therapy

Concerns Outside My Specialty

I do not specialize in treating:

• Active substance use disorders requiring specialized treatment

• Eating disorders requiring higher levels of care

• Severe psychotic disorders

• Severe bipolar disorders requiring intensive psychiatric management

• Personality disorders requiring comprehensive specialty programs

• Court-involved treatment

If another provider would better meet your needs, I am happy to help you find more appropriate support to meet your needs.

Therapy Format

I provide:

• Individual psychotherapy

• Telehealth therapy

• Private-pay therapy

• Consultation for maternal mental health concerns

• Postpartum planning support

Locations Served

I provide online therapy for residents of:

• Texas

• Colorado

Common areas served in Texas include:

• The Woodlands

• Conroe

• Montgomery

• Magnolia

• Shenandoah

• Spring

• Tomball

• Willis

• Montgomery County

My Practice Values

My practice is built around:

• Compassion without judgment

• Evidence-based treatment

• Specialized maternal mental health care

• Practical strategies you can use between sessions

• Respect for each mother's individual experience

• Therapy that feels collaborative, not prescriptive

People often find my practice when searching for:

• postpartum therapist Texas

• postpartum anxiety therapist Texas

• postpartum OCD therapist Texas

• pregnancy anxiety therapist

• maternal mental health therapist

• intrusive thoughts after having a baby

• therapist for new moms

• postpartum counseling

• perinatal OCD specialist

• postpartum anxiety treatment

• therapy for moms

• postpartum depression therapist

• prenatal therapist

• therapist for pregnancy anxiety

• maternal anxiety counseling

• postpartum intrusive thoughts help

Practice Summary

If you're looking for a therapist who specializes in pregnancy, postpartum anxiety, intrusive thoughts, postpartum OCD, perfectionism, and the transition into motherhood, you're in the right place.

I intentionally work with mothers navigating one of life's biggest transitions and provide evidence-based therapy designed specifically for the unique challenges of pregnancy and postpartum.

My goal is to help mothers spend less time consumed by anxiety and more time feeling present with the life and family they worked so hard to build.