Perinatal Psychotherapy &
Counseling for Difficult Pregnancies

Marilyn Laves, LCSW-R

For over 20 years, I’ve helped women navigate fertility challenges, pregnancies, and miscarriages.

Are you feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, or hopeless? Were things “supposed to be different?” Have you started considering alternative paths to building a family that you never thought you’d consider?

You're not alone. Anyone who is struggling to have a child feels a complex mix of emotions, and many people do not anticipate the toll it can take.

Navigating fertility treatments and difficult pregnancies can feel like a constant roller coaster, filled with both physical and emotional disappointments. Individuals within a couple are not always on the same page with how—or even whether—to proceed. Individuals within a couple often grieve differently.

My Psychotherapy Specialty Helps:

  • Perinatal Mental Health 

  • IVF or Fertility Difficulty

  • Pregnancy Anxiety or Depression

  • Postpartum Adjustments

  • Miscarriage and Pregnancy Loss

In Therapy With Me, You’ll Voice Raw Emotions & Develop Coping Skills

You may have gone through a long journey of infertility and be struggling to embrace your pregnancy.

Or if conception was achieved with a donor egg or sperm, you may be concerned about how you will feel about your baby. 

You may have experienced multiple pregnancy losses and feel uncertain as to how to move forward.

Pregnancy can be physically and emotionally challenging. The hormonal changes that occur impact every woman differently. Even a planned and desired pregnancy can lead to complicated emotions.

 I’ll help you explore and understand your emotions and develop strategies and coping skills.

My Counseling Approach Provides Relief

warm, compassionate, down to earth, and practical.

  • I am present and interactive. I will help you explore and understand your emotions and develop strategies and coping skills.

  • I include partners. I encourage including partners in therapy to facilitate and strengthen communication. 

  • I provide comprehensive care. I will refer you to other trusted specialists and proactively collaborate to ensure that everyone is working together and on the same page.

Testimonials From Previous Patients

⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

“Marilyn is a straightforward, level headed, and yet compassionate and understanding therapist. I went to her five months postpartum feeling lost and fearful in my new parenting role, and came away with a deep sense of trust... Marilyn’s guidance is pragmatic and nurturing, and she listens—truly listens—and asks meaningful questions that encourage you to turn inward to find the answers.

I cannot look back on my first couple of years of motherhood without feeling gratitude for her.”

⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

“I worked with Marilyn for Postpartum Depression and brought my partner in for sessions to address some of our relationship issues. I loved her—she is very matter of fact, and a straight shooter, but also compassionate and very perceptive.”

About Marilyn Laves, LCSW-R

I provide virtual individual and couples therapy to anyone in New York State.

I’m a licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience providing therapy to women navigating fertility and pregnancy. I believe that a positive therapeutic relationship grows out of a connection based upon trust, collaboration and warmth. 

My integrative approach to therapy incorporates psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral and interpersonal therapy. 

Additionally, I regularly give presentations about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders to the community to raise awareness and de-stigmatize mental health issues that arise before, during, and after pregnancy.

Credentials

  • University of Pennsylvania

  • Silberman School of Social Work, Hunter College

Certifications

  • Postpartum Support International Perinatal Mental Health Certificate

Trainings

  • Postpartum Support International Advanced Certification Training

Affiliations: 

  • National Association of Social Workers (NASW)

  • Postpartum Support International (PSI)

  • Women’s Mental Health Consortium (WMHC)

  • Postpartum Resource Center of NY (PRCNY)

Getting Started

01.

Fill out the contact form. I will respond to you no matter what, and if I'm not the right fit, I will always provide a referral to someone who can help.

02.

We will set up a time to have an introductory call over the phone. If we both feel it's a good fit, we can move forward with scheduling your first session.

03.

During the first three sessions, we will have the opportunity to learn about each other and see if my style of therapy works for you. This is also a time for me to understand your needs and how we can best work together.