Care for women, moms & parents
A moment to check in with yourselfA moment for yourselfCare with Dr. Jana Rundle
Quiet the worries, embrace the joy
Postpartum anxiety affects up to 20% of new moms, making it even more common than postpartum depression. What you're experiencing isn't weakness or overreacting: it's your nervous system stuck on high alert, generating worst-case scenarios to try to keep your baby safe. The constant checking, the intrusive thoughts, the physical tension, the inability to relax: these are symptoms of a treatable condition, not evidence that something is wrong with you as a mom.
About those scary thoughts: If you're having intrusive, unwanted thoughts that horrify you, thoughts about harm coming to your baby, know this: the fact that they horrify you means they go against everything you value. You are not your thoughts. You are a mom whose brain is in overdrive. And we can help.
PPA therapy with Dr. Rundle is about getting your nervous system out of crisis mode so you can actually be present with your baby, not just vigilant. You might work on:
Naming what's happening, understanding your anxiety pattern so it stops feeling like you're losing your mind
Facing the intrusive thoughts, in a safe, gradual way that takes their power away instead of letting them control you
Breaking the checking cycle, learning to tolerate uncertainty without needing to check the monitor, Google symptoms, or seek constant reassurance
Calming your body, practical grounding and breathing techniques for when your heart races or panic builds
Reclaiming sleep, strategies for turning off the anxious brain so you can actually rest when baby rests
Letting others help, working through the anxiety of leaving baby with your partner, family, or trusted caregivers
We use CBT, exposure and response prevention (ERP), and mindfulness, proven approaches specifically adapted for postpartum moms. Our approach is specifically adapted for postpartum moms.
You can't stop worrying about your baby's safety. You have intrusive thoughts you're afraid to share. You check on your baby excessively. You can't sleep even when baby sleeps. You avoid leaving your baby with anyone. You feel on edge, tense, or panicky most of the time. Physical symptoms like racing heart, nausea, trembling, and chest tightness are constant.
You can't stop worrying about your baby's safety.
Dr. Jana Rundle is Perinatal Mental Health Certified (PMH-C) and specializes in postpartum anxiety and intrusive thoughts. She knows these thoughts are terrifying to talk about, and she has heard them before. You will not be judged. You will not be reported. You will be understood.
In-home sessions, telehealth, and in-office care available. Serving Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Pflugerville, Lakeway, and all of Texas.
Begin with a comprehensive evaluation of your anxiety symptoms, triggers, and how they're affecting your daily life and relationship with your baby.
Receive a tailored approach combining cognitive-behavioral techniques, mindfulness practices, and maternal-focused strategies.
Experience continued guidance as you implement new skills, with adjustments to address emerging challenges throughout your postpartum journey.
Learn to manage excessive concerns about your baby's health, safety, and development.
Develop techniques to cope with and reduce distressing or unwanted thoughts.
Address anxiety-related sleep difficulties even within the constraints of newborn care.
Reduce physical manifestations of anxiety like tension, racing heart, and shortness of breath.
Move past analysis-paralysis to make parenting decisions with greater ease.
Develop the ability to be fully present with your baby rather than caught in anxiety spirals.
Common questions about this service.
Yes, extremely common. Up to 90% of new moms experience some intrusive thoughts. They're a symptom of anxiety, not a reflection of your character or desires. The fact that they disturb you so much actually proves you're a caring, protective mom.
They're related and often overlap. Postpartum OCD involves intrusive thoughts PLUS compulsive behaviors to reduce the anxiety (excessive checking, cleaning rituals, needing things "just right"). Both are treatable with similar approaches (CBT, ERP, sometimes medication).
Absolutely. While it often begins in the first few weeks postpartum, PPA can emerge anytime in the first year (or longer). Common triggers include return to work, end of maternity leave support, sleep regressions, introduction of solid foods, or crawling/walking (new safety concerns).
Worrying is your mind's (misguided) attempt to protect your baby. Through therapy, you'll learn that worrying doesn't prevent bad outcomes, uncertainty is inherent in parenting, you can tolerate not knowing for certain that everything will be okay, and being present with your baby is more protective than constant worry. We teach practical techniques to interrupt the worry cycle and redirect your attention.
No. Appropriate anxiety medication should reduce excessive worry and physical symptoms while allowing you to feel normal emotions and stay fully present with your baby. If you feel "numb," your medication may need adjustment. We work closely with prescribers to ensure optimal dosing.
Yes. We design exposures that are realistic and safe for you and baby. For example, practicing leaving baby with a trusted caregiver for short periods, gradually reducing nighttime checking behaviors, or tolerating brief moments of uncertainty rather than immediate googling. Exposures are always consensual, gradual, and tailored to your specific fears.
These are statistically rare events, and we validate that your fears have a grain of truth. However, anxiety makes you overestimate the likelihood and underestimate your ability to cope. We help you take reasonable safety precautions (Safe Sleep, car seat checks), distinguish between realistic caution and excessive anxiety, tolerate the inherent uncertainty of life and parenthood, and trust yourself to handle challenges if they arise.
Many moms notice some symptom relief within 3-4 weeks as they begin implementing anxiety management techniques. Significant improvement typically occurs within 8-12 weeks of consistent treatment. However, healing isn't linear. You may have setbacks during stressful periods, and that's normal.
Absolutely. Partner sessions can be very helpful for educating your partner about postpartum anxiety, teaching them how to support you (and what not to do), addressing how anxiety affects your relationship, and reducing their own stress about your symptoms.
We provide Super Bills for insurance reimbursement if you have out-of-network benefits. We also offer a free 15-minute consultation to assess fit, flexible scheduling (including early morning and evening), access to New Mom Program community resources for additional support, and referrals to low-cost community resources if our services aren't accessible.
Take the first step toward healing and growth with a free 15-minute consultation.
