Perinatal Counselling
There are a lot of circumstances surrounding the perinatal period that can put your mental health to the test.
Speak with one of our counsellors and lay out everything that’s weighing heavily on your mind. We have support starting with fertility, and through every step of the perinatal process - even if you’re well into your postpartum period.
is a great way to get support in the perinatal period. You don’t need to have symptoms of anxiety or depression to speak to someone. You may want to talk because you’d love guidance in your new role as a parent, welcoming an additional child, or want to make yourself a priority. Whether you’re preparing for a baby, or are currently a parent, but feeling overwhelmed by the heavy mental load, we’re here for all of it. Heavy feelings get a lot lighter when they’re shared with others.
Chatting with a counsellor
Our Therapists
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Mercedes Ruiz
Mercedes is our HypnoBirthing® and Perinatal Mental Health expert, with extensive experience supporting families since 2014, both in Canada and internationally. As a birth and postpartum doula, childbirth educator, and counsellor, she combines a variety of therapeutic techniques such as EMDR, hypnosis, Gestalt psychotherapy, and experiential therapies to support her clients through anxiety, birth trauma, prenatal and postpartum anxiety and depression, loss, and more.
She founded The Perinatal Wellness Centre to address gaps in perinatal services and has served as mentor and supervisor for other counsellors in the field. Mercedes believes every person is the expert of their own life and facilitates healing in a compassionate, personalized way, creating a unique space for each client to navigate their perinatal journey.
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Heidi Meagher
Heidi is a skilled social worker with over a decade of experience in supporting families, with a focus on perinatal support since 2022. Certified in Postpartum Mental Health and Birth and Reproductive Trauma, she integrates a variety of therapeutic modalities, such as CBT, IFS, and mindfulness, to offer client-centered care.
Heidi works with individuals facing challenges like pregnancy-related anxiety, birth trauma, postpartum depression, and fertility struggles. She creates a safe, non-judgmental space where clients can explore their healing journey, normalize their experiences, and find comfort knowing they are not alone.
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Gabriela Fonseca
Gabriela is a BIPOC psychotherapist with over a decade of experience supporting individuals through crisis and reproductive mental health care. Her work focuses on infertility challenges, pregnancy and infant loss, prenatal anxiety and depression, medical trauma, and supporting newcomers navigating pregnancy and parenthood in a new country.
Using a trauma-informed, feminist, narrative, and client-centred approach, Gabriela creates a compassionate and non-judgmental space where clients can explore their experiences, build self-compassion, and feel empowered throughout their healing journey.
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Julia Smyth - Practicum Student
Julia is a master’s-level counselling psychology student joining the Perinatal Wellness Centre for her practicum, where she practices under clinical supervision. As a mother of three young children, she brings lived experience that helps her connect with clients navigating the emotional, physical, and relational changes of fertility, pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period.
Her approach to counselling is warm, compassionate, and grounded in respect for each person’s unique story. She leans toward humanistic approaches, creating a safe, collaborative space for clients to explore their feelings and goals at their own pace. She also integrates Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify strengths, build coping skills, and move toward meaningful change.
As a student therapist, she’s able to offer sessions at a reduced rate, making support more accessible while still providing compassionate, personalized care.
Raised in Dartmouth, Julia now lives there with her husband, three kids, and their dog, Luna. She enjoys time with family and friends, golfing in the summer, traveling, being in nature, trying new foods, attempting to re-create recipes (sometimes unsuccessfully), and watching live theatre.
She is ready to support you as you navigate life’s challenges.