Free postpartum therapy
Free Postpartum Therapy: How Funded Counseling Works
Free postpartum therapy means a mother gets professional, specialized care after having a baby without paying for it herself. The Postpartum Therapy Project is a nonprofit that pays for a full year of specialized postpartum therapy for mothers who couldn't otherwise afford it. We cover 26 bi-weekly sessions with a vetted perinatal therapist, match you to the right person, and pay that therapist directly — so the cost to you is $0.
If you already know you want help, you can see if you qualify and apply. If you're still figuring out how it all works, keep reading.
What is fully funded postpartum therapy?
Fully funded postpartum therapy is therapy that someone else pays for on your behalf, so you can focus on getting better instead of on the bill. With PTP, a donor-funded nonprofit covers the entire cost of a year of care. You don't file a claim, you don't hit a deductible, and you don't get a surprise invoice. You show up to your sessions; we handle the money.
This is care built specifically for the months after a baby arrives — the anxiety, the intrusive thoughts, the rage, the grief, the numbness, the feeling that you should be happy and aren't. You don't have to be in crisis to deserve it.
How does the funding actually work?
PTP pays the therapist directly. The mother never sees a bill and never pays a copay. Donations fund the program, and that money goes straight to a mother's year of care.
- $0 to you. No copays, no deductibles, no insurance needed.
- We pay the therapist, not you. PTP sends payment directly to your matched therapist for each session.
- No claims to file. There's no paperwork chase and no reimbursement to wait on.
- Funded by donors. The program runs on gifts from people who believe no mother should go without care. You can read more about what postpartum therapy normally costs and why that gap matters.
What's included in a year of care?
A complete year of specialized support — not a handful of sessions and a goodbye. Here's what a funded mother receives:
- 26 bi-weekly sessions. One full year with the same therapist, so you build a real relationship instead of starting over each time.
- A specialist match. You're paired with a therapist who focuses on the perinatal period — many hold the Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C) — and who is trauma-informed and vetted before any match is made.
- Telehealth or in person. Meet from your couch during nap time, or in an office if that's better for you.
- Peer support groups. Alongside one-on-one therapy, PTP runs peer support groups so you're hearing from other moms who get it.
Who qualifies for free postpartum therapy?
PTP is for mothers in roughly the first 12 months after having a baby who couldn't otherwise afford specialized therapy. In plain terms, the program is generally a fit if:
- You're within about the first year postpartum.
- Paying for private therapy on your own would be a real strain — eligibility is based on financial need.
- You're in Texas — where we're starting — or one of the states we expand to as funding grows.
- You're ready to attend regular sessions over the year.
We keep the income guidelines and the exact list of documents simple, and we tell you precisely what's needed when you apply — there are no hidden hurdles. The full picture lives on our eligibility page.
How is this different from sliding-scale or insurance therapy?
The biggest difference is simple: with PTP, you pay nothing and the care is built for the postpartum year. Sliding scale still asks you to pay a reduced fee, and insurance often means copays, deductibles, narrow networks, and finding a perinatal specialist on your own. Here's the comparison:
- Cost to youPTP: $0, always. Sliding scale: a reduced but real fee. Insurance: copays and deductibles.
- Length of carePTP: a full year, 26 sessions. Others: often limited by what you can pay or what's authorized.
- Finding a specialistPTP: we match you to a vetted perinatal therapist. Others: usually your job to search and screen.
- PaperworkPTP: none — we pay the therapist directly. Insurance: claims, codes, and a diagnosis on file.
How do I apply for free postpartum therapy?
You start with a short application, and we take it from there. The form asks for the basics — where you are in your postpartum year, a little about what you're going through, and your financial situation — and we tell you exactly what to send. After you apply, we review it, confirm eligibility, and work to match you with the right therapist so care can begin.
Are you a clinician, doula, or midwife instead? You can refer a mom to PTP in just a few minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Is postpartum therapy really free?
Yes. Through the Postpartum Therapy Project, the therapy is free to the mother — $0, with no copays and no insurance required. PTP pays the therapist directly so that cost is never the reason a mother goes without care.
How long does the funding last?
The funding covers a full year of care: 26 bi-weekly sessions with the same specialized therapist. That is enough time to do real, lasting work — not just a few crisis appointments.
Do I need insurance or a diagnosis?
No. You do not need insurance, and you do not need a formal diagnosis. If you are struggling after having a baby, that is reason enough to reach out. Eligibility is based mainly on financial need and being within roughly the first year postpartum.
Who provides the therapy?
A licensed therapist who specializes in the perinatal period — many are PMH-C certified — and who is trauma-informed. Every therapist is vetted before any mother is matched with them. Sessions can be telehealth or in person.
You don't have to do this alone
A full year of therapy, fully funded, is one form away.
See if you qualify and apply — it only takes a few minutes. Or help fund another mother's year of care.