Perinatal Mental Health Certified Therapist. Thank you for taking the brave step to seek help during this challenging time. It takes courage to reach out, and I’m here to support you with compassion and care as you navigate this journey. My name is Terri and I am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in the state of California dedicated to supporting individuals and their families during life’s transitions. In addition to providing therapy services with Thrive with Thistle Therapy, I am a mother of two young children and I serve as a clinical social worker on the mother-baby units of a hospital. I have experience providing care and support to patients and their families navigating challenges including: pregnancy complications, baby blues, difficulty adjusting postpartum, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), birth trauma, NICU admission for their baby, adoption, surrogacy, infertility, pregnancy and newborn loss, and first time parents. ​ I hold a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from the University of Southern California (USC) and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Chapman University. In an effort to better serve my clients, I obtained a Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C) from Postpartum Support International to equip me with specialized knowledge and skills to support individuals during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

In our first session, you can expect a safe, compassionate, and nonjudgmental space where we’ll explore what brought you to therapy and discuss your current challenges. I’ll take the time to understand your unique experiences and goals, and together, we’ll start identifying thought patterns or behaviors that may be contributing to your distress. Using CBT techniques, we’ll begin to develop practical tools and strategies to help you feel more empowered and supported on your journey.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

With my background as an inpatient clinical social worker on the labor and delivery and mother-baby floors, I’ve had the privilege of supporting individuals through the complex emotions and challenges surrounding infertility, loss, and postpartum experiences. This hands-on experience has given me deep insight into the unique struggles of this journey, allowing me to provide empathetic, informed, and personalized care as a therapist. I am also certified in perinatal mental health. This specialized training equips me with the knowledge and skills to provide compassionate and evidence-based support to you during this difficult time.

Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.

I truly love working with individuals who are on the journey to expand their families or navigating the challenges of the postpartum period. It’s an honor to support people during such transformative times, helping them find strength, healing, and hope along the way. My goal is to help you thrive, not just survive.

About Terri Minniear