SCIENCEWORKS
BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE
Edited and reviewed:
June 10, 2026
Reviewed by:
Complete Care for all Neurotypes
Therapy | Assessments | Coaching
PERINATAL & PARENTING OCD
i-CBT for postpartum and parenting intrusive thoughts in Tennessee
Inference-based CBT for unwanted intrusive thoughts in pregnancy and new parenthood — gentle, exposure-free care by secure telehealth across Tennessee.
Horrible thoughts about your baby arrive unbidden
IS THIS PERINATAL OCD?
What i-CBT for new parents involves
Inference-based CBT that calms intrusive thoughts without exposure drills
A clinician who understands perinatal OCD and won't overreact
Flexible telehealth sessions that fit around a newborn's schedule
Licensed Providers
Telehealth Nationwide*
Neuro-affirming
Private & Secure
WHY THESE THOUGHTS HAPPEN
What i-CBT is, and why these thoughts aren't you
In the perinatal period, unwanted intrusive thoughts — sudden images of the baby being harmed, dropped, or worse — are extremely common and deeply distressing. They feel dangerous precisely because they horrify you. Inference-based CBT (i-CBT) treats this as a problem of doubt and reasoning: OCD takes a thought you'd never act on and spins it into "what if this means something about me?"
With your therapist, you learn how that frightening conclusion gets built — how exhaustion, vigilance, and love for your child make the mind hyper-alert to any threat, and how OCD misreads a passing image as a warning. As the false alarm loses its credibility, the checking, avoidance, and reassurance ease, with no need to confront the images directly. These intrusions are not intentions, and they do not predict harm.
KEY STATISTICS ABOUT PERINATAL OCD
70–100%
of new mothers have unwanted thoughts of infant-related harm
Source:
9%
of women develop new OCD in the months after birth
Source:
80–99%
of all people get unwanted intrusive thoughts — it's normal
Source:
WHAT TO EXPECT
A gentle start, made for new parents
1
Free 15-minute consult.
Tell us what you're experiencing — you won't shock us, and you won't be judged.
2
3
By secure telehealth statewide or in person in Nashville, around your baby's schedule.
You're paired with someone who understands perinatal OCD.
Matched with a perinatal clinician.
Flexible telehealth sessions.
Payment options
As a specialty practice, we're out-of-network so we can offer the most effective, customized services.
Our payment options are transparent and flexible:
-
Self-Pay: All major credit cards; FAS/HSA eligible
-
Payment Plans: 6-months interest-free for approved clients via CareCredit
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Superbills Provided
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Out-of-Network: Up to 90% reimbursement for qualifying plans
WHO YOU'LL WORK WITH
Perinatal-informed, supervised, reviewed
Your i-CBT care is delivered by licensed Tennessee clinicians with specialized training in inference-based CBT and an understanding of perinatal and postpartum OCD. We know intrusive thoughts of infant harm are a recognized symptom, not intent, and every plan is clinically supervised and reviewed.
Dr. Kiesa Kelly (she/her)
Owner & Psychologist
Ryan Burns (he/him)
Practice Director
WHY CLIENTS CHOOSE SCIENCEWORKS
Perinatal-informed and evidence-based
Because we're independent and out-of-network, your care responds to perinatal OCD itself — not a generic anxiety template or a rushed appointment.
You're matched with a clinician trained in i-CBT, an exposure-free approach that fits the frightening intrusive thoughts of new parenthood.
By secure telehealth statewide, with in-person visits at our Nashville office — specialized support around feeds, naps, and recovery.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions new parents ask
Do these thoughts mean I'm a danger to my baby?
Almost never. Unwanted intrusive thoughts of harm are extremely common in new parents and, research shows, do not predict harmful behavior. They horrify you precisely because they clash with how much you love your child. i-CBT helps your mind stop treating them as warnings.
Is this care online or in person?
It's delivered by secure telehealth to clients across Tennessee, and in person at our Nashville office if you prefer. Most parents attend online from home, which is often easier with a newborn; in-person visits in Nashville are available on request.
Is it safe to tell a therapist these thoughts?
Yes — and it's one of the most relieving things you can do. Clinicians trained in perinatal OCD recognize these intrusive thoughts as a symptom, not an intention, and respond with support rather than alarm. Naming them out loud is usually where relief begins.
*Therapy and assessments available in the following states (coaching available worldwide):
Work with us locally:
AL, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, ME, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WV, WI, WY
2603 Elm Hill Pike, Suite C
Nashville, TN 37214
Disclaimer: This page provides general educational information and is not a substitute for mental health diagnosis or treatment. Reading this page does not create a therapist–client relationship with ScienceWorks Behavioral Healthcare. If you are in crisis or may be at risk of harm to yourself or others, call 911, go to your nearest emergency room, or call/text 988 (U.S.). Additional emergency support can be found here: Emergency Resources.