Perinatal Mental Health & Family Support for Black Families

BLACKBERRY & JUICE is a community-based support experience designed to strengthen the emotional wellbeing of Black and Brown families during the perinatal period—from pregnancy through 24 months postpartum. This paired program offers small, intimate support groups for birthing people and their partners, recognizing that healthy families are built when everyone is supported.

Our Purpose

B.E.R.R.Y. – Building Emotional Resilience & Restoring You

BLACK BERRY centers the emotional and mental well-being of pregnant and postpartum birthing people by creating intimate, trauma-informed spaces for healing, reflection, and support. BLACK BERRY is not therapy—it is a bridge to care, grounded in dignity, cultural humility, and trust.

J.U.I.C.E. – Just Showing Up through Intimate Connection and Emotional Safety

BLACK JUICE creates space for fathers, partners, and men to show up honestly—without pressure to “hold it all together.” BLACK JUICE focuses on connection over performance and emotional safety over silence.

What Is BLACK BERRY & JUICE?

The Black B.E.R.R.Y. (Building Emotional Resilience & Restoring You) & J.U.I.C.E (Just Showing Up through Intimate Connection and Emotional Safety)— is a hybrid (in-person + virtual) program that combines two culturally grounded programs:

BLACK BERRY – mental-health support for birthing people
BLACK JUICE – social and emotional support for fathers, partners, and men

Together, they create a family-centered approach to perinatal mental health that honors lived experience, culture, and community. This program centers the unique emotional needs of Black and BIPOC birthing persons who often face disproportionate barriers to mental health care, breastfeeding support, and postpartum wellness.

“The Blacker the B.E.R.R.Y., the sweeter the J.U.I.C.E.”

What Participants Can Expect

Participants in BLACK BERRY experience:

✨ Intimate, Small-Group Healing Circles

Led by licensed professionals who guide conversations on stress, identity, parenthood, relationships, and emotional resilience.

✨ Personalized Mental Health Screening

A GAD-7 assessment is completed during registration, with results reviewed by a licensed clinician prior to each session to ensure safety and individualized support.

✨ Culturally Rooted Support

Space that honors the experiences, traditions, and wisdom of Black birthing families.

✨ Hybrid Access

Attend sessions in person at the Center of Eden or join virtually for continued engagement and flexibility.

✨ Family-Centered Approach

Infants and fathers/partners are welcome to attend specific sessions, supporting whole-family wellness.

Perinatal Depression (Prenatal & Postpartum Depression)

Occurs during pregnancy (prenatal) or after birth (postpartum), and in some cases following pregnancy loss.
Symptoms may include persistent sadness, irritability, loss of interest or pleasure, guilt or shame, changes in appetite or sleep, and sometimes thoughts of harming oneself or one's baby.
It’s more common than many people realize (estimated 1 in 5 birthing persons) and is treatable with support, therapy, and sometimes medical care.

Perinatal Anxiety (including Panic Disorder)

May occur during pregnancy or postpartum, often coexisting with or independent of depression.
Symptoms include persistent worry or fear, racing thoughts, physical symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, restlessness, trouble sleeping, and hypervigilance about health.
Panic attacks may also emerge as part of perinatal anxiety.

Perinatal Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD / “Perinatal OCD”)

Marked by intrusive, unwanted thoughts or mental images (obsessions)—often focused on harm coming to the baby or mother—and compulsions (rituals, checking, reassurance seeking) intended to neutralize or reduce distress.
It is NOT the same as psychosis (people with OCD usually retain insight that their fears are irrational).
It can be especially distressing due to shame or fear of disclosure.

Perinatal Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) / Birth Trauma

PTSD can develop after traumatic events in pregnancy, labor, birth, or postpartum (e.g., emergency interventions, birth complications, loss, or NICU stays). P
Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, avoidance of reminders, emotional numbing, and intrusive thoughts.
It’s distinct from general anxiety or depression and may require trauma-informed and specialized support.

Trusted Resources
Explore in-depth information and free support from Postpartum Support International (PSI):

Perinatal Mental Health Overview – Key facts, symptoms, and treatment options.
Postpartum Depression – Signs, symptoms, and recovery.
Perinatal Anxiety & Panic – Understanding worry, panic attacks, and treatment.
Perinatal OCD – Intrusive thoughts vs. psychosis.
Birth Trauma & Perinatal PTSD – Recognizing trauma after pregnancy or birth.
Find a Support Group or Provider – Online and local options.

Key PSI-Recognized Perinatal Mood & Mental Health Conditions

Perinatal Mental Health Support at The Center of Eden

with Dr. Natashia L. Conner, PhD, IBCLC, CHES
PSI-Listed Provider • Certified Health Education Specialist • International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant

Pregnancy and postpartum bring joy, change, and—sometimes—unexpected emotional challenges. At The Center of Eden, Dr. Natashia Conner offers compassionate, evidence-informed peer support for parents and families navigating the perinatal period.

Dr. Conner is recognized in the Postpartum Support International (PSI) Provider Directory for her advanced training in Perinatal Mood Disorders: Components of Care and Advanced Perinatal Mental Health Psychotherapy.

Bringing new life into the world is beautiful—and often overwhelming. The Center of Eden offers compassionate, culturally grounded support for parents and families during pregnancy and the postpartum journey.

Perinatal Mental Health & Psychotherapy Services

A Collaborative Care Model

To ensure families have access to the full spectrum of care, The Center of Eden partners with local Black and other Providers of Color who are licensed Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs).

This collaboration:

Creates direct referral pathways for clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment when therapy or medication is needed.
Ensures culturally concordant care that improves trust and continuity of support for Black families.
Allows families to move smoothly between peer support, lactation services, and licensed mental health care when appropriate.

Who We Support

Individuals experiencing stress, anxiety, mood changes, or overwhelm during pregnancy or postpartum.
Families coping with birth trauma, NICU stays, feeding difficulties, or loss.
Parents seeking culturally responsive lactation and perinatal guidance, especially Black families and other marginalized communities.

Our Approach

Peer Support Sessions – One-on-one or small group conversations focused on understanding perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), developing coping strategies, and connecting to resources.
Lactation & Infant Feeding Support – IBCLC-level guidance that integrates awareness of mental health stressors affecting feeding decisions.
Community Health Education – Goal setting, self-care planning, and connection to culturally responsive services.
Support Circles & Workshops – Inclusive spaces for shared experience, practical skill-building, and collective healing.
Licensed Clinical Care through Partners: Warm handoffs to collaborating Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners for evaluation, therapy, or medication management when clinical treatment is indicated.

Note: These services are non-clinical and complement—not replace—medical or psychotherapeutic care. Warm referrals to licensed partners are available whenever clinical treatment is indicated.

Our Commitment

Grounded in the mission of Keepers of Black and the equity framework of RHEcorp, The Center of Eden stands as a hub where research, education, and culturally responsive care meet action.
Together with our licensed partners, we provide a continuum of support that honors the lived experiences of Black parents and ensures every family can thrive before, during, and after the birth of their child.

Evidence-Informed: Guided by PSI’s gold-standard trainings and current perinatal mental health research.
Culturally Responsive: Centering the experiences of Black families and other marginalized communities while honoring each family’s unique journey.
Collaborative: Coordinating with mental health professionals, midwives, doulas, and healthcare providers to provide a wrap-around support network.
Empowering: Focusing on strengths, resilience, and actionable steps for emotional and physical well-being.

⚠️ Safety & Support

Some content on perinatal mental health can be triggering. If you ever feel unsafe with your thoughts or worry you might harm yourself or your baby, you are not alone, and help is available 24/7:

988 (U.S.) – Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text)
Text “HELLO” to 741741 (U.S.) – Crisis Text Line
International Helplines – Find numbers outside the U.S.
PSI HelpLine – 1-800-944-4773 (U.S./Canada)

Return to The BLACK Collaborative Inc. Home Page

Perinatal Mental Health & Family Support for Black Families

Our Purpose

B.E.R.R.Y. – Building Emotional Resilience & Restoring You

J.U.I.C.E. – Just Showing Up through Intimate Connection and Emotional Safety

What Is BLACK BERRY & JUICE?

What Participants Can Expect

✨ Intimate, Small-Group Healing Circles

✨ Personalized Mental Health Screening

✨ Culturally Rooted Support

✨ Hybrid Access

✨ Family-Centered Approach

Key PSI-Recognized Perinatal Mood & Mental Health Conditions

Perinatal Mental Health Support at The Center of Eden

Perinatal Mental Health & Psychotherapy Services

A Collaborative Care Model

To ensure families have access to the full spectrum of care, The Center of Eden partners with local Black and other Providers of Color who are licensed Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs). This collaboration:

Creates direct referral pathways for clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment when therapy or medication is needed.

Ensures culturally concordant care that improves trust and continuity of support for Black families.

Allows families to move smoothly between peer support, lactation services, and licensed mental health care when appropriate.

Who We Support

Individuals experiencing stress, anxiety, mood changes, or overwhelm during pregnancy or postpartum.

Families coping with birth trauma, NICU stays, feeding difficulties, or loss.

Parents seeking culturally responsive lactation and perinatal guidance, especially Black families and other marginalized communities.

Our Approach

Peer Support Sessions – One-on-one or small group conversations focused on understanding perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), developing coping strategies, and connecting to resources.

Lactation & Infant Feeding Support – IBCLC-level guidance that integrates awareness of mental health stressors affecting feeding decisions.

Community Health Education – Goal setting, self-care planning, and connection to culturally responsive services.

Support Circles & Workshops – Inclusive spaces for shared experience, practical skill-building, and collective healing.

Licensed Clinical Care through Partners: Warm handoffs to collaborating Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners for evaluation, therapy, or medication management when clinical treatment is indicated.

Note: These services are non-clinical and complement—not replace—medical or psychotherapeutic care. Warm referrals to licensed partners are available whenever clinical treatment is indicated.

Our Commitment

Evidence-Informed: Guided by PSI’s gold-standard trainings and current perinatal mental health research.

Culturally Responsive: Centering the experiences of Black families and other marginalized communities while honoring each family’s unique journey.

Collaborative: Coordinating with mental health professionals, midwives, doulas, and healthcare providers to provide a wrap-around support network.

Empowering: Focusing on strengths, resilience, and actionable steps for emotional and physical well-being.

⚠️ Safety & Support

To ensure families have access to the full spectrum of care, The Center of Eden partners with local Black and other Providers of Color who are licensed Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs).

This collaboration: