AHN Women’s Behavioral Health: Specialized Psychiatric Care for Every Stage of Reproductive Life

Women navigating reproductive milestones often face complex emotional and psychiatric challenges. According to May 2025 data from the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, 1 in 5 women in the perinatal population experience a mental health disorder, yet fewer than 20% are screened or treated for maternal depression.*

To address this gap, behavioral health providers at AHN Women’s Behavioral Health clinic deliver specialized, evidence-based support tailored to each stage of a woman’s reproductive journey — from medication management to targeted therapeutic interventions. For postpartum patients requiring a higher level of care, we’re proud to offer one of the nation’s only intensive, in-person Mother-Baby outpatient programs.

Women's behavioral health: Who we treat and how we help

AHN provides psychiatric (medication management) services for women across the reproductive continuum, including:

• Preconception counseling for patients on psychiatric medications.
• Mental health conditions related to infertility and reproductive loss.
• Perimenopausal mood and anxiety disorders.
• Psychiatric disorders during pregnancy and postpartum, including depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, OCD, psychosis, ADHD, and others.

Each patient begins with a comprehensive intake to assess medication history, symptoms, and other medical factors. Treatment may include psychiatric medication management, weekly individual therapy, or referral to group therapy or intensive services as needed.

Important: If your patient is considering pausing or stopping psychiatric medications before or during pregnancy, encourage them to first consult our team. Untreated mood disorders often pose greater risks to both maternal and fetal health than medications that are appropriately managed.

Postpartum-specific care: AHN's Mother-Baby Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

Based at the Alexis Joy D’Achille Center for Perinatal Mental Health at AHN West Penn Hospital, AHN’s Mother-Baby IOP is among the few programs nationwide designed exclusively for postpartum women up to one year after delivery. This structured, three-day-per-week program allows mothers to attend in-person sessions with their infants present, reducing barriers to care and supporting mother-infant bonding.

A dedicated clinical team in Erie extends postpartum specialty care across western Pennsylvania.

“We focus on three key areas: the mother’s physical health, her emotional well-being, and the development of a secure bond with her baby,” said Ewurama Sackey, MD, medical director of Women’s Behavioral Health at AHN. “When a mother is well-supported on all fronts, it creates the foundation for stronger attachment and healthier long-term outcomes for mom, baby, and family.”

The IOP includes:

• Psychiatric evaluation and medication management.
• Individual and group-based therapies (CBT, IPT, DBT, Behavioral Activation).
• Wellness support such as mother-baby yoga, infant massage, art therapy, and parenting education.
• Early childhood literacy resources via community partnerships.
• Nutrition support, including cooking lessons focused on healthy meals.

This multidisciplinary approach supports faster recovery, better bonding, and long-term emotional resilience. 

How to refer

AHN’s Women’s Behavioral Health team brings together a collaborative group of specialists made up of psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, licensed social workers, and licensed professional clinical counselors to support women’s health at any stage. This integrated model allows us to tailor care to each patient’s needs, and we welcome referrals from across disciplines.

In-network providers can make a referral via EpicCare® Link™. External providers can call 412-526-9520.