Women's Mental Health
Women's Mental Health in Maryland: Care That Understands Your Whole Story
Women's emotional health is shaped by biology, hormones, relationships, and the demands of daily life. Maryland Wellness Psychiatry, led by Dr. Ritu Goel, MD, offers thoughtful, individualized care for anxiety, depression, hormonal transitions, and trauma, by telehealth and in person across Maryland.
~2x
women's lifetime rates of depression versus men
1 in 7
new mothers experience postpartum depression
Every stage
care tailored from reproductive years through menopause
Key Capabilities
- •Treatment for depression and anxiety across the female life span
- •Perinatal mood and anxiety support during pregnancy and postpartum
- •Care for premenstrual and perimenopausal mood changes
- •Trauma-informed therapy for survivors of abuse and assault
- •Support for caregiver stress, burnout, and life transitions
- •Medication management coordinated with your OB or primary care
Why It Matters
Hormones and Mood Are Connected
Hormonal shifts across the cycle, pregnancy, and midlife can profoundly affect mood, sleep, and anxiety. Care that accounts for these patterns leads to more accurate diagnoses and better-fitting treatment.
Safe Care Through Pregnancy and Beyond
Perinatal mental health requires special expertise to balance a mother's wellbeing with the safety of pregnancy and breastfeeding. We weigh these factors carefully and coordinate with your other providers.
Your Concerns Taken Seriously
Women's symptoms are too often dismissed or minimized. Here, your experience is heard and validated, and we look for the full picture rather than settling for an easy or incomplete explanation.
Care From a Female Psychiatrist
Working with Dr. Goel, many women find it easier to discuss sensitive topics and feel understood. That comfort and trust often makes treatment more open and more effective.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is women's mental health care?
Women's mental health care attends to the unique biological, hormonal, and social factors that shape women's emotional wellbeing, from premenstrual and perinatal mood changes to perimenopause, caregiving stress, and trauma, with treatment tailored to each life stage.
Can hormones affect mood and anxiety?
Yes. Shifts in estrogen and progesterone across the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, the postpartum period, and perimenopause can meaningfully influence mood, anxiety, sleep, and energy. We consider these patterns when forming your treatment plan.
Do you treat postpartum depression and anxiety?
Yes. We support women through perinatal mood and anxiety concerns with therapy and careful medication management, coordinating with your OB or primary care provider when needed to keep both you and your baby safe.
Is care provided by a female psychiatrist?
Yes. Maryland Wellness Psychiatry is led by Dr. Ritu Goel, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist. Many women appreciate working with a female clinician who understands the specific health concerns they bring.