Meet the Clinician
Rachel Smithburger is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, with
Rachel has her Masters of Education, with a focus in Marriage and
Family Therapy. She obtained her degree from The University of
Akron’s dual-licensing program, allowing her to gain both her
Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Counseling Licenses.
Additionally, Rachel studied Psychology, Sociology and Child &
Family Studies at Ashland University.
Rachel has been trained to treat individuals, couples, and families
from a systemic perspective. Her area of specialty is with Perinatal
Mental Health; she has completed her training with
Postpartum Support International (PSI) and holds her
Perinatal Mental Health Certificate.
Rachel has been working as a clinician since 2015, gaining experience working with depression, anxiety, divorce, self esteem, family conflict, grief, and other various presenting concerns. Largely, Rachel's focus has been helping mothers/families adjust to the changes, hardships, joys, and pressures introduced with pregnancy--whether it be infertility, prenatal depression, miscarriage or loss, or postpartum mood disorders. Rachel is passionate about aiding her clients during their therapeutic journey and recognizing the worth and value in themselves, as well as experiencing relief in distressing symptoms. Additionally, Rachel has completed training in EMDR and values the benefits and relief it helps clients to experience.
In her spare time, Rachel enjoys spending time with her very active toddler, husband & pups; while binging [too many] shows and working on crafts.
Rachel E.A. Smithburger
LPCC-S, MFT, PMH-C
(she/her/hers)
Why does perinatal/maternal mental health matter?
Perinatal Mental and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) are one of the top complications that pregnant people face. While this statistically impacts more families than not, there is not enough support and discussion about it; it is still largely stigmatized.
PMADs include a spectrum of disorders: Anxiety/Depression during pregnancy, Postpartum Depression, Perinatal Anxiety, Perinatal Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Perinatal PTSD, Perinatal Bipolar Disorder, and Perinatal Psychosis. The perinatal period spans from the beginning of trying to conceive through 1-3 years postpartum. PMADs can also be experienced by the non-birthing partner as well. Beyond that, any PMAD experienced by the birthing person will impact the baby and family as a whole. Babies and children need emotionally healthy caregivers. A parent’s ability to attach and respond psychologically and emotionally with her baby provides the psychological foundation that an infant needs for healthy development. Maternal depression affects infant and childhood development by inhibiting a caregiver’s ability to respond to her baby’s cues. This can continue to have lasting effects through the coming years–-throughout generations.
Maternal Mental Health is beyond a ‘women’s’ issue–it is a society issue and deserves the needed support and education. Supporting PMADs supports the whole family, which in turn supports the whole community.
Rachel provides therapy services through Core Counseling and Consulting, LLC