Therapy for new and expecting dads in Denver
My Denver Therapy provides therapy for new and expecting fathers at four Denver metro offices and online across Colorado. Consultations are free and appointments are typically available within a week.
Nobody asks how dad is doing
After a baby arrives, every appointment, every visitor, and every screening question points at mom and the baby. Reasonably so. But somewhere in those first months, a lot of fathers quietly go under: sleep-starved, invisible at the pediatrician’s office, expected to be the steady one, and unsure what happened to their marriage, their time, or the person they used to be.
Most men don’t call that a mental health problem. They call it “fine.” It shows up anyway, as a short fuse, a numb detachment, twelve-hour workdays that weren’t necessary, or a knot of worry that never unclenches.
What new dads bring to therapy
- Anger that arrives fast and lands on the people you’re trying to protect.
- Feeling like a wallet and a roommate instead of a partner.
- Checked-out numbness you can’t explain, when you expected to feel joy.
- Dread about money, safety, or being needed by everyone and helped by no one.
- Resentment toward the baby or your partner, followed by shame for feeling it.
- A marriage that turned into logistics.
Every one of these is common, and every one of them responds to treatment.
Depression in new fathers usually looks like anger
A meta-analysis of 43 studies published in JAMA found that about 10% of new fathers experience depression during the prenatal and postpartum period, with rates peaking above 25% in months three to six, and climbing to as high as one in four when their partner is depressed too.
In men it rarely looks like sadness. It looks like irritability, withdrawal, overworking, drinking more, and taking risks. Because none of that matches the picture on the screening poster, most fathers go undiagnosed and untreated.
If your anger arrived with your baby, that is a symptom, and it is treatable.
How therapy for dads works here
First, a free consultation, then a match with a therapist who works with men, then a plan. You will know what we’re working on and why at every step.
The methods are practical and evidence-based. EMDR when the stress of a birth, a NICU stay, or your own upbringing is driving the reaction. IFS for the internal tug-of-war between the provider, the protector, and the man who’s running on empty. Couples work when the strain lives between you and your partner. Medication support through our psychiatric nurse practitioner when it’s warranted and wanted.
Sessions run in person at our Denver, Greenwood Village, Lone Tree, and Arvada offices, or online anywhere in Colorado, including from your car on a lunch break.
If you're reading this about your husband or partner
You’re not imagining the change, and you’re not overstepping by looking into it. Many of the men we see arrive because a partner handed them a link. A useful way in: share this page, name one specific thing you’ve noticed without a verdict attached, and offer the free consultation as a 20-minute conversation, not a commitment.
If you’re struggling too, our postpartum therapy team works with mothers every day, and we can support you both at the same practice, with separate therapists.
Our team carries more than 100 years of combined clinical experience and advanced training most practices don’t have, from EMDR certification to domestic violence intervention.
We are also the practice that treats both halves of new parenthood. Perinatal-trained therapists for her, men’s specialists for him, couples work for the two of you, and a psychiatric nurse practitioner if medication enters the picture.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to talk about my childhood?
Only if it’s relevant, and only when you’re ready. Plenty of the work is present-tense: sleep, anger, marriage, load. When history is driving the reaction, your therapist will say so and let you decide.
Is this confidential?
Yes. What you say in session stays there, with the narrow legal exceptions every licensed therapist follows, which your therapist will explain plainly in the first meeting.
How long does this take?
It depends on the goal, and your therapist will give you an honest read after the first session or two. Many men feel movement within weeks. This is not an open-ended couch commitment.
I’m not depressed. I’m just angry and checked out. Is this still for me?
Yes. In new fathers, anger and numbness are the most common faces of depression and anxiety. You don’t need the right label to start; that’s our job.
If you’re having thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 now. New fathers are not exempt from crisis, and help works.
Other Specialties
Healing may not be so much about getting better, as about letting go of everything that isn’t you – all of the expectations, all of the beliefs – and becoming who you are.
Rachel Naomi Remen
Meet our therapists
As a therapist-owned practice, we care about helping you heal, grow, and thrive. We take a client-focused approach to counseling and approach each session with a commitment to your progress and growth.
Availability
We’re always accepting new clients at our conveniently located offices in Denver, Greenwood Village, Lone Tree, and Arvada. All of our therapists can meet with clients online.
We specialize in you
You are welcome here. Because we have a large team with a wide range of specialties and trainings, we work with clients of all ages, backgrounds, and life stages.
We can match you with a male or female therapist who matches your goals, location, and schedule. If you have a preference for gender, age, religious background, or a person with a specific type of training or life experience, we can match you with a therapist you feel comfortable with.
Trained in effective therapy modalities
To support your mental health journey, our team is trained in some of the most effective forms of therapy available today, including EMDR, Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, Brainspotting, CBT, DBT, and IFS.
Whether you’re looking for help with anxiety, depression, trauma, or want to better understand your relationship and attachment styles, we can help.
Insurance information
We’re out of network with insurance and Tricare and are unable to take Medicaid or Medicare.
Unlike many Denver therapy practices, we don’t charge separate intake or administration fees or charge more for your first session or specialized therapy methods like EMDR.
Get matched with a therapist
Contact us today, and one of our therapists will reach out to you directly, usually the same day.