Behavioral Health Services for Women

Behavioral health services provided at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital have been developed to meet the unique needs of women in pregnancy, postpartum, and mid- and late life. The multidisciplinary staff are experts at assessing and meeting the needs of women and their families and understanding how difficult it is to seek help for emotional and psychiatric problems. We treat women at all stages of life.

One in five women will experience an episode of clinical depression in her lifetime and more than half will never seek treatment. Depression affects women about twice as often as men. Other behavioral health disorders such as anxiety and bipolar disorders also affect women in profound ways throughout their life cycle.

Pregnancy and the postpartum period are frequently considered a time of great joy. When a woman experiences depression, anxiety, or symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder, it can be a time of great confusion and uncertainty. Distinguishing whether this is a normal reaction or a problem that requires professional help can be difficult to determine. Finding someone who has the clinical skill, expertise, and understanding to help define the problem and develop a plan of treatment can be frustrating. The staff of the Behavioral Health Services at Magee are equipped to do just that. Working with ob/gyns, social workers, and family members, our staff provides education, support, and treatment for women of all ages.

Magee-Womens Behavioral Health Services

Pre-conception evaluation and counseling
Comprehensive psychiatric assessment
Psychiatric consultation regarding use of medication in pregnancy and postpartum period
Pharmacologic management during pregnancy and the postpartum
Individual psychotherapy
Couples therapy
Stress and coping classes