You’re doing everything “right,” and it still feels like too much. The newborn phase is louder, and lonelier, than you expected. Maybe your “what if” thoughts won’t shut off. Maybe rage surprises you. Maybe your family is juggling specialists, evaluations, IEP meetings, or sensory storms and you’re tired of being the point person for everyone.

I’m Shelby Riley, LICSW, and my work centers on the real life of new parenthood and complex caregiving. Professionally, I’ve supported children and families in school settings and Early Intervention, and I facilitate new-mom groups (Falmouth & Bourne), Wellness Stroller Walks (Coalition for Children), and monthly online Fertility Challenges groups through Postpartum Support International (PSI). Personally, I’m a mom of twins and a daughter; one of my twins has Phelan-McDermid Syndrome with global developmental delays and autism. That lived experience shapes a therapy space that is nonjudgmental, practical, and deeply informed.

Who I help

• Pregnancy & postpartum: postpartum anxiety/depression, intrusive thoughts/PMADs, birth trauma, identity shifts, rage, sleep/feeding stress

• Fertility challenges and the emotional toll of trying to conceive or sustain pregnancy

• Parents of neurodivergent/special-needs kids (autism, sensory regulation, global delays): advocacy, care coordination, sibling dynamics, caregiver burnout

How we’ll work

• Evidence-informed, skills-based, and attachment-focused therapy with practical tools you’ll use between sessions

• Self-regulation and nervous-system strategies for you (and your child)

• Step-by-step support with care coordination (providers, EI, schools) and communication that helps your team work together

Logistics

• Locations: In-person in Falmouth (Brighter Beginnings location) and telehealth anywhere in Massachusetts

• Format: Individual therapy; group offerings vary seasonally

If you’re overwhelmed, grieving the picture you thought you’d have, or simply need a steady guide, you’re not failing—you’re human. Let’s make room for your needs, build workable routines, and help your family feel more regulated and connected.