Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Shepard.
Hi Erin, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Yarrow Therapy was founded in 2017 from a simple but powerful realization: many people needing mental health support during pregancy and the postpartum period couldn’t easily access it. At a time, when telehealth was still emerging in mental health care, Erin recognized its potential to reach individuals who were often navigating overwhelming transitions with limited support.
For many experiencing postpartum depression, anxiety, or OCD, in-person therapy was not simply inconvenient—it was often unrealistic. Finding childcare, managing feeding and sleep schedules, coping with exhaustion, and leaving a baby at home could make seeking care feel out of reach.
Telehealth offered something different. It allowed clients to receive support from the safety and comfort of their own homes, at times that respected their energy, responsibilities, and changing needs. Therapy became something that fit into real life, rather than another demand to manage.
As Yarrow Therapy grew, Erin brought on clinicians who were also parenting themselves. Telehealth made it possible for them to continue practicing, grow professionally, and maintain their clinical skills while living the same rhythms and challenges as their clients.
Today, Yarrow Therapy remains grounded in its original mission: to offer accessible, trauma-informed, and compassionate care that honors the complexity of parenthood, grief and life transitions. We believe therapy should meet you where you are—because support is most powerful when it fits into real life.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, but having a strong process and a clear sense of purpose has always given me direction and motivation.
In the beginning, one of my biggest challenges was believing in telehealth—especially at a time when it was still unfamiliar in mental health care. When I introduced myself and my practice, I was often met with responses like, “Oh… interesting.” Whether that reaction came from my own imposter syndrome or genuine skepticism, it felt intimidating and made me question myself. What grounded me was returning again and again to my ideal client and recognizing how much this model of care truly supported them.
Like many business owners, finding the right people and the right ways to connect was another challenge. I focused on marketing and networking that felt sincere and aligned with who I am. One meaningful moment came from reaching out to a local outdoor moms group that organized hikes, park playdates, and community events. I offered to host a mental health night, quickly connected with the owner, and she remains a close friend to this day. We expected about 10–15 people and hosted the event in the loft of a coffee shop. When we leaned over the railing to see if anyone was arriving, we saw a line wrapping outside and around the corner.
I also pushed myself well outside my comfort zone by offering to host a lunch-and-learn at a doctor’s office. I remember being so nervous I could barely carry the Chick-fil-A catering tray into the building. I had pamphlets ready, a PowerPoint prepared, and thankfully one kind provider struck up an easy conversation that helped calm my nerves. Then he casually picked up my pamphlet and said, “There’s no picture of you.” I laughed—and realized he was right. It would have helped, but it also felt scary.
I still keep one of those original pamphlets in my office as a reminder of how uncomfortable it felt to show up in the beginning. Today, my photo is there—along with photos of my incredible clinical team—because I’ve learned that if being visible helps us better serve the people who need support, then it’s worth the vulnerability.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Yarrow Therapy is a mental health practice specializing in infertility, pregnancy, birth, grief, and postpartum mental health. We support individuals navigating some of the most tender and complex transitions in life, including postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, and identity shifts that often accompany parenthood. Our work is grounded in trauma-informed, evidence-based care, with a strong emphasis on accessibility and compassion.
What sets Yarrow Therapy apart is how intentionally the practice was built around real-life needs. From the beginning, telehealth wasn’t just a convenience—it was a solution. As Yarrow Therapy has grown to include other clinicans and an in-person office, we meet clients where they are, both emotionally and practically.
We are also known for our deeply human approach. Our clinicians are highly trained professionals, many of whom are parents themselves. This shared lived experience fosters empathy, reduces stigma, and creates a sense of safety and understanding that clients often tell us they feel immediately. Strength-based coping strategies and collaborative care are central to our work, helping clients feel empowered rather than pathologized.
Brand-wise, what I am most proud of is that Yarrow Therapy has grown without losing its heart. We’ve built a practice rooted in trust, authenticity, and meaningful connection—with our clients, our community, and each other. Every decision, from how we show up online to how we support our clinicians, reflects our belief that mental health care should feel accessible, respectful, and deeply human.
What I want readers to know is that Yarrow Therapy exists to make support feel possible during moments that can feel isolating or overwhelming. Our services are designed to fit into real lives, and our mission is simple: to provide compassionate, high-quality care that honors the complexity of parenthood, healing, and growth.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
From time to time, people ask how Yarrow Therapy got its name. Yarrow is a root traditionally used in herbal medicine, known for helping stop bleeding and promote healing. When choosing a name for the practice, that meaning resonated deeply.
In many ways, it reflects what we hope to offer emotionally. Life transitions, loss, and mental health challenges can leave people feeling raw or wounded. Yarrow Therapy exists to help slow the bleeding, create space for healing, and support clients as they regain steadiness and strength. The name serves as a reminder that healing doesn’t have to be rushed—it can be gentle, intentional, and rooted in care.
The name Yarrow Therapy isn’t just symbolic-its part of the mission.
In 2010, Erin faced multiple health challenges that deeply disrupted her quality of life. Alongside following medical guidance, she was also referred to a holistic provider who encouraged her to take yarrow. At the time, Erin was simply trying to reclaim her health and return to a life that felt full and livable.
Years later, when she began thinking about a name for her practice, her mind returned to that season—one that shaped her understanding of healing, patience, and resilience. Choosing the name Yarrow Therapy felt meaningful and intentional
Carrying the name Yarrow now feels like a full-circle moment—one rooted in gratitude for the journey, the healing, and the lessons that made this work possible. It serves as a reminder that hope can grow even in the hardest seasons, and that healing often begins long before we realize it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://yarrowtherapy.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yarrowtherapy/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/jessicameyers_therapist/
