About Us
- This group was created in 2002 by a group of five women who work with pregnant and parenting women. All facilitators are volunteers who want to support women in their recovery from postpartum depression. The Lamaze Association of Ann Arbor generously donates space for our group, although we are not affiliated with them.
- A former participant of our group developed an annual fundraiser for the PPDSG of Ann Arbor. This enables us to more widely advertise our community resource and make it accessible to more women.
- Our group is a member of Postpartum Support International.
Kate Fox, LLMSW, is an Early Childhood Therapist at Development Centers, Inc., in Detroit, MI, serving pregnant and parenting families with children under age 6 in Detroit and parts of Western Wayne County. Since 2001, Kate has worked in a variety of roles supporting parents of young children in the Washtenaw and Western Wayne County areas, including Healthy Families Home Visitor, Pregnancy Counselor, Early Head Start Home Visitor/Doula, and Teen Parent Center Supervisor.
Emily Gutmann, LMSW, has worked in aspects of women’s health since 1988. She has focused on reproductive health and maternal-child health in both clinical and administrative capacities. Emily works as a Clinical Social Worker at the University of Michigan Health Center, specifically with pregnant and postpartum women.
Hanna Kitchens, MA, LCCE, is a parent educator at First Steps of Ann Arbor, an infant massage instructor, and a Lamaze-certified childbirth educator. Since 1992 she has worked with children and families as a child care provider, consultant, and parent educator. In her most recent work she has focused on pregnancy, birth and postpartum support.
Melisa Schuster, LMSW, ACSW, CCE, is a psychotherapist in private practice specializing in prenatal and postpartum depression and anxiety, healing traumatic birth experiences, childbearing losses, and child guidance.
Valerie Wood, LMSW, is a psychotherapist in private practice in Ann Arbor. Valerie specializes in infertility, postpartum transition issues, women’s reproductive health and sexual health.