Brenda Papierniak

Dr. Brenda Papierniak is a Licensed Clinical Health Psychologist and is certified in Perinatal Mental Health. She is based in the Chicago area, specializing in the understanding of the mind/body connection and perinatal mental health. She is dedicated to collaborating with professionals and families to ensure comprehensive care that addresses both psychological and physiological needs. Dr. Papierniak advocates for equitable perinatal mental health care, enhancing hospital-based programs, and educating medical providers on improving patient care and outcomes.

Dr. Papierniak has extensive experience in providing specialized individual and family consultations, assessments, and therapy. She focuses on perinatal and postpartum mood disorders, trauma related to pregnancy complications, NICU stays, infertility, pregnancy loss, chronic illness, pain management, multicultural issues, and life transitions. Dr. Papierniak has worked for several different hospital systems, most recently working for Ascension Saint Alexius Women & Children’s Hospital in Hoffman Estates, IL. as part of the Pregnancy and Postpartum Mood & Anxiety Disorder Program. With Ascension, she created the Perinatal Health Psychology program where she led program development and management, supervised doctoral and masters level students, provided consultation services to hospitalized patients, and supported families with a variety of medical and mental health needs as they navigated complicated pregnancies and NICU stays. 

Dr. Papierniak has contributed to the field of perinatal mental health through speaking at conferences, co-authoring book chapters and serving on a variety of advisory committees and boards including the National Network of NICU Psychologists and Postpartum Support International. Her contributions to hospital committees display her commitment to bridging the gap between medical and behavioral health teams.

Dr. Papierniak provides a person-centered, holistic approach to therapy that ensures that both the physical and emotional needs of her patients are met.  With young families she combines their medical and mental health needs, and assists with understanding bonding, attachment, and the developmental needs of infants and children. Dr. Brenda Papierniak is passionate about empowering families and ensuring they receive the highest standard of care. Her dedication to continuous learning and improving patient outcomes inspires hope and confidence in the families she serves.

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As a mom and as a health psychologist I appreciate how difficult being a parent can be particularly if there have been complications during your pregnancy or if your little one required time in the NICU. I also know that with the right support and plans in place to help cope on the hard days, you will feel more confident and will thrive on your parenting journey. I strive to help parents find joy in the little moments of each day and to normalize that some days are just hard for all parents. We all need to have someone to share the moments with and I feel honored to be able to do this in my daily work.