As the founder and director of Whole Heart Reproductive Mental Health, Perri Shaw Borish has dedicated over two decades to transforming the landscape of mental health care for women in their reproductive journeys. 

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A Vision Born from Personal Experience

Perri’s experience as a new mother over 19 years ago catapulted her into the world of reproductive mental health. “At that time there was no practice specializing in Philadelphia,” Perri recalls. Recognizing this critical gap in care, she set out to create the support system she wished she could have had.

Her colleague attests to the impact of this decision: “Perri started all of this because as a new mom 18+ years ago when she had her first child, there were no supports at all for new moms in Philadelphia and the providers she encountered were not educated or well-versed in postpartum anxiety and depression.”

Building a Legacy of Care

Over the years, Perri has built Whole Heart Reproductive Mental Health into a thriving practice that serves women, couples, and parents through all stages of their reproductive journeys. Her work encompasses infertility, pregnancy, pregnancy loss, and postpartum care, addressing the full spectrum of reproductive mental health needs.

As one nominator puts it, “She is a brilliant and dedicated psychotherapist, who also mentors therapists in this specialty. Her ethics, passion, and gumption are unmatched in my almost 20 years of experience in social work and mental health.”

Empowering Through Education

Perri volunteers her time with Postpartum Support International and collaborates with Pennsylvania Hospital’s labor and delivery professionals, providing training on birth trauma and other aspects of mental health.

“We’ve also held many trainings for free for medical providers to equip them to best support the women and families in their practices in more inclusive ways that mitigate trauma,” Perri shares.

Accessible Care for All

Recognizing the financial barriers many face in accessing mental health care, Perri and her team have been running low-fee and free support groups in Center City, Philadelphia, for nearly two decades. “We run low fee groups and waive the fees for anyone who can’t afford them so that anyone who wants to join – can,” Perri explains. This commitment to accessibility ensures that no woman is left without support during vulnerable times.

Nurturing the Next Generation of Therapists

As Whole Heart has grown, Perri has embraced the role of mentor and leader. “I have supervised many of our therapists and spent time training some of them — and have watched them grow and assume positions of leadership where they are now training therapists themselves,” she says proudly.

Balancing Personal and Professional Growth

Like many working mothers, Perri has grappled with balancing her professional ambitions with her personal life. Her approach to this balance is both practical and nurturing: “I have a recipe which includes getting sleep, drinking water, having deep connections, surrounding myself with loving, nurturing friends who make me laugh until I cry and doing deep, meaningful work that inspires me in moving ways.”

A Vision for the Future

Perri remains committed to improving support for working parents and therapists. She advocates for better benefits and envisions a society where mothers can thrive both in their careers and family lives without penalty.

As she focuses on her own family’s milestones, including her first child leaving for college, Perri continues to be driven by the strength of the hundreds of mothers and families she has helped throughout the years.Perri Shaw Borish’s impact on reproductive mental health in Philadelphia is profound and far-reaching. Her clinical work, mentorship, advocacy, and community engagement has not only filled a critical gap in care but has also nurtured a community of support that continues to grow and thrive. Her advice to others seeking to influence change is this: “Never underestimate the ripple effect that a meaningful interaction or your efforts can have on one person’s life.”