Therapy for pregnancy & postpartum

In Oakland & across CA & FL

You don’t have to love every moment to be a great mom.

It could be your first baby or your third — pregnancy and postpartum are just hard.

Nothing feels easy. In fact, it’s so much harder than you thought. 

IIt’s easy to discuss the joy and bliss of having a child. There are baby showers, bump pictures, and gender reveals, all celebrating the incredible nine months of growing your baby. People around you often share the euphoric feeling of meeting their baby and the instant connection they experience.

You may know friends or family members who “bounced back” within weeks and felt amazing as they took their newborn along with them on every errand. Others may have loved how natural breastfeeding felt and how quickly their baby learned. But what if your experience doesn’t feel that way?

  • These nine months seem to drag on, and it’s difficult not to feel guilty about the changes happening in your body. Feelings of inadequacy and stress permeate your daily life, and you find yourself questioning whether you can become the mother you have always wanted to be.

  • Every part of you aches. The phrase "blood, sweat, and tears" takes on a whole new meaning. You keep hearing advice like, “Savor it! One day, you’ll miss these moments…” but it’s hard to imagine ever wanting to feel this way again. The experience is overwhelming and discouraging as you try to appreciate this “precious” time while you’re exhausted, your baby isn’t feeding well, and your body feels foreign.

It’s like you don’t even know yourself anymore.

I’m here to tell you that your feelings are valid, and they do matter. 

The motherhood journey is one of the most vulnerable experiences, and it’s okay to feel overwhelmed, angry, or helpless.

As women, one of the first things we do when things get tough is convince ourselves what we’re feeling doesn’t matter or isn’t “that bad.”

MY APPROACH

Being a mother is part of who you are, not everything.

With over 20 years of experience in pregnancy and postpartum care, a special certification in perinatal mental health, and experience as a mother myself, you can trust you're in good hands here. I believe in therapy that’s tailored specifically to you, and when it comes to pregnancy and postpartum, everyone’s experience is unique.

To begin, I’ll invite you to share your experiences and why you seek support. With this open dialogue, you can feel at ease, knowing I’m not here to judge the kind of mother you are—I’m here to help you be the best you can be for you and your child. Together, we will identify the specific areas where you're struggling, including any anxiety, depression, or OCD. We’ll look at things through a holistic lens that considers all the internal and external aspects impacting you.

Learning to balance motherhood takes time, and it’s okay not to have everything figured out at once. 

As we continue, you’ll learn how to cultivate more calm daily, increase your confidence as a mother, and remind yourself of who you are outside of just “Mom.” I’ll draw upon various methods, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), ACT, and Brainspotting. All the therapy I provide is trauma-informed, always honoring your unique experiences and factoring them into your care. I’m also able to assess your needs and refer you for a medication evaluation if that is appropriate. 

No one is the perfect mother. All you need to be is theirs.

It's completely normal to feel overwhelmed on the journey of motherhood. However, therapy can help you discover joy in the good moments and learn to navigate the challenging times. You deserve to feel more than just "surviving."

Therapy for pregnancy & postpartum can help you…

  • Build more confidence in yourself and your role as a mother

  • Rediscover you sense of self

  • Reduce feelings of shame and find validation for your emotions

  • Strengthen the bond between you and your baby

  • Let go of what doesn’t matter and prioritize what is most important

  • Cultivate self-love and acceptance of your body

  • Overcome depression and anxiety

take care of yourself

Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish; it’s crucial.

Questions?

FAQs

  • It's essential to seek support as soon as you notice any signs of distress or difficulty adjusting to pregnancy, postpartum, or parenthood. Symptoms might include persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, anger, irritability, difficulty bonding with your baby, changes in sleep or appetite, or strained relationships with your partner or loved ones.

  • Pregnancy and postpartum therapy can address a wide range of issues and feelings you may be experiencing. Difficulties can include prenatal anxiety and depression, birth trauma, postpartum depression and anxiety, grief and loss related to pregnancy, changes in identity and self-esteem, relationship conflicts, parenting stress, and adjustment to your new role and responsibilities.

  • You’re not alone. Difficulties with breastfeeding or bonding with your baby are very common, and I’m here to provide support, education, and guidance to help you navigate these challenges, develop strategies for feeding your baby, and strengthen your connection.

  • Yes. It can be difficult and triggering to discuss or think about birth because of what you’ve gone through. I aim to provide you with a compassionate space to explore your emotions, help you find healing from the pain, and potentially help you prepare for another birth.

  • Yes, I can also help adults struggling with ADHD, alcohol and substance abuse, perimenopause or menopause, and more.