Support for parents navigating postpartum anxiety, depression, identity changes, and the emotional upheaval of early parenthood.
Postpartum Therapy in Los Angeles & Pasadena, CA, Online Across California
When worry, irritability, and self-doubt start to take over your days, therapy can help you regain your footing during the postpartum season.
Has the Transition into Parenthood Felt Much Harder Than You Expected?
Maybe you’re crying more days than not, unsure why things feel so hard.
Perhaps you’re stuck replaying parts of your pregnancy, birth, or early postpartum experience that didn’t go the way you hoped. Or maybe constant anxiety about your baby’s health is affecting every decision you make, small or large.
Many new parents find themselves questioning whether they’re a “good enough” parent. You might feel responsible for getting everything exactly right while also feeling completely depleted.
You may also notice strain in your relationship with your partner. They may not fully understand what you're going through, or the two of you may be coping with the transition to parenthood in very different ways.
The Postpartum Period Changes Nearly Every Part of Your Life
Pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenthood are often described as joyful experiences. But they are also periods of enormous physical, emotional, and psychological change.
Your body is recovering. Your brain is adjusting to new hormones. Your sleep is disrupted. Your relationships are shifting. Your identity is evolving.
Without enough support, these changes are destabilizing.
Many parents struggling during the postpartum period notice symptoms like these:
crying more days than not
irritability or rage, especially toward a partner
constant anxiety about the baby’s health or routines
intrusive thoughts about something bad happening to your baby
feeling trapped, isolated, or overwhelmed
difficulty sleeping even when the baby sleeps
a sense that you’ve lost or can’t recognize yourself
You may find yourself comparing your experience to other parents and feeling like you’re somehow falling short.
You may also notice emotions that feel confusing or out of character. Some parents experience sudden anger or rage, especially when they are exhausted or overwhelmed. Others feel intrusive thoughts about something bad happening to their baby, even though they would never want that to happen. These experiences can be frightening and isolating, especially if no one has prepared you for how common they are during the postpartum period.
Postpartum depression and anxiety can affect parents in many different circumstances, including:
Queer and trans families
Second- or third-time parents
People who conceived through assisted reproduction or lengthy trying-to-conceive periods
Foster and adoptive families
People who have experienced prior pregnancy or infant loss
Sometimes the Support You Expected Never Arrived
Many people enter the postpartum period expecting to have help from family, friends, or their community.
But in reality, many people navigate early parenthood with very little support.
The United States offers minimal parental leave, limited postpartum care, and few structural supports for new families. Tasks like meal preparation, childcare, and household support often require hiring help that isn’t accessible to everyone.
You’re expected to recover from birth, care for a newborn, and maintain your entire life without a village. That is an impossible feat for any person to pull off.
Some parents also face additional layers of complexity during the postpartum period. Queer parents may be navigating legal, medical, or social systems that were not designed with their families in mind. Parents of twins or multiples are often recovering from more complicated pregnancies or births while caring for more than one newborn at once. Foster parents may be wondering when or if reunification with birth families will happen. These realities can intensify the physical and emotional demands of early parenthood.
Postpartum Anxiety and Depression Are Far More Common Than Most People Realize
Perinatal mental health conditions are the most common complication of childbirth.
About 1 in 5 birthing people and 1 in 10 non-gestational parents experience postpartum depression or anxiety, and partners can also struggle during this transition.
Despite how common these experiences are, many parents suffer quietly because they feel ashamed to admit they are struggling. BIPOC parents may worry that their struggles would lead to CPS involvement. Foster parents may worry that naming their symptoms would lead to a social worker finding another placement for the child(ren).
Seeking support does not mean you are failing as a parent. It means the opposite: that you care enough about yourself and your child(ren) to address a solvable problem.
If Finding Time for Weekly Therapy Feels Impossible Right Now
Between feeding schedules, sleep deprivation, and the constant needs of a newborn, attending a weekly appointment can be unrealistic.
For parents in this situation, I also offer postpartum text therapy across California, which allows you to receive professional support through secure messaging at times that fit your schedule and needs. Learn more about this service here. >>
Specialized Support for Navigating the Emotional Upheaval of Early Parenthood
Postpartum therapy provides a place to slow down, reconnect to yourself, and make sense of what you are experiencing during this intense period of change.
As a therapist specializing in perinatal mental health, I work with parents navigating anxiety, depression, identity changes, and unresolved birth experiences.
Some sessions focus on processing difficult memories from pregnancy, birth, or early postpartum. Other times we focus on practical tools that help you regulate anxiety, manage overwhelm, and feel more confident in your parenting decisions.
Many clients appreciate having a space where they can speak honestly about their experiences without worrying about being judged.
Our work together may focus on:
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Many parents in the postpartum period feel stuck in loops of worry about their baby’s health, routines, or development, and alone in holding the research, decision making, and labor involved in parenting a newborn.
Together we work on ways to regulate anxiety so it stops dominating every decision you make and use direct communication to clarify with your partner expectations and needs surrounding household and childcare responsibilities.
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Early parenthood often brings intense self-doubt and intense societal pressure to “do it right.”
Therapy helps you develop confidence in your own judgment so you’re not constantly second-guessing your parenting decisions and security in your abilities as a “good enough” parent.
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If parts of your pregnancy or birth felt traumatic or unresolved, we can work through those memories so they stop intruding on your bonding with your baby, sleep, and avoidance of certain activities or places.
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Becoming a parent can shift how you see yourself, your relationships, and your priorities.
Therapy can help you integrate these changes so you feel more grounded in who you are now.
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The postpartum period often brings new tensions within partnerships, families, and support systems.
Our work can help you communicate your needs more clearly and protect your emotional bandwidth during this demanding season.
Maybe You’re Considering Postpartum Therapy in Los Angeles, but Still Have a Few Concerns…
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Understandably, you feel stretched thin during this time! Three things that could help with the time concerns:
Babies are always welcome during our sessions, whether they’re in-person or online; you’re free to feed your baby or do other care tasks as needed.
I offer online therapy sessions and some parents schedule these during their babies’ naps or when another person can take over for 50 minutes.
For parents who need even more flexibility, postpartum text therapy allows you to communicate with a licensed therapist through secure messaging at times that fit your demanding scheduling. Learn more about this service here.
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Unfortunately, there is still a stigma around mental health treatment, especially among certain communities and cultures. But seeking therapy doesn’t mean you’re a bad parent—quite the opposite! It means you’re prioritizing your wellness and showing up for yourself and your family in the best way possible. While you can’t control what others think, you can control the steps you take to feel better, and that is a powerful act.
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Medication is one possible option, but it is not required for therapy to be helpful.
I work with both clients who choose to take medication and those who don’t. My role is to support you in exploring your thoughts and feelings about medication, provide insights into your symptoms, and help you make an informed decision that feels right for you. Therapy itself can be a transformative step toward healing, whether or not medication is part of your journey.
For those who do take medication, I will coordinate care with your provider to ensure the best possible treatment outcomes.
You Deserve Specialized Support During One of the Biggest Transitions of Your Life
The postpartum period can feel overwhelming, isolating, and destabilizing.
With the right support, you can:
feel less consumed by anxiety
reconnect with yourself and more satisfied with your relationships
move through early parenthood with greater clarity and confidence
