Postpartum Therapy, Online Anywhere in California
For new parents who don’t feel the way they expected to.
Everyone asks about the baby
You say you’re tired, which is true. You don’t say the rest. That you cry in the shower. That you lie awake listening to the baby breathe, even when the baby is fine. That you love your baby but have lost your sense of self.
You were told this would be the happiest time of your life. When it isn’t, it’s easy to decide the problem is you.
Is this the baby blues, or something more?
Most new parents have mood swings and weepy days in the first couple of weeks after birth. That usually passes on its own. It’s worth reaching out when the feelings last longer than two weeks, feel intense, or make it hard to get through the day:
- Sadness, emptiness, or numbness most of the day
- Constant worry, racing thoughts, or a sense that something bad is about to happen
- Not being able to sleep, even when the baby is asleep
- Irritability or anger that surprises you
- Feeling disconnected from your baby, or like you’re going through the motions
- Guilt or shame, or a feeling that you’re failing as a parent
- Frightening thoughts or images of something happening to your baby that you can’t shake
These can start during pregnancy or anytime in the first year, not only right after birth. If some of this sounds familiar and you’re still not sure, that’s reason enough to call. You don’t have to be sure first.
If you are having thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, call or text 988 now. If you or someone close to you is seeing or hearing things that aren’t there, feels paranoid or confused, or has barely slept for more than two days, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. That can be postpartum psychosis, which is a medical emergency and treatable.
This is common, and it’s treatable
Up to 1 in 7 mothers has significant depression or anxiety during pregnancy or after birth. Partners can struggle too, including fathers and non-birthing parents. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad parent or that you made a mistake becoming one.
It also isn’t only depression. Anxiety, panic, intrusive thoughts, and the aftermath of a difficult or traumatic birth are all part of what new parents bring to therapy. A pregnancy loss, miscarriage, or stillbirth belongs here too.
What postpartum therapy looks like
The first session is about what’s been happening, how you’re sleeping and coping, and what support you have around you. You don’t need to have it figured out, and you can bring the baby.
From there, your therapist will help you make sense of what you’re feeling and find practical ways through it. That might mean working with anxious or intrusive thoughts, processing a hard birth, protecting sleep where you can, asking for help without guilt, or figuring out who you are now.
If medication could help, your therapist can talk with you about that and help you connect with your doctor or a psychiatrist.
Change usually starts small. You get through a feed without the dread. You tell your partner the real answer when they ask how you are. One day, you notice you’re enjoying your baby.
When it’s affecting both of you
A new baby changes a relationship overnight. Sleep disappears, roles shift, and old family patterns show up in new ways. Couples therapy can help you get back on the same side. If you’re a new father or partner who is struggling, see therapy for men or start with individual therapy.
How to get started
- Have a free 15-minute conversation. Tell us what’s been happening. Calling during a nap, or with the baby in your arms, is completely fine.
- Get matched. We pair you with a therapist on our team based on what you need.
- Start sessions. Meet online from anywhere in California, which means no car seat and no drive. See billing and fees.
Questions new parents ask
Will telling a therapist about my thoughts get my baby taken away?
No. Unwanted, frightening thoughts about something happening to your baby are a common symptom of postpartum anxiety and OCD, and they are very different from wanting to cause harm. Talking about them is how they get treated. Your therapist will explain the limits of confidentiality at the start.
Do I have to wait until after the baby is born?
No. Depression and anxiety can start during pregnancy, and getting support early can help.
Can I bring my baby to sessions?
Yes. Online sessions can happen with your baby nearby, and if you need to feed, soothe, or pause, that’s part of the session, not an interruption.
Is this only for mothers?
No. Fathers, partners, and adoptive parents can struggle after a baby arrives too, and we work with them as well.
My baby is older now. Is it too late?
No. Symptoms can begin anytime in the first year, and many parents wait much longer before reaching out. It is never too late to get support.
Do you take insurance?
We’re a private-pay practice and don’t bill insurance. You’ll know the cost before anything starts.
You don’t have to feel this way alone
Tell us what’s been happening, even if you’ve never said it out loud. You can decide everything else after the call.
If you’re in crisis, call or text 988, or call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262).