Pregnancy & Postpartum Therapy in South Pasadena, CA
You may have imagined pregnancy or becoming a parent would feel one way, only to encounter emotions you did not expect. Whether this pregnancy is deeply wanted, complicated, unplanned, or somewhere in between, you might feel anxious or overwhelmed, miss parts of your former life, or struggle to understand everything that is coming up.
Your identity, relationships, priorities, and connection to your body often shift during this time. Excitement and love can exist alongside exhaustion, grief, ambivalence, or uncertainty. This transition can hold both what is being gained and what is being lost.
I work with clients through pregnancy and postpartum without assuming there is a particular way pregnancy or parenthood should look. We can explore what you are going through and how your history, hopes, relationships, and sense of who you are can shape this stage of your life.
Perinatal Mental Health
Pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenthood can bring:
Anxiety or persistent worry during pregnancy or postpartum
Postpartum depression, low mood, or loss of interest
Overwhelm related to pregnancy or early parenthood
Intrusive or unwanted thoughts
Fear about becoming a parent or caring for a baby
Relationship strain after having a child
Feeling disconnected from yourself
Grief related to changes in identity or lifestyle
Pressure to know what you are doing or be happier than you are
Balancing your own needs with caregiving responsibilities
These concerns can be difficult to talk about, particularly when they do not match what you thought pregnancy or parenthood would be like.
Anxiety and Intrusive Thoughts During Pregnancy & Postpartum
Anxiety during pregnancy or postpartum can leave you on edge, caught in fears that are hard to let go of, or distressed by intrusive thoughts that feel upsetting or out of character. You may find yourself questioning what they mean, seeking reassurance, or avoiding situations that trigger them. For some people, these symptoms can be associated with perinatal OCD, including postpartum OCD.
These experiences can be especially confusing when they seem out of step with how you pictured this period. We can approach them without judgment while finding ways to relate differently to anxiety and intrusive thoughts so they have less power over your day-to-day life.
Identity Changes and Matrescence
Becoming a parent can change how you understand yourself. For mothers, this process is sometimes described as matrescence, the psychological and emotional transformation that accompanies becoming a mother.
This adjustment can unfold gradually. You might feel grateful or have a strong bond with your child while also missing certain freedoms, questioning who you are now, or struggling with how much has changed. Conflicting emotions do not cancel one another out.
We can stay curious about these shifts, including what you want to carry forward and how your identity is evolving through this transition.
Pregnancy & Postpartum Support in South Pasadena, CA
My approach is trauma-informed and draws from mindfulness and psychodynamic principles. We can pay attention to what is happening in the present while also considering emotional patterns, earlier experiences, and relational dynamics that can influence how you relate to yourself and others through pregnancy and early parenthood.
We might focus on:
Managing anxiety, low mood, and overwhelm
Making sense of mixed or difficult emotions
Adjusting to changes in identity, relationships, and family roles
Clarifying and communicating your needs
Building greater trust in yourself
Caring for yourself while meeting caregiving demands
Navigating the Expectations of Parenthood
Pregnancy and parenthood can come with tremendous pressure to make the right choices, know what you are doing, and live up to an idealized version of this time. These expectations can make it harder to acknowledge emotions that do not match how you believe you are supposed to feel.
Our work can attend to both the meaningful and challenging parts of becoming a parent. We can consider what matters to you, make decisions with greater confidence, and move through parenthood in a way that feels more aligned with who you are.
For additional perinatal mental health information, support groups, and referral resources, visit: Postpartum Support International (PSI).
Frequently Asked Questions
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There is no single right time. Some people begin therapy during pregnancy as they prepare for parenthood, while others reach out after birth when emotions, relationships, or daily life feel different than expected. You can also seek therapy simply because you want space to process what this transition is bringing up.
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No. Pregnancy and postpartum can bring changes in identity, relationships, sleep, body image, work, and expectations, and it can be helpful to have a place to talk openly about how you are adjusting. You may also want support simply because this period feels more complicated, emotional, or different than you expected.
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Pregnancy and becoming a parent can bring a wide range of emotions, sometimes all at once. You may feel love, uncertainty, grief, resentment, fear, or ambivalence alongside moments of connection or joy. Therapy can offer space to be honest about your experience without pressure to feel a certain way.
Ready to Connect?
In-person therapy in South Pasadena and online therapy throughout California.
I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation to hear a little about what you’re looking for, answer any questions you have, and see if we might be a good fit.
Please fill out your contact information and I’ll be in touch shortly. If you’d like to move forward after the consultation, we can find a time for your first session.