Online Therapy for California Residents
Specialties
Perinatal Mental Health: Pregnancy & Postpartum
The perinatal period is the time frame from conception through the first year after giving birth. However, maternal and paternal mental health issues can extend beyond this period due to being unrecognized, not having access to care, or going untreated.
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) impact 1 in 5 mothers and 1 in 10 fathers. Every year more than 600,000 women will experience a perinatal mental health disorder. One of the most common PMADs, postpartum depression, is the #1 complication of pregnancy.
See PMADs dropdown in the menu bar to learn more about each.
Life Transitions
Life transitions, or adjustments, are life stressors impacting one's quality of life. They can include things like a global pandemic, transitioning out of the military, be relationship-based, a relocation, financial, or job/career changes. Becoming a parent is another major life transition that can have huge impacts.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress and can be beneficial in some situations. It can alert us to dangers and help us prepare and pay attention. Anxiety disorders differ from normal feelings of nervousness or anxiousness because they involve excessive fear or anxiety (e.g., difficulty controlling worry, unable to sleep or have restful sleep, feeling restless or on edge). Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition and affect nearly 30 percent of adults at some point in their life.
Depression
Depression is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think, and how you act. Depression causes feelings of sadness, anger, and loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and decrease a person’s ability to function in their personal and professional life (e.g., not wanting to get out of bed, changes in appetite, changes in sleep, isolating, feeling hopeless or helpless, or thoughts of suicide).
Trauma
Trauma can happen to anyone and is unique to each person. You don't have to receive a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to receive help with trauma. Trauma lives inside your brain, manifests in the body, and impacts your quality of life.
Trauma can occur from experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, intergenerational trauma (systemic racism), a traumatic birth, a terrorist act, war/combat, rape, or other violent assault.
People living with trauma can have intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to their experience that last long after the traumatic event has ended. Events may live on through intrusive thoughts or nightmares, feelings of sadness, fear, or anger, and through feelings of detachment or being estranged from other people. Avoidance of and strong negative reactions to things that trigger the trauma are also common.
When Survivors Give Birth
When 1 in 5 females and 1 in 13 males experience childhood sexual trauma it’s understandable how this past trauma can show up in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. There’s so much that can be done proactively to support parents during this time and I would be honored to utilize the When Survivors Give Birth framework, alongside with my therapy skills, to prepare you for this important time in your life.
Pre-conception & Fertility
Unsure about having a child? Single and want to become a parent? Perhaps you or your partner aren't sure if a baby is right for you. Maybe you feel stuck and there needs to be some conversations before you can move forward. Therapy is a good sounding board for all of these pre-conception questions.
Infertility affects 6 million Americans, 10% of the reproductive age population. Though there are many medical interventions available today (IUI, IVF, donor, surrogacy, gestational carrier, etc.) the experience is more than a medical procedure. Mental health support during this process helps manage stress, depression, anxiety, grief, relationship issues, and whatever else may show up during your fertility experience.