Therapy for Motherhood

Support for aspiring, new, and expectant parents

The social, emotional, and physical transition from Person to Parent, often called Matrescence, is one of the most profound shifts a person can go through. The physical and hormonal changes that result from pregnancy and birth, counter to common knowledge, often take years to fully recover from, and affect us in ways science is only beginning to understand.

This world-altering identity shift affecting not only the mother but the relationship between parents. It is a new life stage that includes profound changes many aren’t prepared for, and can come with overwhelm, fear, anxiety, depression, and increased conflict and resentment within couples and overwhelm for individuals.

If you’re wondering when you’ll feel like “you” again, I will support you in integrating your new identity of Mother into the previous identities you held — often ones tied to professional pursuits or success. I often work with mothers who enter parenthood mindfully after years of established success in their careers and relationships who now find themselves feeling unmoored. I’m here to help you enjoy motherhood, even with all its difficult parts, and feel like a whole, integrated person in the process.

Together, we can work through:

  • Not feeling “yourself” after birth

  • Postpartum depression, anxiety, and OCD

  • Sleep disturbances and struggles

  • Relationship frustrations and dealing with the mental load

  • Recovering intimacy after childbirth

  • Sexual dysfunction

  • Navigating infertility

  • Burnout

  • Rage, guilt, or shame

  • Birth trauma or complications

  • Recovering from a NICU stay

  • Family size planning

  • Support during pregnancy

  • Support going back to work after birth

  • Balancing parenthood and career

  • Ambivalence or fears about becoming a parent

  • Identity and body issues, including disordered eating

  • Feelings of “this isn’t what it was supposed to be like”

  • Raising your family in a different way than you were raised

“Motherhood is the ultimate confrontation with yourself. Whatever is there to discover at the bottom of your soul, whether dross or treasure, motherhood will help you find it.”

— Lisa Marchiano, Motherhood: Facing and Finding Yourself

My approach

My therapeutic style is non-judgmental, supportive, and practical. I’m a psychodynamic therapist, which means that I like to work with the unconscious thoughts and motivations that are influencing our feelings and behaviors. I’ll help you dive deep into your psyche to support the psychic change already happening as your transition from Person to Parent. While we do this work, I will provide real-life coping mechanisms and self-care tools to support you through this transformative experience. I use mindfulness, breathwork, and somatic techniques to support your reconnection to your body and your Self as you navigate this time.

I am LGBT-affirmative, sex positive, and support all relationship structures. I identify as an ally of the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities.

I also offer support groups and additional services through my work with the team at Life After Birth®.

Getting started

  1. Get in touch to schedule a free 15-minute consultation call to hear a bit more about why you’re seeking therapy and schedule our first appointment.

  2. My fee is $175/session, which is payable when you book your first session. I do not take insurance at this time.

  3. Schedule your first appointment. I currently offer virtual therapy for ease and convenience. My schedule is flexible and can adjust depending on your needs.

FAQs

  • My fee is $175/session

  • The initial consultation is a short conversation to see if we are a good fit to work together. This is your opportunity to ask me questions and get a sense of my style of working. If you have any hesitations about working together, let me know and we can talk about it. We’ll also discuss logistics such as the fee and frequency and location of sessions. If we decide that we would like to move forward, we will schedule a consistent time for us to begin our work together. If not, I am happy to offer referrals to others who may be a better fit.

  • In our first session, I’ll hear about what’s bringing you to therapy and what you’d like to work on. I might assess you for a mood disorder and we can discuss any additional support needed. My style is client-led, so I’ll let you guide our sessions and support you in whatever is most top-of-mind today.

  • It really depends on your specific goals for therapy. You can expect to be in therapy anywhere from a couple months to a few years. Initially, I recommend we meet in weekly sessions to make initial progress, and then I often recommend my clients move to a less regular cadence, such as meeting once or twice monthly to process recurring issues.

  • I do not participate in any health insurance networks or submit insurance claims. However, I am happy to offer you a super bill. A super bill is a summary of services, including a clinical diagnosis, which you can submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement. If your plan provides out-of-network provider coverage, you can get reimbursed for a portion of your service costs – the reimbursement rate depends on your specific plan and provider.

  • My sessions are 50 minutes long

  • I am an Associate Marriage & Family Therapist (Alexandra “Lexi” Berard, AMFT #137342) which means I have a provisional license to practice under supervision. I meet with my clinical supervisor weekly with to discuss my cases. As an AMFT, I have a master’s degree and advanced clinical training, however I am still in the process of completing the 3,000 clinical hours the California Board of Behavioral Sciences requires for full MFT licensure. The benefits to you are that you are able to get a therapist at a lower cost than market rate and you also get the benefit of my supervisor’s experience and insight.