Postpartum Anxiety Therapy in Los Angeles and California
Everyone told you that having a baby would be one of the greatest joys of your life. What they didn't mention is the way anxiety can take over the quiet moments — the 3 a.m. checks to make sure your baby is still breathing, the racing thoughts that won't stop no matter how exhausted you are, the terrifying "what ifs" that feel impossible to turn off.
If this is your experience right now, there is nothing wrong with you. You are not failing at motherhood. You are experiencing postpartum anxiety, and it is treatable.
My practice offers a non-judgmental and welcoming space for new mothers who are struggling with the weight of it all. Whether you are in Los Angeles, Studio City, or connecting with me via telehealth from anywhere in California, we can find a path through the anxiety and back to yourself.
What postpartum anxiety actually looks like
Postpartum anxiety is one of the most common and most under-discussed experiences in the postpartum period, affecting approximately 1 in 5 new mothers, including parents of special needs children. It often looks very different from what people expect. You might feel like you are doing everything right on the outside while barely holding it together inside.
Common experiences include constant worry that feels impossible to turn off, physical symptoms like a racing heart or tightness in your chest, difficulty sleeping even when your baby finally sleeps, irritability or snapping at the people closest to you, and a sense of dread that something terrible is about to happen. Some mothers also experience intrusive thoughts — frightening mental images or fears about their baby that feel deeply out of character. If those thoughts include compulsive checking or rituals, that may point toward postpartum OCD, which I also treat.
Postpartum anxiety is not a reflection of how much you love your child. It is a biological and psychological response to one of the most enormous transitions a person can go through, and it deserves real clinical support.
Therapy that understands what you are actually going through
I didn't just study postpartum anxiety in graduate school — I have lived it. I know what it is like to check if your baby is breathing far more than any rational part of you thinks is necessary. I know the specific exhaustion of a mind that will not quiet down even when your body is desperate for rest.
That lived experience is paired with Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C) through Postpartum Support International, advanced training in EMDR, CBT, and ACT, and years of specialized clinical work with postpartum women. You get someone who actually understands what you are going through and has the clinical tools to help you move through it — not just cope with it.
Our work together won't be about convincing you to think more positively or just "getting some rest." We will look at what is driving your anxiety, address the underlying patterns, and build skills that actually work for the reality of your daily life with a new baby. This work fits naturally into the broader landscape of maternal mental health support, and for mothers who also experienced a difficult delivery, birth trauma therapy may be part of our work together as well.
You don't have to do this alone
Postpartum anxiety is highly treatable with the right support, and you do not have to wait until things get worse before reaching out. Many mothers I work with waited longer than they needed to because they worried their anxiety wasn't "bad enough" to deserve help, or because they were afraid of what asking for support would say about them as a mother.
Asking for help is not a sign that you are struggling — it is a sign that you are paying attention. The sooner we can address what is happening, the sooner you can feel more like yourself again and more present in your relationship with your baby, your partner, and yourself.
Virtual sessions throughout California mean you can access this support from your couch, your car during nap time, or wherever you can carve out a quiet moment. In-person sessions are available at my Studio City office.
Frequently asked questions about postpartum anxiety therapy
Is what I'm feeling postpartum anxiety or just normal new-parent worry?
New-parent worry is real and expected. What distinguishes postpartum anxiety is the intensity, persistence, and the way it interferes with your daily life and your ability to rest or be present. If your worry feels uncontrollable, if it is affecting your sleep even when you have the chance to sleep, or if it is getting in the way of enjoying moments with your baby, it is worth talking to someone. We can assess what you are experiencing together in a safe, nonjudgmental space.
How is postpartum anxiety different from postpartum depression?
They often overlap, but they feel different. Postpartum depression tends to involve numbness, sadness, withdrawal, and a loss of interest in things you used to enjoy. Postpartum anxiety feels more like your nervous system is running on high alert all the time — hypervigilance, racing thoughts, physical tension, and a sense that disaster is always right around the corner. Many mothers experience both at the same time, and both are treatable.
Can I do therapy via telehealth while my baby is home?
Absolutely. Many of my clients do sessions during nap time, in their car, or in any quiet corner they can find. You do not need a perfect setup — you just need thirty to fifty minutes and a reasonably private space. Telehealth allows mothers throughout California to get consistent support without the logistical burden of leaving the house with a newborn.
When does postpartum anxiety go away on its own?
For some mothers, anxiety symptoms ease as they adjust to their new role and their hormones stabilize. But postpartum anxiety can develop or persist at any point in the first two years after birth, and for many women it does not simply resolve without support. If you have been waiting for it to pass and it hasn't, that is a signal that it is time to reach out.
