Being a mother is hard, that doesn't mean you should have to do it alone
Maternal mental health refers to the emotional and psychological well-being of mothers. Becoming a parent entails a mountain of change. Physiologically speaking, motherhood is said to be the biggest neurological changes a person experiences (even more than puberty). This evolution begins for the birthing parent at conception and continues for around 2 years postpartum. Between these changes and the demands of adjusting to parenthood, it is a time where it is appropriate and very normal to experience an increase in things like anxiety, overwhelm, sadness and depression. While these feelings are expected on some level, each individual’s experiences vary greatly in their severity and impact on daily functioning.
It is widely known that being a mother is hard, however, that does not mean anyone should have to do it alone or without help. In fact, quite the opposite is true. The biggest factor mitigating anxiety and depression in new parents is support. And while this can (and ideally would) come from a rich and active community, there are sometimes real limitations to the help that is available to mothers and families. Our therapy practice in Highland Park, Los Angeles seeks to provide a variety of different offerings to support.
No matter the intensity of a person’s struggle, therapeutic experiences (whether individual or communal) are often powerful. But, it can be REALLY difficult to know when to seek mental health support, especially because the pain of this part of life is so normalized and overwhelm is such a big part of the experience. That being said, here are some indicators to help you know when/if it’s a good idea to talk to someone:
If you have any questions please contact us or:
Are you or someone you love
Feeling low, heavy, or extra sad
Having a hard time enjoying stuff
Feeling extra irritable, angry, or on edge
Feeling panicky and worried a lot
Struggling with eating or sleeping during the times you can
Finding your thoughts are running on a loop
Feeling out of control or just really not yourself
Regretting doing this
Feeling scared of yourself or like you could hurt your baby or yourself
Remember, parenthood is hard, but struggling and suffering are two different things.
Spaces Therapy is a relational psychotherapy practice based in Highland Park, Los Angeles:
How can therapy help?
Therapy offers a pre-determined and designated space where a mother gets to step away from the demands of caregiving and reflect on what they might be needing. Therapy is also a place to explore questions of identity and selfhood as well as make sense of the experiences that are often just as difficult as they are beautiful.
Therapists who specialize in maternal mental health are also trained to do things like help clients mobilize support systems, find relief from the debilitating experience of pervasive anxiety, and navigate the isolating sadness that makes it difficult to connect with support. If and when appropriate, a therapist might also walk with a client through considering medication with the help of a doctor or psychiatrist. Our therapy practice in Highland Park is here to support you through every stage of motherhood. We are passionate about supporting new mothers with anxiety, depression, and identity challenges. Contact us here to schedule a consultation
Spaces therapy in Highland park serves mothers in several important ways:
Individual Therapy for New Mothers
Motherhood & Identity Process Groups
Good Mother Meetups
3 top-rated maternal mental health therapists in Los Angeles
Mi Ae
I’m Mi Ae, a licensed marriage & family therapist (#135709) and AACAST Certified Couples and Sex Therapist. I cultivate a curious and non-judgmental stance while developing an insight-oriented, relational, and attachment-based approach. I aim to honor, validate, and welcome the uniqueness of each person’s diverse experiences into a space with warmth, empathy, and authenticity. I strive to help my clients discover themselves, gain insight into their relational patterns, and heal from their wounds to ultimately experience deeper intimacy, and connectedness while living their most authentic selves. I also believe in providing my clients with the space in which their sufferings and struggles can be recognized, named, explored, and grieved.
- B.A.in Child and Adolescent Development
- M.A. in Clinical Psychology with emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy
- Prepare and Enrich Certified
- AACAST(American Association of Couples and Sex Therapists) Certified Couples and Sex Therapist
- I can provide therapy in Spanish
morgan Dixon
I’m Morgan, a licensed marriage & family therapist (#143871) . My hope for clients is that they will grow deeper into the fullness of themselves and their relationships. I am particularly interested in the interconnection between our minds and bodies and approach therapy from an experiential and relational perspective. On a more personal note, I love getting lost in long articles and random creative projects. I also have a major salt tooth and would choose french fries over a cookie any day.
- B.F.A. in Interdisciplinary Studio Art
- M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy, emphasis in Medical Family Therapy
- Level II Restoration Therapist
Shelly Elia Shaul
I’m Shelly, a registered associate marriage and family therapist (#138057) working under the supervision of Kelli Penner and Ludine Pierre. I believe that therapy can be a place to uncover inner wisdom and heal relational and personal conflicts. I enjoy helping my clients gain deep insight into behavioral patterns and find resiliency, peace, and connectedness. On a personal note, I enjoy water coloring while exploring new music, trying new ice cream spots around the city and getting through my long reading list. Shelly works with children and teens ages 5+.
B.A. in History and Philosophy
- M.A. in History
- M.S. in Marriage and Family TherapyAMFT #138057
Telehealth and in person
Providing therapy since 2022
Therapy offerings for new and expecting mothers
Motherhood & Identity Process Groups
Group located in Highland Park designed to to build a supportive community and find resources tailored to maternal mental health
Quarterly 8 week groups
Same women, same place, once a week, learning & supporting each other.
Led by therapist Morgan Dixon, LMFT (#143871)
In person at the Highland Park office
Click here to learn more/join the waitlist.
Good Mother is an extension of Spaces Therapy that exists to be a well of resources surrounding maternal mental health in Highland Park & beyond. We do this in a few different ways:
This space allows us to share psychoeducation, professional referrals, and encouragement.
Here is a link to a free toolkit for anyone expecting a baby.
3rd Friday of Every Month
10-11:30am @ Highland Park Office
9am @ Virtual (click here to join the waitlist)
4th Friday of Every Month
9am @ Highland Park Office
