Postpartum Therapy & Birth Trauma Support in Santa Monica, CA

Postpartum therapy is a specialized form of mental health support focused on the emotional, psychological, and identity challenges that can arise during pregnancy, childbirth, and the months (and sometimes years) after having a baby. While general therapy addresses a broad range of life challenges, postpartum therapy is specifically trained toward perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, conditions like postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, birth trauma, and perinatal OCD, as well as the identity shift that comes with becoming a parent. Therapists who specialize in this area understand the hormonal, relational, and social context of new parenthood in ways that generalist therapists may not.

No. You do not need a formal diagnosis to reach out or begin therapy. Many of the mothers we work with describe a feeling that something is off: persistent sadness, anxiety that doesn't lift, difficulty bonding, or a sense of not recognizing themselves. That is a valid reason to seek support. A diagnosis, if appropriate, can be explored together during the intake process.

The baby blues, characterized by mood swings, tearfulness, and emotional sensitivity, typically appear within the first few days after birth and resolve on their own within two weeks. Postpartum depression is more persistent, more intense, and more disruptive to daily life. Signs include feelings of hopelessness or emptiness that don't lift, difficulty functioning, withdrawal from your baby or partner, persistent anxiety or racing thoughts, or feeling like you are not yourself. If your symptoms have lasted more than two weeks, or feel severe at any point, reaching out to a mental health professional is appropriate at any time.

Yes. Birth Feelings offers both in-person and virtual sessions. In-person sessions are available at 3231 Ocean Park Boulevard, Suite 115, Santa Monica, CA 90405. Virtual therapy is available for clients throughout Los Angeles County, including Santa Monica, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Culver City, and the broader Westside. Virtual sessions offer the same therapeutic depth as in-person work.

Yes. Birth trauma is not determined by medical outcome. Many mothers who experienced births that were medically uncomplicated still carry significant distress about the experience. Feeling dismissed, losing control of the situation, unexpected interventions, or the gap between the birth you hoped for and the one you had can all produce a trauma response. Birth trauma is defined by the impact of the experience on the person who lived it, not by whether something went wrong in a clinical sense.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured, evidence-based therapy originally developed to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. It uses bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements, tapping, or sound) to help the brain reprocess distressing memories so they carry less emotional charge. EMDR is increasingly used with postpartum and birth trauma clients because birth experiences, especially traumatic ones, can become stuck memories that the brain continues to respond to as though they are happening now. Birth Feelings offers EMDR as a core therapy modality, with specialized packages for first-time moms, second-time+ moms, and VBAC moms.

The length of therapy varies depending on what you're working through and your goals. Some clients find significant relief within 8 to 12 sessions focused on a specific concern. Others engage in longer-term work to address ongoing anxiety, identity shifts, or relationship changes that come with parenthood. At Birth Feelings, the pace is guided by you. There is no predetermined endpoint.

Birth Feelings works with mothers directly, in individual sessions, rather than with partners. Therapy here is one-on-one, so the time and attention stay with you and what you are carrying through pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and motherhood.

Birth Feelings is out-of-network with insurance providers. A superbill, an itemized receipt you can submit directly to your insurance for potential reimbursement, is provided at the end of each month. Contact us directly to discuss your specific coverage and payment options before scheduling.

Research supports the effectiveness of virtual therapy for postpartum depression, anxiety, and birth trauma. For many new parents in Santa Monica, virtual sessions remove a significant barrier, whether that's finding childcare, navigating traffic, or simply leaving the house on a hard day. Virtual sessions offer the same therapeutic depth as in-person work.