It’s time to feel like you again
Meet Melissa, Therapist for Moms
I’m a California-based therapist for moms specializing in postpartum, birth trauma, and motherhood.
I want you to truly hear this:
Caring for yourself is not selfish- it’s essential to being a good mom.
Every mom deserves to feel seen, supported, and empowered to build the life they want for themselves and their children.
I know how easy it is to put yourself last- to stay busy, hold it all together, and silently wonder why everything still feels so heavy. But you don’t have to keep carrying it all alone. Your needs, your emotions, your healing- they matter just as much as everyone else’s. I’m a licensed therapist specializing in postpartum mental health, birth trauma, and therapy for overwhelmed moms in California.
Therapy is a space where you get to be the one held, supported, and truly seen. It’s not about fixing you- it’s about helping you reconnect with your strength, your voice, and your sense of self. Because when you care for yourself, you’re not just surviving motherhood- you’re rewriting what it gets to look like.
My therapy services for moms
My work focuses on supporting moms through postpartum struggles, birth trauma, and the ongoing emotional demands of motherhood.
Hi there! My name is Melissa and I’m a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Certified EMDR Therapist with specialized training in perinatal mental health, birth trauma, and anxiety. I’m also a mom of 2.
Prior to becoming a mom, I had worked with hundreds of families and pretty much thought I had the whole-parent thing figured out. I couldn’t have been more wrong! Motherhood definitely rocked my world.
It took several years before I started to feel like myself again. It’s also lead me to be super passionate about supporting other moms through their postpartum time and throughout their parenting.
Whatever your reasons for seeking help, I’m here to provide you with a safe, nonjudgmental place to explore your concerns and develop new tools.
Therapy is a great tool to help you learn more about yourself and guide you to feeling better and happier.
Therapy with me is…
01 compassionate
Therapy with me is rooted in deep compassion- for where you are now, and everything it took to get here. I hold space without judgment, honoring your lived experience while gently guiding you toward healing. You don’t have to explain away your feelings or have it all figured out- you’ll be met with warmth, empathy, and genuine care every step of the way.
02 insightful
In our work together, we’ll go beyond surface-level coping and explore the deeper patterns, beliefs, and experiences shaping how you feel today. Therapy is a space to make meaningful connections between your past and present so you can understand yourself with more clarity and compassion. Insight is powerful, and it’s often the first step toward lasting change.
03 empowering
Therapy isn’t about fixing you- it’s about helping you reconnect with your inner strength and wisdom. Together, we’ll build the tools, insight, and confidence you need to make choices that feel aligned with who you are. You’ll leave sessions not just supported, but more self-assured in your ability to navigate motherhood and life.
04 Individualized
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to healing- your therapy is tailored to your unique story, needs, and goals. Whether we focus on processing trauma, managing anxiety, or navigating motherhood’s emotional complexity, we’ll move at your pace, in a way that feels right for you. This is your space, and it’s built to support you.
My Values
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Everyone has an important story to tell and that they have an unique experience and perspective that deserves to be heard and respected.
I offer an inclusive and safe space for everyone, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, those in the LGBTQ+ community, and all other marginalized groups.
We are all equal and deserve to be treated as so. I value decency, respect, and compassion for all beings. Everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and understood.
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I believe that our society is deeply rooted in patriarchal systems that often marginalize and oppress women. These systems can have a significant impact on women's mental health, relationships, and overall well-being.
I strive to create a safe and supportive space where you can explore your experiences and challenges without judgment. I am committed to empowering you to make informed decisions about your life and to advocate for your needs.
My approach to therapy is informed by a feminist perspective, which means that I recognize the impact of gender, race, class, and other social identities on your mental health. I am dedicated to working with you to challenge societal norms and expectations, and to build a more equitable and just world.
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I recognize that our country has been built on White Privilege with a lens of Heteronormativity and Able-Bodied that creates systemic and oppressive barriers for those in the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities, those with disabilities, and other marginalized group.
I am committed to continue to learn about how I can be Anti-Racist and an Ally. I will continue to check my own White Privilege and use my Privilege to be a voice for change.
I believe women have a right to make their own decisions regarding their body and their healthcare. I am also committed to stand up and fight for women’s autonomous rights over their bodies.
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Being authentic as a therapist is important to me. This includes being transparent in session fees, which you will find here, any diagnosis, and treatment prognosis.
I also welcome and will elicit feedback. If there is anything I ask that you are not comfortable sharing, that is okay! Also, if I say something that is confusing, offensive, or just does not connect, please let me know.
I view therapy as a collaborative process and I am always open to hearing how you are thinking/feeling about the therapy process. Ultimately you know your life best and I'm here to help support you in living the life that you want to have.
My Background
I consider myself a lifelong student. Here is more about my education and experience.
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Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (License Number 52656)
Masters of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy from Alliant International University of San Diego
Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
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I’m a Certified EMDR Therapist with specialized training in:
Perinatal Therapy
Birth Trauma Therapy
Anxiety + OCD
Trauma
Somatic Therapy
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This experience informs my work today supporting moms navigating postpartum, trauma, and the mental load of motherhood.
Current owner of Happy Moms Therapy, providing online Individual therapy to moms in California.
Previous Director and Clinical Supervisor of an adolescent short-term residential mental health program.
Previous Director of a nonprofit, community counseling clinic. Provided Individual, Couples, and Family Therapy.
Previously provided therapeutic services to students and their families at local elementary, middle, and high schools.
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Member of California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists (CAMFT)
My Therapy Specialties
Where I do my best work
The postpartum period can bring emotional challenges that many moms don’t expect, including anxiety, overwhelm, intrusive thoughts, or feeling unlike yourself. Postpartum therapy offers a supportive space to understand what you’re experiencing and receive help navigating this transition into motherhood with greater steadiness and compassion.
If your birth experience was frightening, overwhelming, or didn’t go the way you expected, those memories can stay with you long after baby arrives. Birth trauma therapy helps moms process difficult birth experiences so they can move forward with greater peace, clarity, and emotional healing.
04 mental load coaching for couples
Many couples struggle with the invisible mental load of managing a household and raising children. Mental Load Coaching for Couples helps partners understand how responsibilities have become imbalanced and develop more supportive and equitable ways of sharing the work of family life.
Motherhood today carries enormous emotional and mental demands. Therapy for moms provides a place to talk honestly about overwhelm, anxiety, burnout, and the pressure many mothers feel to hold everything together while caring for their families.
You matter too. It’s time to prioritize yourself.
Questions? i have answers
FAQs
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I specialize in working with moms because motherhood brings a unique set of emotional challenges that are often overlooked or minimized. From postpartum changes to the ongoing mental load, many moms are carrying more than they realize. My goal is to provide a space where you feel deeply understood and supported without having to explain or justify your experience.
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Working with a therapist who understands motherhood means you don’t have to spend sessions explaining the basics of what you’re going through. There’s already an understanding of things like the mental load, identity shifts, and the emotional intensity of parenting. This allows us to go deeper, more quickly, into the work that actually helps you feel better.
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No, while I specialize in postpartum mental health, I work with moms in all stages of motherhood. Whether you’re navigating life with a newborn, toddlers, or older children, therapy can help you manage anxiety, burnout, and the ongoing emotional demands of being a mom.
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My approach is grounded in trauma-informed care and includes evidence-based methods such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and nervous system regulation. I tailor therapy to each client, focusing on both practical tools and deeper emotional processing.
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Yes, I offer online therapy for moms throughout California, including San Diego, Carlsbad, San Marcos, and surrounding areas. Virtual sessions make it easier to access support without needing childcare or adding more to your already full schedule.
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I don’t offer traditional couples therapy, as I strongly believe in the value of specialization. Couples therapy is most effective when it’s provided by a therapist who is specifically trained and focused in that area.
However, I do offer mental load coaching for couples, which is different from therapy. This work focuses on helping couples better understand and rebalance the invisible mental and emotional load of running a household. It’s a more structured, practical approach aimed at improving communication, reducing resentment, and creating a more equitable partnership.
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You can schedule a free consultation call or a therapy session here or you can email me at: hello@happymomstherapy.com with any questions.
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