SPECIALTY AREA
motherhood
Therapy for the transition to motherhood.
Online therapy and coaching in California, whether you’re deciding, expecting or already a mother.
SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATIONMaybe this sounds familiar…
- You’re not sure you want to be a mother, and you feel like you should know by now.
- You’re pregnant or trying, and the worry takes up more room than the excitement.
- Getting pregnant has been harder than you expected.
- You love your child, and you miss who you were before.
- Since the baby arrived, you haven’t felt like yourself.
- It looks easier for everyone else.
- Your own mother, and how you were raised, is on your mind more than it used to be.
You can have more than one feeling about this.
Becoming a mother is one of the biggest changes a person goes through, and it starts long before a baby arrives. You can want it and fear it. You can love it and grieve what it costs. Mixed feelings don’t mean something is wrong with you. They mean you’re taking it seriously.
What we work toward
- Decisions about motherhood that feel like your own.
- Room for all of your feelings, including the ones that are hard to say out loud.
- A version of motherhood that still has room for you.
- Feeling more like yourself again.
- Trusting yourself more, and worrying less.
- Understanding how your own childhood shapes the mother you want to be.
How we work together
Attachment
Becoming a mother brings up how you were mothered. We look at your own history and the early relationships that shape the mother you want to be. For this deeper work I draw on psychodynamic therapy and EMDR.
Nervous system
Pregnancy, the postpartum months and early motherhood can leave you overstimulated, exhausted and always on alert. Body-based work and the Safe and Sound Protocol help your nervous system settle, so it gets easier to rest and feel like yourself.
Boundaries and needs
We get clear on what you need, and how to ask for it from your partner, your family and at work. For some people this includes practical planning for the months ahead.
I work with women navigating…
“Your relationship with yourself is the foundation for all psychological growth.”
Dr. Cindy T. Denkhaus
Questions you might have
Do I have to be a mother already?
No. I work with women who are undecided about having children, going through fertility struggles or loss, pregnant, postpartum, or years into motherhood.
Is this therapy or coaching?
It can be either. Therapy goes deeper into anxiety, mood and your own history. Coaching is more practical and focused on decisions and preparation. We can talk about which fits you in a free consultation.
What is your background with this work?
I’m a licensed clinical psychologist and a mother. I’m trained in EMDR and the Safe and Sound Protocol, and I’m writing a book about the path to motherhood. You can read more on my About page.
Do you offer online therapy for mothers in California?
Yes. I offer online therapy (telehealth) to adults across California by secure video, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley.
Do you take insurance?
I am an out-of-network provider. You can find the details on my Psychotherapy page.
If this sounds like you, I’d love to connect.
Schedule a free consultation call and we’ll see whether working together feels right.
CONNECT WITH DR. DENKHAUS