Perinatal Therapist

For Moms in Postpartum + Early Parenthood

I’d love to support you on your own motherhood journey. You can create a life that is happy and meaningful.

Hey Mama!

I’m Melissa- a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and I’m a mom to two kids.

As a therapist who has worked with hundreds of children and their parents, I thought I was ready to be a mom. While I was in a lot of ways, postpartum still very much threw me for a loop!

I went from being this super-on-top-of-it, confident, independent leader to this overwhelmed, exhausted mom full of uncertainty and wondering who I even was now and if I ever feel like myself again.

This lead me to my passion on supporting other mothers, especially those in the postpartum time and early parenthood. Being a mom is the hardest job in the world. It’s so easy to lose sight of yourself, to get bogged down with the daily grind, to feel disconnected in your relationships.

Taking that first step for help can be difficult. Choosing to see a therapist means that you have decided that you want things to change in your life.

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.

Your happiness is important and you are deserving of feeling good about yourself and your life!

TESTIMONIALS

  • “Melissa is amazing. She has a rare combination of compassion and intellect which allows you to feel heard while also knowing you are learning with each session. And she does all this with a reassuring smile. Truly one of the best.”

  • "In the short time that I’ve worked with Melissa I’ve already seen a difference in my ability to cope with difficult situations. She seems to read my mind sometimes and can therefore give me practical and useable advice. Very happy with my experience!"

  • “She has done an excellent job of putting into perspective things I’ve been struggling with.”

  • “I thought Melissa was a great therapist- very understanding and kind. I would highly recommend her.”

  • "I couldn't have been more lucky to have been matched with Melissa. Right away, she's engaged in finding the focus of what you want to work on and committed to laying a plan of action. She's cordial, timely and pleasant. You won't be disappointed with her!"

  • "It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Melissa! She has helped guide me to opening up and feeling again. It’s been a wonderful experience and I highly recommend her and her expertise."

My story…

Becoming a mother changed me in ways I could have never imagined (as it tends to do). I was once so assured of myself and my direction in life, then after having my daughter, all that changed. I loved being her mom- she became my whole world and suddenly my goals changed. I had been working in non-profit agencies for over 10 years. I had done well for myself, moving my way up towards my goal of being an Executive Director. However, becoming a mom made me realize that I was no longer interested in that grind of working long hours and pushing for the next promotion. I wanted something different, but wasn’t quite sure what that was yet.

I took a break from working and soon had my son. I was still me, ambitious with this drive to keep growing and expanding myself, however, I wanted more balance to be with my children and family. It was important to me to show my daughter and son a strong female role model- for me to have something for myself, my own ambitions, and to also be present and be there for them as they grew up. That’s when I started my therapy practice.

Within my therapy practice, I helped a lot of mothers that were struggling with anxiety, depression, and filled with guilt and overwhelm. I found that I really connected with other moms that were finding themselves in similar struggles- wanting to be there for their children and also trying to figure out where they fit in. My therapy always included a coaching element- teaching and guiding my clients to take actionable steps to change their lives for the better. It was from this I decided to create Happy Moms Therapy.

At Happy Moms Therapy, we specialize in the unique experience and inherent struggles that come from motherhood. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of all the jokes and memes about the tired, overwhelmed mom that’s constantly nagging compared to the fun dad. Let’s be fun moms! This is your life, you can create it to be what you want for yourself! We are here to help.

Whew, that was a novel, thanks for hanging in there with me! If this sounds like something you are interested in, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Questions? I have answers. I hope to hear from you!

I believe everyone has an important story to tell and that they have a 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. Everyone deserves to be seen, heard and understood. 

I recognize that our country has been built on White Privilege with a lens of Heteronormativity and that creates systemic and oppressive barriers for those in the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities, those with disabilities and other marginalized groups. I am committed to continuing 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.

MY SERVICES

  • THERAPY

    For those that may be struggling with anxiety, depression, and/or past trauma. Being a mother is challenging and can bring up a lot of your own personal struggles.

    Therapy is a great place to get support and process through past experiences and learn helpful tools to manage current life struggles.

    My therapy services are open to those located in California.

    Learn More

  • Mom Support Groups

    Get online support and connect with other moms. The Mom Group meets weekly and is led by a therapist (who is also a mom) and covers topics such as boundaries, the mental load, relationships, body image, parenting, etc.

    Motherhood can be a lonely place. The Mom Group is a great opportunity to connect with others mom who also just “get it” while learning ways to better support yourself and get accountability.

    Learn More

  • Courses

    For those who are interested in a self-help approach. My course- Happy as a Mother, helps you get clear on your vision as a mother and individual person, teaches you important skills, and helps you create the life you want for yourself.

    My course is open to anyone Worldwide. All written and verbal communication is in English.

    Coming soon! Sign up for Waitlist to be notified.

    Waitlist Sign Up

 My Education + Experience

  • 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

  • Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (License Number 52656)

  • Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Certified

    Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy Certificate Program

    Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional Certification

    Certified Clinical Trauma Professional Training Certification

    TeleMental Health Certification

    Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Advanced Training

    Gottman Couples Therapy Training, Level 1

    Special Education Advocacy Program

  • Current owner of Happy Moms Therapy, providing online Individual therapy to adults 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.

  • Member of California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists (CAMFT)

QUESTIONS? LET’S CHAT.

HAVE QUESTIONS OR WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SERVICES? BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION WITH ME.

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