Therapy For Pregnancy, Postpartum Anxiety and Postpartum Depression For Moms + Women in San Jose, CA

Why So Many San Jose Moms Feel Like They’re Barely Holding It Together

(And What You Can Do to Feel Like Yourself Again)

If you’re a mom in San Jose or the South Bay, and you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, anxious, overstimulated, resentful, or like you’re “losing yourself,” I want to tell you something very clearly:

You are not failing. You are not weak. And you are not meant to carry all of this alone.

Hi, I’m Alexa Levine, LMFT, founder of Therapy For California Moms and a therapist for moms across California — including San Jose, Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Menlo Park, Mountain View, and Santa Clara. I specialize exclusively in pregnancy, postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, motherhood identity, and the crushing mental load that so many high-achieving Bay Area moms face behind closed doors.

And here’s the truth I wish more people said out loud:

Motherhood in the Bay Area is uniquely intense — emotionally, mentally, and logistically.

Let’s talk about why.

The Mental Load Is Quietly Breaking San Jose Moms

Every week, I hear versions of the same sentence from my San Jose clients:

“I feel like I’m responsible for everything.
Even things I shouldn’t have to think about.”

Your brain is juggling:

• feedings

• preschool drop-offs

• pumping schedules

• developmental milestones

• the endless to-do list in the Notes app

• meal planning

• doctors’ appointments

• partner communication

• emotional labor

• your own career

• the baby monitor

• guilt

• the mental math of time, energy, and childcare

• and what feels like 500 invisible tasks a day

This is not normal human load.
This is cognitive overload.

And for many moms, it becomes postpartum anxiety — the kind that doesn’t always look like panic attacks, but more like:

• irritability

• hypervigilance

• overthinking

• inability to relax

• “what if” spirals

• worrying you’re missing something

• needing to control everything to feel safe

• never feeling off duty

If you’ve been wondering, “Is this postpartum anxiety?”
Your body might already be telling you yes.

And Then There’s the Other Silent Experience… Postpartum Depression That Doesn’t Look Like Sadness

So many Bay Area moms don’t realize they’re experiencing postpartum depression because they’re not crying all day or lying in bed.

For high-achieving moms, postpartum depression often looks like:

• going through the motions

• snapping at your partner

• feeling numb

• feeling disconnected from your baby or yourself

• losing interest in things you used to enjoy

• feeling trapped

• feeling overwhelmed by things that never bothered you before

• feeling like you should be “grateful,” but you’re drowning inside

Postpartum depression is not a weakness.
It’s not a failure.
And it’s more treatable than it feels.

The Unique Pressures of Motherhood in San Jose (That No One Warns You About)

If you’re raising kids in San Jose, you’re navigating:

• intense work culture

• tech-industry hours

• commutes

• social pressure

• expensive childcare

• limited support

• high expectations

• competitive parenting

• overstimulation

• calendar overload

• lack of time for yourself

• pressure to “do it all”

You also might have parents or in-laws who have opinions about your choices —
feeding, sleep, screens, work, your relationship — and it leaves you feeling judged, pressured, or like whatever you choose is wrong.

This pressure-cooker environment is one of the biggest triggers for postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression.

And you’re not imagining it.

Therapy Can Help You Feel Grounded Again — Not Just “Functioning”

In therapy, we focus on the pieces of motherhood that no one talks about, like:

⭐ Lowering the mental load

Not with hacks — but with real, sustainable shifts.

⭐ Healing postpartum anxiety at the nervous-system level

So your body can finally turn off “alert mode.”

⭐ Addressing postpartum depression that’s hiding behind irritability or shutdown

You don’t have to wait until things get “bad enough.”

⭐ Reducing resentment toward your partner and shifting the dynamic

This is one of the biggest pain points I see in San Jose couples.

⭐ Helping you feel like yourself again — not just the mother version of you

Your identity matters too.

Therapy doesn’t erase the chaos — it helps your nervous system handle the chaos without collapsing under it.

Why San Jose Moms See Progress Quickly With This Approach

My practice is:

• boutique

• high-touch

• deeply specialized

• emotionally safe

• built for millennial moms

• designed for high-stress environments like the Bay Area

I don’t give generic advice.
I help you rebuild your emotional foundation so you can:

• regulate

• rest

• think clearly

• communicate better with your partner

• lower your anxiety

• feel connected again

• actually enjoy motherhood (or parts of it)

Most clients feel a shift within the first few weeks.

⭐ If you're a San Jose mom feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or not like yourself — support is available.

Whether you’re in San Jose, Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Mountain View, or anywhere in the South Bay — you can get support from the comfort of your home.

**You don’t have to keep doing this alone.

Book your first session and start feeling supported.

Your nervous system deserves relief.
You deserve relief.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do you specialize in postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety?

Yes — this is one of my main specialties.
I’ve worked with hundreds of moms navigating postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, identity loss, rage, and the mental load.

Q: Do you work with moms of toddlers or only newborns?

Both. Many moms don’t recognize postpartum depression or postpartum anxiety until months — or even years — later. Therapy helps at any stage.

Q: I live in Los Altos / Los Gatos / Palo Alto. Can we still work together?

Absolutely. I provide virtual therapy to moms throughout San Jose and the entire South Bay.

Q: How soon can I start therapy?

You can book your first session immediately.
Most moms feel early relief within the first 2–3 weeks.

Q: What if I’m not sure whether this is postpartum depression or just stress?

You don’t have to diagnose yourself.
If something feels off, overwhelming, or unsustainable — therapy can help you understand what’s happening in your brain and body.

⭐ Ready to feel like yourself again?

Book your first session here.

You deserve support that actually supports you.