Postpartum Therapy in Palo Alto: What to Do When the Pressure to Be Perfect Feels Crushing

You’re a capable, educated, high-functioning mom — and you’re miserable.

From the outside, everything looks fine. You live in a beautiful home in Palo Alto, maybe you’ve got a supportive partner, and everyone keeps reminding you how “lucky” you are.

But what no one sees is how tightly you’re gripping the wheel just to make it through the day.

The anxiety that won’t shut off.
The racing thoughts at 3 a.m.
The snap you feel toward your partner for breathing too loud.
The constant guilt, the rage, the invisible pressure to perform “perfect” motherhood.

If you’re silently asking yourself “Is this postpartum depression? Is this normal? Or am I just not cut out for this?” — I want you to know: you're not broken. You're burnt out. And therapy can help.

The Mental Load in Palo Alto Is Heavier Than It Looks

I see so many moms in this area who are trying to raise children while managing careers, partnerships, expectations from extended family, and the constant unspoken pressure to be amazing at it all.

Maybe you’re on maternity leave, wondering why you’re not enjoying this time like you thought you would.
Maybe you're back at work and feel like you're failing at everything — parenting, partnering, producing.

Postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression can show up in ways no one talks about:

Feeling numb or disconnected from your baby (and then feeling ashamed about it)
Constantly second-guessing yourself
Overplanning or overcontrolling to feel some sense of peace
Feeling like you’ve completely lost who you are
Resenting your partner — or feeling like they get to escape while you’re stuck

You’re Not Crazy — You’re Drowning Without a Life Raft

As a therapist who specializes in maternal mental health, I work with moms in Palo Alto and across the Bay Area who are so good at functioning that no one realizes they’re barely staying afloat.

They’re the women everyone else leans on.
They get the kids dressed, the snacks packed, the projects done.
And they feel like they’re falling apart inside.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

Therapy for Moms in Palo Alto Who Are Done Pretending

I offer virtual therapy for moms dealing with:

Postpartum depression and feelings of failure or detachment
Postpartum anxiety that keeps your mind spinning 24/7
Burnout, overstimulation, and sensory overload
Rage and resentment toward your partner, in-laws, or even your kids
Loss of identity or ambition since becoming a mom

You don’t have to meet a diagnostic checklist to deserve support.
You just have to be tired of surviving like this.

About Me

I’m Alexa — a licensed therapist, a mom of two, and founder of Therapy For California Moms. I am a UC Santa Cruz grad with deep roots in the Bay Area. I know firsthand how intense motherhood can feel in this part of California. The expectations. The comparison. The isolation no one talks about.

My therapy sessions are warm, real, and built around your actual life. You don’t have to dress it up, fake a smile, or explain why you're not “just enjoying the baby stage.”

How to Get Started

I offer private-pay virtual therapy for clients in Palo Alto and throughout California. Sessions are $275 and fully focused on you — your story, your healing, your needs.

👉 Click here to request a free 15-minute consultation

FAQ: Postpartum Therapy in Palo Alto

Is this postpartum depression or just new mom exhaustion?
You don’t need a label to get support. If you feel anxious, angry, numb, resentful, or like you’re not yourself anymore, therapy can help.

Do I have to live in Palo Alto to work with you?
Nope. I see moms all over the Bay Area and California via secure video. That includes Mountain View, Menlo Park, Los Altos, and San Jose.

What if I don’t have time for therapy?
Sessions are 100% virtual and designed to work around real-life motherhood — whether you’re nap-trapped, juggling work, or squeezing it in from your car.

This can be the moment where things start to feel lighter.
Where you don’t have to do it alone anymore.
Where your needs matter again.

Let’s Connect! I can’t wait to support you during this season of Motherhood!

Book Your Free Consult Call