Therapy for women stuck in survival mode, navigating motherhood without a roadmap
I’m Jen Mendoza, a trauma therapist and mom of three. I help mothers heal after a complicated motherhood experience. Whether it’s birth trauma, anxiety, infertility, parenting a medically-complex child, or wanting to break generational cycles, I am confident that we can work together to help you get out of survival mode and into a version of motherhood that feels grounded, confident, and joyful.
This space is for you.
You’re burning the candle at both ends, and none if it feels like enough. You feel like you’re failing as a mom and partner, and you feel like you’re failing at work. You worked so incredibly hard for this career, and the guilt and pressure you feel now is overwhelming. You used to be able to juggle everything (even in high pressure situations), but now that you’re a mom you are questioning all of it.
Motherhood is hard enough, let’s be honest. But if you’ve become a mom while navigating a complicated journey, it’s heavier than most.
A traumatic birth or NICU stay
Infertility or Pregnancy Loss
Parenting a medically-complex or disabled child
Spiraling in postpartum anxiety or perfectionism
Mothering without a village, or a road map (hello cycle-breaker!)
Grief from the version of motherhood you thought you’d have
You’re not only drowning in survival mode, but you’re also grieving the version of motherhood you thought you’d have. You’re grieving how you thought you’d be as a mom, or how you thought you’d feel as a mom. I get that.
That’s why I’ve created MotherThrive Therapy: A trauma-informed, deeply human place to process the hard parts of motherhood and life… without shame, pressure, or performance.
You’re not a bad mom. You’re not a bad partner. And I promise you that you haven’t completely lost yourself.
Your nervous system is overwhelmed and running in overdrive. And we can create a roadmap to get you back to feeling yourself again.
My approach is holistic & trauma-informed. Rooted in real motherhood.
I am unapologetically pro-mother. I want to help you connect with the wisdom and intuition that’s already inside you… just buried under the anxiety, the fear, and the overwhelm.
We move at your pace.
We unpack survival mode and the mental load.
We work with your body and nervous system, not just your thoughts.
My approach integrates:
EMDR and Parts Work to heal from difficult experiences
Nervous system regulation to help you feel safe, connected, and present with yourself and your family
Mind-body approaches, somatic work, mindfulness, and authentic motherhood conversations
Most of all, I show up as myself: grounded, warm, and unafraid to gently challenge you when needed.
You don’t need to have it all together to start. You just need to show up as you are.
I specialize in supporting
Anxiety and Overwhelm in Postpartum
Birth Trauma, Complicated Births, and NICU Experiences
Infertility and Pregnancy Loss
Reproductive Trauma and Medical Trauma
Parenting a Medically-Complex or Disabled Child
Career-Driven, Working Moms with High Expectations of Self
Mothers Breaking Generational Cycles While Honoring Their Cultural Roots
Homebirth and Out of Hospital Birthing Moms Wanting to Prepare Emotionally and Mentally for Birth / Postpartum
California and Florida Moms!
Who I Work With
As a first-generation Latina and mother, I understand how layered motherhood can feel, especially when you're carrying cultural expectations, deep family ties, and a desire to break cycles with compassion.
I hold space for women of color, first-gen moms, and those who want therapy that honors both where they come from and who they’re becoming.
I also welcome moms from all walks of life, backgrounds, and belief systems. Whether you're spiritual or skeptical, grounded in evidence or guided by intuition… you’re safe here.
My approach blends evidence-based practice with intuition. I deeply honor the way you want to birth your babies and raise your babies.
I’m licensed in the state of California and I’m a Florida telehealth provider. I see clients virutally throughout both California and Florida, and soon will be able to support mothers in Tennessee and New Mexico.
The Heart Behind MotherThrive Therapy
I’m a mom of three little ones and I know firsthand how overwhelming, disorienting, and emotionally tender those early years can be. (Hello 3 babies in 4 years.. Yes, I am tired!)
My own journey into motherhood wasn’t smooth. It was layered, unexpected, and at times, deeply isolating. I experienced postpartum anxiety that left me feeling ungrounded and unsure of myself, despite doing everything “right.” I have lived experience with infertility and a difficult birth experience that lingered for longer than I wanted.
But I’m not in that place anymore, and that’s part of what makes this work so meaningful for me.
Through therapy, support, and a lot of internal work, I found my way back to myself. I learned how to trust my intuition and parent from a place that felt grounded, not guilt-ridden.
That’s what I want for you, too.
I became a therapist for moms because I believe motherhood is both a profound transformation and a tender reckoning.
MotherThrive Therapy was born out of this lived experience. My deep desire to help other moms stop white-knuckling their way through motherhood and start healing.
A few other things to note about me:
I’m a wife (of 16 years) to my retired Marine, combat veteran husband. I still don’t know how time has flown by so quickly.
I’m a recovering perfectionist, who is fully embracing Type B motherhood now.
I am a mama to a medically-complex toddler with multiple disabilities. Being a special needs mom has shaped so much of my life and my work.
I’m 100% a birth nerd and homebirth mom to two of my babies. I love supporting moms who are choosing out of hospital birth.
I’m licensed and qualified to see clients virtually throughout California and Florida. (Tennessee, coming soon!)
Collaboration
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Empowerment
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Authenticity
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Collaboration ✿ Empowerment ✿ Authenticity ✿
My values
The credentials you want to know
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I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and therapist that can see clients virtually throughout California and Florida.
I have advanced training in pregnancy and postpartum mental health and am a Perinatal Mental Health Certified (PMH-C) therapist through Postpartum Support International. I specialize in perinatal and reproductive mental health, and support clients struggling with infertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and early motherhood.
I am Certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy. I utilize Parts Work and Mind-Body support to help my clients make progress towards their goals in therapy.
I also use Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, and Solution-Focused interventions. I have training and experience in supporting clients struggling with birth trauma, NICU parents, perinatal grief and loss, postpartum anxiety, and parenting a child with complex medical needs/disability. Because I feel strongly that women and families deserve specialized support, I prioritize continued growth as a therapist, and pursue advanced trainings and professional consultation to support the work I love to do.
Before opening my own practice in 2023, I worked for the military for almost ten years as a therapist. I have experience working closely with the USMC, Army, Navy, Airforce and Coastguard. While supporting military families is not the main focus of my work today, I still hold a special place in my heart for military families as the spouse of a retired USMC combat veteran. I am always happy to support service members and military spouses as they navigate the extra complexity of this life.
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Bachelor of Arts, Sociology, California State University Northridge, 2009
Master of Social Work Degree, University of Southern California, 2013
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I have been a licensed therapist since 2015.
Active Licenses & Registrations:- Licensed Clinical Social Worker #99808, California
- TLHT Licensed Clinical Social Worker (out-of-state telehealth provider) #TPSW6505, Florida
https://flhealthsource.gov/telehealth/Certifications:
Certified in EMDR Therapy through EMDRIA
Certified in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C) by Postpartum Support International
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*EMDR and Complex Trauma with Perinatal Clients, Touchstone Institute
*EMDR and Ego States, Kase and Co
*EMDR for Grief and Loss, Kase and Co
*EMDR for Recent Events & Early Interventions, Kase and Co
*The Advanced Practice of EMDR for Perinatal and Infant Mental Health, Touchstone Institute
*Exposure and Response Therapy (ERP) for OCD, 4-day, Cognitive Behavior Institute
*Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Basic Training, EMDR Institute, Inc
*Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Core Skills Stage 1 & Stage 2
*Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) 4 Day Externship
*Pregnancy and Infant Loss, Bindeman
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EMDR International Association (EMDRIA)
Postpartum Support International (PSI)
Postpartum Health Alliance (PHA)
Perinatal Mental Health Alliance for People of Color
Guide for Anxious Moms
Guide for Anxious Moms
Download My Free Guide:
The Good Enough Mother Workbook
If you're a high-achieving, emotionally exhausted mom who feels like you're constantly falling short, this free workbook is for you.
Inside, you’ll find:
A nervous system-based breathing exercise
Gentle journal prompts to quiet your inner critic
A reset to help you reconnect with the mom you want to be
