Therapy for
Moms of Medically Complex Kids

Serving Mothers in California & Oregon

Mother on her laptop in bed while her baby sits nearby

You never anticipated the life you're living right now.

You have a child with complex medical needs. You love your child fiercely, but the journey of being a medical mom isn’t something you could have prepared for. It's a reality filled with medical terms, doctor’s appointments, therapy sessions, hospital visits, sleepless nights, and the constant worry that most parents can’t begin to imagine. You’ve learned how to navigate complex care systems, advocate for your child, and manage a calendar packed with appointments. Yet beneath all this strength, you carry a weight that can feel impossible to share with others.

Does this sound familiar?

  • Waking up each day wondering if today will be a "good" day or a "crisis" day.

  • Watching other moms easily share milestones on social media, while your reality feels so different.

  • Feeling proud of your child’s resilience but aching over the childhood you imagined for them.

  • Wondering if anyone truly understands the constant state of fear, grief, and exhaustion you live in.

These feelings are real, and they are valid. It’s okay to feel the heartbreak, the frustration, and even the anger. In therapy, we create space to honor these emotions while helping you cope with the overwhelming pressure of being a medical mom.

How Does Being a Medical Mom Impact My Mental Health?

Being a medical mom isn’t just about the physical demands of care—it’s an emotional and mental journey that can be isolating. The unpredictability of your child’s condition leaves you constantly bracing for the next challenge. The relentless worry can feel like a constant hum in the background, quietly affecting your sleep, your mood, and your sense of self.

You may find yourself:

  • Constantly anxious, fearing the next hospital visit or emergency.

  • Feeling guilt or shame for experiencing grief, even though you love your child more than anything.

  • Struggling to connect with other moms who don’t share your reality, leading to feelings of isolation.

  • Feeling depleted, with little time to care for your own physical and emotional needs.

  • Wondering if the stress will ever let up or if you’ll always feel this exhausted.

These challenges can take a toll on your well-being, leaving you feeling like you’re in survival mode day after day. Therapy can offer a way out of that spiral, giving you tools to cope, manage stress, and begin to feel more grounded, even in the face of ongoing medical care.

My approach to Therapy with Medical Moms

As a therapist specializing in postpartum anxiety, trauma, and complex caregiving, I understand the profound impact that being a medical mom has on your mental health. I bring personal experience as a medical mom to my own child, along with professional expertise in supporting mothers of children with disabilities and complex medical needs in my practice. My approach is compassionate, nonjudgmental, and trauma-informed. You don’t need to hide how overwhelmed you feel—this is a space where all your emotions are welcome.

In our work together, we’ll:

  • Explore the grief, loss, and trauma that comes with parenting a medically complex child.

  • Use evidence-based therapies like EMDR to process the trauma associated with birth trauma, medical events, hospitalizations, and the stress of caregiving.

  • Incorporate mindfulness and other strategies to help you manage anxiety and build emotional resilience.

  • Focus on self-compassion and boundary-setting so you can find moments of rest and peace, even amidst the chaos of medical caregiving.

Our work will be practical and tailored to your needs, helping you not only cope but also thrive—finding space for your own well-being without sacrificing the care your child needs.

How Can Therapy for Medical Moms Help Me?

Therapy offers more than just a place to vent—it’s a space for real, meaningful change. Together, we’ll work toward goals like:

  • Explore the feelings of grief and loss related to the version of motherhood you imagined before your child’s diagnosis.

  • Learn effective strategies for managing anxiety, fear, and guilt.

  • Develop tools for setting boundaries to help you balance caregiving with self-care.

  • Process the trauma associated with your child’s medical journey.

  • Rediscover your own needs in the midst of caregiving.

  • Reconnect with your identity.

  • Build emotional resilience to face the highs and lows with strength, clarity and self-compassion. 

Ready to meet with a therapist who specializes in and understands the life with medically complex children?