Therapy for Mothers and Parenting Stress
Does it feel like you are in charge of everything? Where the permission slip is, when the pediatrician appointment is, which kid won’t eat what, and who needs a birthday gift by this weekend. You’re also the one who notices when the house runs out of everything. Most days, you handle it. Some days, you realize you haven’t had a chance to sit down for a meal yet, and it’s almost bedtime.
I provide online therapy for mothers across Florida in all stages of motherhood as well as any parent who is feeling overwhelmed and unseen. You might be partnered, single, divorced, or in the middle of a separation and yet still seeking more support. Many women I see will tell me the same thing: they take care of everyone and are rarely asked how they’re doing or what they need. Our work is practical: understanding what you have on your plate, creating space for your own needs, and reconnecting with who you are outside of caregiving.
What is the mental load, and why does it wear you down?
The mental load is the invisible work of running a family: anticipating needs, tracking details, planning ahead, and making countless small decisions. The tasks themselves are not the issue; it’s being the person responsible for knowing that the tasks exist and that the loop needs to be closed from beginning to end.
Because it’s invisible, it’s easy for others to overlook, and easy for you to feel guilty about being tired. Two things can be true: you love your family, and also feel depleted by the responsibilities of caregiving.
Does this sound like you?
Are you the one who always plans, remembers, and manages things?
Do you feel guilty when you take time for yourself, or can’t remember the last time you did?
Do your own needs somehow always come last or get disregarded entirely?
Do you feel short-tempered, exhausted, or numb, and then shame yourself for feeling this way?
Do you sometimes feel as if you don’t know who you are anymore?
Are you doing most of it alone, even if you’re partnered?
If you said yes to any of these, you’re not alone, and it doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. It usually means you’ve been carrying a lot for a long time.
How can therapy help?
Share the load. Get clarity about what your role is, what tasks could be shared, and leaning on your support system.
Set limits that will help you. Saying no, asking clearly for help, and tolerating other people’s disappointment without feeling the guilt.
Reconnect with yourself. Managing guilt and overwhelm, investing in yourself, and rebuilding an identity beyond caregiving
What if it is more than stress?
Exhaustion and irritability can be signs of big demands on your system, and sometimes indicators of depression or anxiety. It’s hard to tell the difference from the inside. If you’re struggling to function, losing interest in things, having intrusive or frightening thoughts, or feeling hopeless, it’s worth getting evaluated. A conversation with me is one way to start, and collaboration with your doctor is another.
If you’re pregnant or in the first year after giving birth, a specialist in perinatal mental health may be the best fit, and I’m glad to help you find one.
If you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, or feel unable to care for yourself or your child, call or text 988, or call 911. The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is available at 1-833-852-6262.
Questions I hear most:
Here are some of the questions I hear most. If yours isn’t here, you can ask me on a free 15-minute call.
Quick facts
Online sessions for adults located in Florida
$125 per session, with a sliding scale available
Self-pay, with superbills for possible reimbursement
Free 15-minute consultation
-
No. I work with mothers at any stage of parenting, from babies to teenagers, including single and divorced mothers.
-
Yes. Although much of this page speaks to mothers, I also work with fathers who are struggling in their parenting. Whether you’re partnered, single, or divorced, we’ll work on what’s actually happening in your life in a way that is direct and practical.
-
Very. Many mothers put everyone else first and struggle to make time for their own needs. Sessions are online, so you can meet from home without arranging childcare or travel.
-
Yes. Your relationships are part of what affects you, though I would see you as an individual, and not as a couple.
-
If you’re pregnant or in the first year after giving birth and struggling with more intense symptoms, a specialist in perinatal mental health may be the best fit, and I’m glad to help you find one.
-
Sessions are online, so you can meet from home, but you do need a private space where you can talk freely. Many mothers schedule around school hours, naps, or bedtime, or take the session from a parked car or a closed room with headphones. If finding privacy is difficult, tell me during the consultation and I will do my best to accommodate your needs.