Marilyn Cross Coleman, LCSW, PMH-C

Are you overwhelmed and feeling isolated and disconnected from those you love? Do you wonder if you will ever return to the person you were before you had your baby? Are you mourning the identity you had before you became a parent and trying to forge a new identity as a mother? Do you worry you are not bonding with your baby? Do you have scary thoughts you hide from those you love? Do you wonder if you will ever reconnect with your partner or if you are a good mother? Are you suffering from the impact of birth trauma? If so, you may benefit from the services of a postpartum therapist (also known as a perinatal therapist.)

I am a perinatal therapist who specializes in helping new moms like you, who may be struggling with postpartum mental health challenges such as postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and the lasting effects of a traumatic childbirth or birth trauma. 

I know how difficult it can be adjusting to new motherhood. Coping with a changing body and fluctuating hormones can leave you feeling confused, frightened and isolated. Trauma can impact your life until it feels like it IS you and not just something that happened TO you. It can feel like the trauma has destroyed your ability to function. I successfully raised an amazing son despite not knowing how to bond with him after his release from the NICU and while experiencing postpartum depression. I did not know how I was going to cope with his traumatic birth or feel like the self I was before, but I found a way to thrive with a little guidance from a postpartum depression therapist. And, my experience led me to specialize in birth trauma therapy.

I decided to concentrate on perinatal mental health because of the lived experience I had with these challenges and because I feel that the bond between a mother and her baby is one of the most powerfully healing relationships that exist. I feel that if I can help guide mothers on their path to wellness, they can be more present and attuned to their babies. This strengthened relationship heals the mother and gives the baby what they need to form a solid foundation upon which all future relationships are built. A healthy mama can provide her baby with what they need to thrive, and I feel that everyone deserves a chance to thrive and to live a connected and fulfilling life. The help of a postpartum therapist can be invaluable on this journey. 

You can feel better. You can bond with your baby and form a connection that will help you both heal. I use evidence-based therapies like EMDR and CBT to help you overcome a traumatic childbirth, NICU stay or other frightening events and process the associated feelings successfully. With over 20 years experience as a postpartum therapist in California, 15 years working with perinatal women, and a Perinatal Mental Heath Certification (PMH-C), I can help guide you on your parenting journey. Reach out to a perinatal therapist today to get started.

As a Postpartum Therapist in California, I offer many services utilizing evidence-based treatments. Some services at Shameless Mama Wellness include treatment for postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety, birth trauma therapy, therapy for miscarriage and loss, pregnancy therapy and treatment for NICU PTSD.

Online therapy available to new moms in California.