Meet Your Therapist: Anxiety & Perinatal Mental Health Support in California
Welcome, I’m Dana.
I’m an anxiety and perinatal mental health therapist based in California.
I created this space for people struggling with anxiety and panic, parents, hopeful parents, grieving parents, and families. Whether you’re trying to start a family, are already pregnant or just a person, this blog is for you.
A Little About Me:
My Journey As a Perinatal Therapist
I’ve been supporting children and their families for 15 years. I began my career in community mental health, working with children, teens, and parents - often within systems like public child welfare, juvenile probation, or county behavioral health. During those years, I learned something crucial - kids’ behaviors don’t exist in a vacuum. Parenting is deeply impacted by stress, history, support systems, and the environments we live in. I saw parents desperately wanting to “fix” their child, often without access to the support they themselves needed. This work is what made it really click for me, parenting takes a village, and far too many are doing it alone.
Since then, I’ve supported new and experienced parents, families with multiple children, blended families and those grieving the unimaginable loss of a child. I’ve walked alongside survivors of domestic violence, families navigating substance use or serious mental illness and people healing from childhood trauma.
After years of working with parents professionally, becoming a parent myself was eye-opening. While I don’t believe you have to be a parent to support parents, or that you need to experience someone’s trauma to hold space for it, going through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum firsthand deepened my empathy in ways I couldn’t have anticipated.
Who I Support:
New and Experienced Parents and Individuals Facing Anxiety
I care deeply about supporting people through anxiety and life’s big transitions, and am certified in treating perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
Anxiety often shows up during pregnancy and the first year after giving birth, and sometimes for the very first time. But anxiety isn’t just about becoming a parent. I work with individuals experiencing chronic worry, overthinking, panic, and intrusive thoughts. If you feel stuck in your head or like your body is always in “fight or flight,” you’re not alone.
I work with moms, dads, LGBTQIA+ parents, non-traditional and blended families and single parents. Parenthood doesn’t follow one script, and mental health care shouldn’t either.
If you’re trying to conceive, navigating grief and loss, are pregnant, postpartum or parenting, I’m here for you.
My Approach:
Accessible Mental Health Care
I currently balance my time between private practice and nonprofit partnerships. While I work with private pay clients and am an out of network (OON) therapist, I also provide therapy through West County Health Center, Sonoma County Family, Youth & Children’s Services and Mother Care Support. This dual focus allows me to offer expert support to individuals from many different walks of life, which matters deeply to me.
I’m licensed in California and offer telehealth therapy statewide, as well as in-person sessions at my office located in downtown Petaluma, ideal for North Bay locals.
What You’ll Find On This Blog:
Tools & Resources
Practical tools for managing anxiety and staying grounded
Reflections on how our childhoods shape our parenting
Book recommendations and mindfulness strategies
Insights into perinatal and maternal mental health
Local resources in Petaluma, California for parents and caregivers
Take what’s helpful, and leave the rest. Wherever you are in your journey, whether you’re in the trenches of new parenthood, wrestling with anxiety, or simply trying to feel more grounded in your day to day life, I hope you feel a little more seen, supported and grounded here. And while I’m a licensed therapist, this blog is for educational and supportive purposes only. It’s not a substitute for therapy or medical advice.
Ready To Connect? Schedule a Free Consultation Call
If what you’ve read resonates with you and you’re curious about working together, I invite you to schedule a free consultation call. It’s a chance for us to talk, answer your questions, and see if we’re a good fit. Thanks for being here. I’m looking forward to sharing more with you.