Therapy in Los Angeles, CA | Counselor Johanna Lee

If you are navigating postpartum in Los Angeles and feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or quietly unraveling while trying to hold it all together, I want you to know you are not alone. I offer culturally rooted postpartum therapy for first-gen, Latina, BIPOC, and women of color across Los Angeles who are carrying the pressure to be strong, grateful, and selfless while barely finding space to breathe. As a licensed therapist and fellow mama, I create a space where your cultura, your story, your rage, your softness, and your exhaustion are all welcome.


Mothering in Los Angeles comes with its own layers. This city moves fast. It is diverse, ambitious, creative, and deeply shaped by immigration, hustle culture, and generational sacrifice. From East LA to South LA, from the Valley to Long Beach, so many mamas are balancing family expectations, career demands, and the invisible emotional labor of holding everyone together. Your postpartum experience does not exist outside of this context. It is shaped by where you live, who raised you, and what you were taught about being a good daughter and a good mother.


On the outside, Los Angeles motherhood can look curated and polished. But you might be crying in the shower, spiraling at night, or wondering why you miss the version of yourself that felt lighter. Many local mamas seek postpartum support near you because they want more than coping strategies. They want therapy that understands marianismo, cultural silence, and the weight of being everything to everyone. Here, you do not have to perform strength. You get to rest. You get to speak. You get to heal in a way that feels rooted and real.

How it works

We start with a gentle intake session where you can share your experiences and goals. This is where we begin to understand what you’ve been holding and what you truly need,emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

Intake Session

Through ongoing therapy sessions, we’ll dig into your individual needs. I’ll offer tools rooted in mindfulness, self-compassion, and cultural validation,so healing feels like it fits your life, not someone else’s version of self-care.

Follow Up Sessions

We revisit how far you’ve come, name what’s changed, and create a rhythm of support for what’s next,so you leave feeling steady, not dropped.

(# of sessions will vary based on individual needs)

Integration & Reflection Session-

EXPLORE MY SERVICES

Therapy for Postpartum

If you are a mama in Los Angeles moving through postpartum and feel overwhelmed, anxious, or disconnected from yourself, this space is for you. Maybe you love your baby deeply and still feel exhausted, resentful, or unsure of who you are now. In a city that moves fast and expects you to keep up, it can feel like there is no room to fall apart. If you have been looking for postpartum support near you that understands cultura, family pressure, and the emotional weight of early motherhood, you deserve care that feels safe and grounding.


Many women begin to notice a shift from constant guilt to steadier self-trust. The pressure to enjoy every moment softens. The fear of asking for help feels less heavy. Instead of judging yourself for feeling off, you begin to understand what this season is asking of you. Clients often describe feeling more rooted in their identity, clearer in their boundaries, and more connected to their partners and children without losing themselves in the process.

Compassion-Focused Therapy for Anxiety

If you are living in Los Angeles and feel like your anxiety never really turns off, this space is for you. Maybe your mind is always scanning for what could go wrong. Maybe you carry the pressure to succeed, support your family, and keep everything together without showing the cracks. In a city that glorifies hustle and resilience, it can feel impossible to slow down. If you are looking for anxiety therapy near you that understands cultural pressure and generational responsibility, you deserve support that meets you with compassion, not judgment.


Over time, many women begin to soften their relationship with themselves. The constant self-criticism quiets. The guilt around resting loosens. Instead of fighting anxiety or feeling ashamed of it, you begin to understand what it has been trying to protect. Clients often describe feeling steadier in their bodies, clearer in their decisions, and less reactive in their relationships, even in the middle of a fast-moving city like Los Angeles.

Therapy for Latinas

If you are a Latina or first-gen mama in Los Angeles who feels torn between honoring your family and honoring yourself, this space is for you. Maybe you were raised to be grateful, resilient, and selfless no matter what. Now you feel overwhelmed, stretched thin, or quietly resentful for always being the strong one. If you have been searching for therapy for Latinas near you that understands culture, generational expectations, and the emotional weight of being everything to everyone, you deserve support that sees the full context of your life.


Many women begin to feel a shift from guilt to grounded clarity. Saying no feels less like betrayal. Rest feels less selfish. You start untangling which beliefs are rooted in love and which were rooted in survival. Clients often describe feeling more confident in their boundaries, more connected to their identity, and less alone in the tension of balancing independence with family loyalty in a city as layered and diverse as Los Angeles.

Postpartum & Early Motherhood Therapy

Maybe no one warned you that early motherhood in Los Angeles could feel this lonely. The city is loud, ambitious, always moving, and somehow you are awake at 3 a.m., questioning everything. You might be caring for a newborn, chasing a toddler, or adjusting to the quiet identity shifts no one talks about. You love your child. And still, something feels tender, unfamiliar, stretched. If you have been looking for local postpartum therapy near you that understands the cultural layers of motherhood, you are in the right place.


This season is not just about sleep deprivation. It is about becoming someone new. Clients often begin therapy feeling fragmented, pulled between who they were and who they are now. Over time, they start to feel more integrated. More emotionally steady. Less ashamed of needing support. There is space to grieve, to celebrate, to question, to slow down. You do not have to rush your becoming.

Testimonials

I was working with a first-gen Latina client who shared that she really appreciates that I give her education and examples for different mental health concepts and this helps her think about it in her own terms throughout the week (e.g. like having a full plate and taking just a moment to set it down when we journal so that it doesn’t feel as heavy all the time).

I helped a mom advocate for herself after experiencing workplace harassment throughout her pregnancy. She felt like she was complaining but after processing a couple sessions, she realized that this was one way she could protect herself (even if in the past she wasn’t able to). 

I hosted a Baby & Me Parent Community Event focused on 1) donations/swap station for baby & mom items 2) sensory play stations 3) selena dance along 4) new parent mental health 101 & 5) guest speaker on financial education. I had a few moms come up to me during the event saying how helpful it was to get tangible resources and also information to help them in their current season. 

I serve women in Los Angeles

I serve mamas in Los Angeles who are navigating postpartum in a city that rarely slows down. If you are in areas like East LA, the Valley, South LA, or Long Beach, your days might feel nonstop between work, traffic, family obligations, and caring for your baby. You might be comparing yourself to curated versions of motherhood while privately feeling overwhelmed or emotionally stretched. In a city built on ambition and hustle, vulnerability can feel uncomfortable. I offer virtual therapy across Los Angeles so you can unpack anxiety, identity changes, and cultural expectations without performing strength, and build emotional steadiness in the middle of real LA life.

Hello I am Johanna Lee your postpartum and early motherhood therapist in Los Angeles

I’m Johanna Lee, a licensed professional clinical counselor offering virtual therapy for women and mothers across Los Angeles. I specialize in postpartum support, anxiety therapy, and culturally affirming care for first-gen and Latina clients navigating identity shifts in a fast-paced city. In Los Angeles, I create a grounded space where you can step out of survival mode, process what you are carrying, and feel emotionally supported in real daily life.

Frequently asked questions

  • What payment methods do you accept?

    I accept FSA/HSA, debit, or credit card for payment. I do not currently accept insurance and many clients appreciate the privacy, flexibility, and control that comes with paying directly for care (versus utilizing insurance).

  • Can I bring my baby to the session?

    Yes—babies are absolutely welcome. I know it’s not always possible to find childcare, and you shouldn’t have to put your healing on hold because of that. Whether you’re nursing, rocking, or soothing during our time together, this space is made with mamá life in mind. Come as you are—messy bun, spit-up, baby in arms and all. (ps snacks are also welcome and often encouraged lol)

  • How long is each session, and how often will we meet?

    Sessions are 55 minutes. Most clients start with weekly sessions, but we’ll collaborate to find a rhythm that fits your needs, schedule, and goals.

  • Where are you licensed to provide therapy?

    I’m licensed in California, so therapy sessions are available to clients physically located in California at the time of each session. If you're outside California, you can still join my escuelita &/or access non-clinical resources -  View here 

  • Therapy vs education disclaimer

    Participation in workshops, classes, memberships, or educational resources does not establish a therapeutic relationship. These services are for support, education, and community and are not a substitute for clinical therapy. Therapy services are only available to clients residing in California, provided through a separate intake and consent process.