Therapist in Fresno CA | CBT for postpartum depression & bilingual therapy
Long before sunrise, so many mothers in this valley are already awake, and the idea of resting during postpartum can feel foreign in a place built on constant labor. My practice offers postpartum and new madrehood therapy for Latina, first generation, and BIPOC mothers who were never taught that their own recovery mattered too. I bring my own experience as a first gen daughter of a Mexican immigrant mother into this work, so the exhaustion you carry does not need translating.
Fresno sits at the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, surrounded by the farmland that generations of Mexican and Hmong families have worked to keep this region fed, with neighborhoods like the Tower District, Southeast Fresno, and the areas near Fresno State and Fresno City College holding decades of that history. Many mothers here grew up moving between the fields and the classroom, or are raising children while continuing work that starts before dawn. The valley heat, the agricultural rhythm, and the tight bonds of farmworker communities all shape what healing needs to look like in this city.
When your family's survival has depended on showing up no matter what, sitting still with your own pain can feel almost impossible to justify. Postpartum anxiety and exhaustion often get buried under the belief that struggling is simply part of the deal, something every mother before you also endured without complaint. What brings mothers to this practice is permission to finally set that belief down, even for an hour a week.

How it works

My approach begins with recognizing that exhaustion passed down through generations of farmworker mothers is not weakness, it is the cost of survival finally catching up. Sessions bring together clinical training, ancestral wisdom, and radical compassion, so healing does not require pretending the hard work does not exist. Your history here is honored, not glossed over.
Rooted in the truth of generational labor
We begin with an unhurried conversation about what you have been carrying and what kind of support would actually help, with nothing to prepare and nothing to get right. This is simply a chance to be heard without having to earn it first. By the end, you will have a clear sense of whether this feels like the right fit.
A conversation that asks nothing of you but honesty
Sessions move at a pace that fits around work, family, and everything else already on your plate, using tools rooted in nervous system support, boundary setting, and cultural validation. Over time, many mothers notice they can rest without guilt creeping in immediately after. What you learn here tends to stay useful long after our sessions end.
Support that respects a full, demanding life

EXPLORE MY SERVICES

Postpartum therapy holds space for the mother who is up before dawn out of habit, exhausted in a way that feels bigger than sleep alone can fix. It welcomes grief for who she used to be right alongside deep love for her baby, without asking her to rank the two feelings. Many mothers first notice relief in simply not being asked to push through, followed by a slow easing of the constant pressure to prove her strength. The guilt that shows up whenever she rests starts to lose some of its grip. We explore identity, family expectation, and the emotional cost of always being the reliable one, with sessions held virtually so distance from the office never has to get in the way.
CBT for postpartum depression is for the mother whose thoughts have turned into a running list of everything she is doing wrong, even on days she has done more than most people could manage. It targets guilt, self criticism, and thinking patterns that feel true simply because they are familiar. Progress here often looks like a small pause before the spiral begins, a moment where a hard day stops becoming proof of failure. Many mothers describe slowly learning to trust their own read of a situation again. Sessions work through the connection between thought, emotion, and behavior in a straightforward, practical way, giving her tools that hold up outside the therapy room too.
Years of physical labor and emotional weight often settle into the body long before a mother notices, showing up as tight shoulders, shallow breathing, or a body that never fully relaxes. Somatic therapy meets that tension directly, working with the nervous system instead of only the mind. Over time, many mothers describe their bodies beginning to feel like a place they can actually rest in again, with less bracing and more room to simply exhale. Sleep starts to feel more restorative than it has in a long time. Sessions weave grounding and body awareness practices into conversation, offered virtually so this work can happen in the quiet moments a busy day still manages to hold.
Postpartum depression therapy is for the mother who keeps working through the days while feeling completely disconnected from her own life underneath it all. It names the difference between valley tired and a heaviness that will not lift no matter how much rest she gets. Many mothers find their first relief simply in being taken seriously rather than told to push through it. From there, small returns of energy and moments of genuine connection with their baby tend to follow. This work holds the full reality of postpartum depression without minimizing it, offered virtually so support reaches her even during harvest season or a demanding work schedule.
Therapy for Latinas is for the mother raised to keep her struggles inside the family and nowhere else, who is tired of explaining her culture just to be understood. Sessions can move freely between English and Spanish, whatever allows her to speak most honestly. Many mothers describe finally feeling like they do not have to simplify their story to fit a therapy model that was never built with farmworker families in mind. The weight of constant translation begins to ease. We talk through generational expectation, immigration related stress, and the specific exhaustion of building a different life while still honoring where you come from.
Anxiety therapy is for the mother whose mind races through every possible worst case while she is still half asleep, worrying about money, work, and her baby all at once before her feet even hit the floor. It gives that anxious energy somewhere useful to land. Relief tends to build slowly, with more space appearing between a worry and the spiral it used to trigger instantly. Many mothers describe finally noticing a calm moment instead of immediately scanning it for what could go wrong. Sessions combine grounding tools for the moment with deeper work on what the anxiety has been trying to protect her from, held virtually so support fits into an already full schedule.

Testimonials

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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).

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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). 

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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 San Diego

​​I offer virtual therapy to women across San Diego including those living near Balboa Park, North Park, Mission Valley and nearby coastal neighborhoods. You can access support from anywhere in California and meet with me from the comfort of your home.

I'm Johanna Lee, LPCC, a licensed therapist, educator, and first generation Latina mom who supports mothers throughout the Central Valley navigating postpartum and new madrehood. My understanding of generational labor and sacrifice comes from growing up as the daughter of a Mexican immigrant single mother, and I carry that understanding into every session. My work blends mindfulness, cultural validation, and radical compassion, offered virtually so distance never has to stand in the way of care. Healing is a birthright, not a privilege.
Smiling person in a green sleeveless top, seated indoors with tattooed arms and hands resting on a pregnant belly

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.