Therapist in Riverside CA | CBT for postpartum depression & bilingual therapy
Somewhere between a night class, a part time job, and a baby who will not sleep, so many mothers here have simply stopped asking for anything for themselves. My practice offers postpartum and new madrehood therapy for Latina, first generation, and BIPOC mothers who are stretched thinner than anyone around them realizes. My own experience as a first gen daughter of a Mexican immigrant mother shapes how I show up for this work, so your reality never needs a translation.
Riverside carries a long agricultural history rooted in its citrus groves, and today that history sits alongside a growing student population connected to UC Riverside and Riverside City College, many of them first generation students raising families of their own. Historic downtown, anchored by the Mission Inn, sits close to neighborhoods like Casa Blanca and Eastside, both long shaped by Mexican and Latino families. This mix of old roots and new ambition shows up in the mothers who come to this practice, often balancing a degree, a job, and a baby all at once.
Being the first in your family to go further, whether that means a degree, a career, or simply a different way of raising a child, comes with its own quiet grief and pressure that rarely gets named out loud. Postpartum anxiety can feel especially sharp when a mother is trying to build something new while still honoring where she came from. What brings mothers to this practice is a space where ambition and cultural loyalty are never treated as opposites.

How it works

My work starts from the belief that building a different life does not require abandoning the one you came from. Sessions combine clinical training with ancestral wisdom, mindfulness, and radical compassion, so growth and cultural rootedness can exist in the same breath. Nothing about your ambition needs to be softened here.
A philosophy that holds ambition and culture together
We start with a relaxed conversation about what has been weighing on you and what kind of support might actually help, scheduled around whatever pocket of time you have available. There is nothing to prepare and no version of yourself to perform. By the end, you will have a clear sense of whether this feels like the right fit.
A first conversation that fits a packed schedule
From there, sessions unfold in a way that respects classes, work shifts, and a baby's unpredictable schedule, using tools rooted in nervous system support, boundary setting, and cultural validation. Over time, many mothers describe finally believing that their own wellbeing belongs on the list of priorities too. What you build here tends to stay useful long after our sessions end.
Support that moves with a full plate

EXPLORE MY SERVICES

Postpartum therapy holds space for the mother who is studying for an exam with a baby on her chest, quietly wondering if anyone notices how much she is holding. It welcomes the grief of a paused identity right alongside real love for her child. Many mothers first notice relief in simply being asked how they are actually doing, followed by a slow easing of the pressure to look like she has it all figured out. Anxiety that once felt constant starts to have room to settle. We explore identity, ambition, and the emotional weight of building something new, with sessions held virtually so a full class schedule never has to compete with support.
CBT for postpartum depression is for the mother whose thoughts turn harsh the moment she falls behind on anything, treating every missed deadline as proof she cannot handle it all. It works directly with that inner critic instead of accepting it as fact. Progress often looks like a pause before the spiral, a moment where a hard week stops meaning she is failing at everything. Many mothers describe slowly learning to separate a bad day from a bad identity. Sessions work through the practical link between thought, emotion, and behavior, giving her tools that hold up during finals week and everywhere else.
Constant multitasking and pressure often lodge themselves in the body long before a mother notices, showing up as a racing heart, shallow breath, or shoulders permanently near her ears. Somatic therapy works with that tension directly. Over time, many mothers describe their bodies beginning to feel like a safer place to land, with more room to breathe deeply and actually rest between obligations. The constant hum of urgency starts to quiet. Sessions blend grounding and body awareness practices into conversation, offered virtually so this work fits between a class and a nap schedule.
Postpartum depression therapy is for the mother who keeps turning in assignments and showing up to shifts while feeling completely numb underneath it all. It names the difference between being busy and being genuinely unwell. Many mothers find their first relief simply in being taken seriously rather than told to just push through the semester. From there, small returns of energy and moments of real connection with their baby tend to follow. This work holds the full weight of postpartum depression without judgment, offered virtually so support reaches her even during the busiest stretches.
Therapy for Latinas is for the mother navigating being the first in her family to pursue something different, while still carrying the expectations of everyone who came before her. Sessions can move naturally between English and Spanish, whatever feels most honest. Many mothers describe finally not having to explain why family loyalty and personal ambition sometimes pull in different directions. The exhaustion of constant translation begins to ease. We talk through generational expectation, immigration related stress, and the specific weight of being the one who is supposed to make it all worth it.
Anxiety therapy is for the mother whose mind runs through every deadline, bill, and worst case scenario before she has even gotten out of bed. It gives that racing energy somewhere useful to land. Relief tends to build gradually, 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 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 around an unpredictable 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 works with mothers throughout the Inland Empire navigating postpartum and new madrehood. As the daughter of a Mexican immigrant single mother, I understand firsthand what it means to build something new while still honoring where you come from. My work blends mindfulness, cultural validation, and radical compassion, offered virtually so a packed schedule never has to delay 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.