Therapist in Santa Ana CA | CBT for postpartum depression & bilingual therapy
Marisol calls her mama every day and still feels completely alone in what she is carrying, and that contradiction is exactly what brings so many mothers here. My practice offers postpartum and new madrehood therapy for Latina, first generation, and BIPOC mothers who want support that feels like family without the family pressure attached. As a first gen daughter of a Mexican immigrant mother myself, I built this work around the belief that healing should never require leaving your culture at the door.
Santa Ana carries one of the highest concentrations of Mexican and Latin American families in Orange County, and that presence is felt from the vendors along Calle Cuatro downtown to the family owned shops near Santa Ana College and the neighborhoods surrounding Santiago Park. Nearby communities like Tustin and Garden Grove send mothers this way too, often drawn by a city that already feels like it understands them. This is a place where Spanish is spoken as often as English, and where quinceaneras and Sunday carne asadas hold as much weight as anything on a calendar.
In a city this rooted in tradition, stepping outside of what family expects can feel like a quiet betrayal, even when what you need is simply rest or a different way of parenting. Many mothers here were taught that asking for help is a weakness reserved for people who are not trying hard enough. What draws mothers to this practice is a space where honoring their roots and choosing something new are allowed to exist at the same time.

How it works

I start from the belief that postpartum struggle is not a personal weakness but often a mirror of everything a mother was taught to swallow silently. Sessions weave clinical tools together with cultural understanding, mindfulness, and radical compassion, in whichever language feels most natural to you in the moment. Nothing about your culture needs to be minimized here for the work to be effective.
Una filosofia enraizada en la cultura
Before anything else, we sit down for a relaxed conversation where you can share what has been weighing on you, in English, Spanish, or a mix of both. There is no test to pass and nothing you need to prepare beforehand. By the end, you will know whether this feels like the right space for you.
Una primera conversacion sin presion
From there, sessions build gradually using tools rooted in cultural validation, emotional regulation, and self compassion, always shaped around your real life instead of a generic plan. Over time, many mothers notice steadier days and a stronger sense of their own voice, in whichever language it comes out. What you build here tends to stay long after sessions wind down.
Un ritmo de apoyo que continua creciendo

EXPLORE MY SERVICES

Postpartum therapy holds space for the mother who feels torn between deep love for her baby and quiet grief for the woman she was before, sin tener que elegir entre las dos. It welcomes exhaustion, guilt, and confusion without asking her to explain any of it away. Many mothers notice the pressure to look put together for family gatherings start to loosen first, followed by a growing sense of permission to simply not be okay sometimes. Anxiety that once felt constant begins to have room to settle. We explore identity, family expectation, and the emotional labor of caretaking, with sessions offered virtually so a mother in Santa Ana never has to choose between an appointment and everything else on her plate.
For the mother whose inner voice keeps repeating no eres suficiente no matter what she does, CBT for postpartum depression offers a way to question that voice instead of obeying it automatically. It is built for guilt, self criticism, and thoughts that feel true simply because they are loud. Progress often shows up as a pause before the spiral, a moment where a hard day stops meaning she is a bad mother. Many describe finally trusting their own perspective again after months of second guessing everything. Sessions work through the link between thought, emotion, and behavior in practical language, giving her tools that travel with her outside the therapy room.
When stress settles into the body instead of staying in the mind, tight shoulders, a clenched jaw, sleep that never feels restful, somatic therapy meets that tension where it actually lives. It works directly with the nervous system rather than relying on conversation alone. Over time, many mothers notice their bodies softening in ways they had stopped expecting, with breath that comes easier and a body that finally feels safe enough to rest. The constant bracing for the next demand starts to ease. Sessions include grounding and body awareness practices woven into conversation, held virtually so she can do this work from the quietest corner of her own home.
Postpartum depression therapy is for the mother who smiles for photos at every family gathering while feeling completely hollow underneath. It takes seriously the difference between ordinary tiredness and a heaviness that will not lift on its own. Many mothers first find relief in simply being believed, followed by small returns of appetite, energy, and moments that feel close to joy again. The hopelessness tends to loosen well before it fully disappears. This work holds the full weight of postpartum depression without judgment or rushed positivity, offered virtually so support reaches her even on days leaving the house feels impossible.
Therapy for Latinas exists for the mother who is tired of translating her family, her faith, or her Spanish into something more palatable for a therapist who does not quite get it. Sessions move naturally between English and Spanish, en Spanglish si asi se siente mas natural. Many mothers describe finally exhaling in session, relieved they do not have to explain what marianismo means or why saying no to family feels so complicated. The exhaustion of constant translation starts to lift. We talk through generational expectation, immigration related stress, and the tension between honoring where you come from and building something new, always in a space that already understands the culture.
Anxiety therapy is for the mother whose mind runs through every possible worst case before she has even had her cafecito, checking the baby monitor for the third time in ten minutes. It gives that racing energy somewhere useful to go. Relief tends to build gradually, with longer pauses appearing between a worry and the spiral it used to trigger automatically. Many mothers describe finally being able to enjoy a calm moment instead of scanning it for danger. Sessions pair grounding tools for the moment with deeper work on what the anxiety has been trying to protect, held virtually so support is available even during the hardest weeks.

Testimonials

Five black star icons aligned in a row on a white background

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).

Five black stars aligned in the top-left corner on a white background

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). 

Five black star icons in a row on a white background

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 supporting mothers across Santa Ana through postpartum and new madrehood. Growing up as the daughter of a Mexican immigrant single mother shaped my understanding of what mothers of color actually need from care, not just clinical skill but real cultural fluency. My work blends mindfulness, cultural validation, and radical compassion, offered virtually en Espanol o en Ingles depending on what feels right for you. 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.