Therapy in Downey, CA  | Counselor Karla Hernández 

If you are a mother in Downey who has been holding it together on the outside while quietly falling apart on the inside, I want you to know that you are in the right place. I am Karla Hernandez, a perinatal and postpartum therapist, and I work with mothers navigating the exhaustion, anxiety, identity loss, and emotional weight that no one warned you was coming. 


Whether you are a few weeks postpartum or several years out and still feeling it, you deserve support that meets you exactly where you are.Downey is a city built on family and on deep roots. It has been described as an aspirational suburb for Latinos in Los Angeles, a place where mothers are raising children in the same streets where they themselves grew up, where the culture runs thick, and where the expectation to hold it together is passed down quietly through generations. With a community that is more than 75 percent Latino and neighborhoods that span from the family-centered streets near the Civic Center to the quieter residential corridors of North Downey, this is a city full of mothers doing exactly what you are doing right now. Loving their babies and wondering why it feels so much harder than anyone said it would.


Mothers in Downey come to me because they are tired of carrying this alone. The postpartum experience does not end when the baby starts sleeping through the night. The anxiety, the identity loss, the grief for the woman you were before, those things linger. I offer virtual therapy so you can access real, specialized perinatal mental health support from wherever you are in the city, without adding one more thing to an already impossible schedule.

How it works

01

Book a consultation call

I meet you in the messy middle of motherhood without fixing, judging, or pushing. My therapy style is honest, validating, and focused on helping you feel human again.

02

Let’s meet where you are

You’re juggling feedings, fatigue, and emotional whiplash. I offer virtual sessions for Downey moms so you can get support in your space, without needing to “get it together” first.

03

Start healing and thriving in your motherhood

You don’t have to push through it. I offer therapy that helps you slow down, speak the truth, and begin to reconnect with yourself gently and at your own pace.

Explore our therapy services and specializations

Perinatal and postpartum therapy

Becoming a mom changes everything. Whether you're navigating early pregnancy or months into postpartum, I help you process the emotional weight, find clarity, and feel less alone.

Postpartum depression

You might feel like you’re failing but what you’re really feeling is depleted. I offer support for postpartum depression that honors your pain and helps you find relief without shame.

Pregnancy therapy

Pregnancy can bring up unexpected emotions fear, grief, doubt. You deserve support during this chapter too, even if no one else sees the cracks forming.

Postpartum anxiety

If you're constantly scanning for what could go wrong or struggling to relax, you might be dealing with postpartum anxiety. I help you regulate your nervous system and find peace again.

Postpartum PTSD

Not all trauma looks like panic. If your birth story feels stuck in your body, or you find yourself avoiding anything that reminds you of it, I offer trauma-informed care to help you heal.

Birth trauma

If your birth experience left you feeling dismissed, violated, or afraid, you're not being dramatic. I help you process birth trauma without minimizing your truth.

Pregnancy loss

Grief doesn’t follow a timeline. I offer therapy for miscarriage, stillbirth, and other forms of loss with tenderness and deep respect for what you’ve gone through.

Postpartum rage

This isn’t about being a “bad mom.” It’s about healing from the inside out. In our postpartum rage therapy in Los Angeles, I help women who feel overwhelmed by anger find clarity, calm, and compassion for themselves. We focus on somatic healing, emotional regulation, and releasing the guilt that keeps you stuck.

I serve women in Downey and surrounding communities

I support moms throughout Downey and neighboring areas like Norwalk, Bellflower, Paramount, and South Gate. Whether you’re parenting with extended family, solo, or in a partnership, you deserve therapy that centers you. My virtual sessions make it easy to access care from home no traffic, no judgment, no need to hide what you’re really feeling.

Testimonials

Karla is a great clinician with years of experience. Her trauma focus highlights every aspect of her work with mothers in perinatal and postnatal work as well as the LatinX community. She deeply cares for her clients growth and is supportive in their healing work. She is a highly skilled and trained clinician mastering the art of using evidence based practices whilst also considering individual perspectives. 

Yeniss Paez, LCSW

I’ve had the honor and privilege of working side by side with Karla Hernandez. Getting to know her has been such an honor. She is committed to helping her clients with a nonjudgmental approach, working through trauma of all kinds. Being a birth doula I know how important it is, speaking with someone to improve material outcomes. Karla is key and is committed to helping her clients overcome trauma and grow.

Michelle Wilkerson, Birth and Postpartum Doula

Karla is a compassionate and dedicated maternal mental health therapist. She has worked diligently with clients in all paths of life and thrives particularly working with mothers. If you are looking for a therapist that understands the unique needs women face navigating the postpartum period and beyond, she is your go to resource. 

Priscilla Gomez, LCSW

Hi, I’m Karla Michele Hernandez, postpartum therapist in Downey, CA

I know what it’s like to look “fine” on the outside and feel like you’re crumbling inside. I created Alma de Madre because I was that mom exhausted, confused, and wondering if I was doing it all wrong. Now, I support other women who are carrying more than anyone realizes. My style is raw, compassionate, and grounded in the belief that you matter too. You’re not failing you’re just trying to survive in a system that wasn’t built to support you. Let’s change that together.

A person with long dark hair sits on a beige couch, wearing a neutral top and pants, writing in an open notebook.

Frequently asked questions

  • Insurance & Payment Information

    I accept Cigna and Aetna insurance.


    I also take out of network/self pay at my private pay rate. I currently partner with Mentaya, a service that streamlines getting reimbursed for your therapy session though out of network benefits. 


    See if you qualify:

    https://mentaya.co/checkbenefits/karlahernandez 


    Payments can be made through credit card and debit card, including FSA and HSA debit cards.

  • Cancellation Policy

    I understand that life happens—especially in motherhood. However, to respect both my time and other clients who may need an appointment, I require at least 24 hours' notice for cancellations or rescheduling.

    Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the appointment will be subject to the full session fee.


    If you miss a session without notice (no-show), you will be responsible for the full cost of the session.


    Exceptions may be made in cases of emergencies, but please reach out as soon as possible if you need to reschedule.

    If you need to cancel or reschedule, you can do so by contacting me via karla@almademadre.com or my phone number 562-457-0466


  • Good Faith Estimate

    You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost

       

    Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

       

    You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.

       

    Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your healthcare provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.

       

    If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.

       

    Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.

       

    For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-985-3059