Therapy in Riverside, CA | Counselor Karla Hernández 

If you are a mother in Riverside who has been getting through each day on willpower alone, I want you to know that what you are feeling deserves more than willpower. I am Karla Hernandez, a perinatal and postpartum therapist, and I work with mothers navigating the anxiety, depression, identity shifts, and emotional weight that linger long after birth. 


This work is for you whether you are a few weeks in or several years postpartum and still carrying the echo of it.

Riverside is a city with deep roots, a strong sense of community, and a growing population of young families settling into neighborhoods like Canyon Crest, Hawarden Hills, and the historic Wood Streets area. It is also an Inland Empire city where mental health resources for mothers, especially culturally responsive ones, can be hard to access. The drive to a therapist in Los Angeles or Orange County is real. The waitlists are real. The sense that you should be able to handle this on your own is also real, and it is also not true. Motherhood was not meant to be carried in isolation, and the postpartum experience does not have a timeline that respects how busy or how resilient you are.


I offer virtual therapy for mothers throughout Riverside and the broader Inland Empire, which means the care you deserve is available to you wherever you are in the city, without the drive, without the waitlist, from a therapist who specializes in exactly what you are going through.

How it works

01

Book a consultation call

I don’t believe in pushing toxic positivity or rushing healing. I offer real, supportive therapy that helps you feel seen, heard, and understood even on the days when you don’t recognize yourself.

02

Let’s meet where you are

Therapy doesn’t have to be another thing you have to “do.” I meet you where you are on the couch, in the car, or during nap time through virtual sessions built around your life.

03

Start healing and thriving in your motherhood

This work isn’t about fixing you. It’s about helping you reclaim the parts of yourself that got buried under diapers, doubt, and impossible expectations. We’ll go at your pace, together.

Explore our therapy services and specializations

Perinatal and postpartum therapy

I support women through every phase of motherhood from the first wave of nausea to months (or years) after giving birth. You don’t need to be in crisis to deserve support.

Postpartum depression

If you’re tired of pretending you’re fine or feel like you’re living behind a mask, you might be dealing with postpartum depression. You don’t have to carry this alone we’ll unpack it together.

Pregnancy therapy

Pregnancy can bring anxiety, grief, confusion, and unexpected emotions. I offer a space where you can process all of it without having to explain why it doesn’t feel magical right now.

Postpartum anxiety

If you lie awake running through every worst-case scenario or feel like your nervous system is on constant high alert, I help you move from survival mode to more grounded, spacious living.

Postpartum PTSD

When your experience of birth or postpartum was frightening, traumatic, or left emotional scars, I offer trauma-informed support to help you feel safe in your body again.

Birth trauma

If your birth story is hard to talk about, or even harder to relive, you’re not alone. I help you make sense of what happened and begin healing at your own pace.

Pregnancy loss

Whether your loss was recent or something you’ve carried silently for years, your grief matters. I offer a space where you don’t have to minimize, explain, or rush your healing.

Postpartum rage

Your anger isn’t random it’s a signal. Through postpartum rage therapy in Los Angeles, we explore what that signal is telling you and help you build skills to respond from a calmer place. Whether it’s from lack of sleep, resentment, or deeper wounds, we start where you are and move at your pace.

I serve women in Riverside and the Inland Empire

I work with mothers throughout Riverside and surrounding communities like Moreno Valley, Corona, Eastvale, and Jurupa Valley. Whether you're balancing work, caregiving, and cultural expectations or simply trying to stay afloat day to day this is a space where your experience matters. With virtual therapy, support is just a click away, even when getting out of the house feels impossible.

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 Riverside, CA

I created Alma de Madre because I know how lonely and disorienting motherhood can feel. After going through my own postpartum unraveling, I decided to become the kind of support I wish I had. I work with moms who are tired of carrying the weight silently who want real, compassionate therapy rooted in truth and lived experience. You don’t have to keep pretending you’re okay. You can fall apart here and we’ll rebuild 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