Therapy in Santa Monica, CA | Counselor Karla Hernández
If you are a mother in Santa Monica who is walking the Palisades, hitting the farmer's market on Saturdays, and still crying in the shower at the end of the day, I want you to know that those two things can both be true at the same time. I am Karla Hernandez, a perinatal and postpartum therapist, and I work with mothers navigating the anxiety, exhaustion, identity loss, and emotional complexity that come after birth, regardless of how beautiful the backdrop is.
Santa Monica is an affluent, wellness-forward city where taking care of yourself is practically a civic value. Yoga studios line Montana Avenue. Farmers markets run four days a week. The ocean is minutes away. And yet postpartum does not yield to any of it. The mothers I work with in Santa Monica are often surrounded by every resource and still feel desperately alone, because none of those resources are designed to hold the specific weight of what it means to become someone's mother and lose track of yourself in the process. Neighborhoods like Ocean Park, Sunset Park, and North of Montana are full of mothers walking strollers who look like they have it together. Most of them are also exhausted.
Mothers in Santa Monica come to me because they need a space that goes deeper than a wellness class. I offer virtual therapy for mothers throughout the Los Angeles area, which means you can access real, specialized perinatal support without ever leaving your home near the Westside.
How it works
01
Book a consultation call
I don’t offer one-size-fits-all advice or cheesy affirmations. I offer therapy that meets you in the realness of motherhood where love, fear, resentment, and exhaustion all live side by side.
02
Let’s meet where you are
Whether you’re breastfeeding on the couch, crying in the bathroom, or just too tired to leave the house I get it. I offer virtual sessions so you can access support without having to rearrange your whole life.
03
Start healing and thriving in your motherhood
We’ll move at your pace. No fixing, no judgment just a space to process everything you’ve been holding in. Together, we’ll untangle the thoughts that keep you up at night and help you reclaim pieces of yourself along the way.
Explore our therapy services and specializations
Perinatal and postpartum therapy
From planning for birth to adjusting to life after baby, I provide ongoing support through the transitions of motherhood. You don’t have to wait until you’re falling apart to ask for help.
Postpartum depression
If you’re feeling empty, irritable, or like nothing makes sense anymore, this might be more than sleep deprivation. I create a space where you can say the hard stuff without fear of judgment.
Pregnancy therapy
Pregnancy is rarely as blissful as the photos make it seem. If you're navigating anxiety, overwhelm, or past trauma during pregnancy, you don’t have to carry it all alone.
Postpartum anxiety
You might look calm on the outside but feel like you’re unraveling inside. I help moms manage postpartum anxiety so they can move through each day with less fear and more trust.
Postpartum PTSD
If you’ve been avoiding your birth story or feel triggered by certain memories, you’re not weak you’re likely dealing with postpartum trauma. I use trauma-informed approaches to help you begin to feel safe again.
Birth trauma
You can be grateful for your baby and still feel shaken by what happened. If your birth felt traumatic or out of your control, I offer a space to process and heal on your terms.
Pregnancy loss
Loss changes you. Whether your grief is fresh or quietly lingering years later, I help you honor your loss, your baby, and your experience without minimizing what you’ve been through.
Postpartum rage
Maybe no one warned you that this kind of anger could be part of postpartum. It’s real and treatable. My postpartum rage therapy sessions in Los Angeles are built for mothers who want to feel more in control, less triggered, and more supported. This is a place to breathe, be honest, and start healing.
I serve women in Santa Monica and the Westside
I provide therapy for moms across Santa Monica and nearby areas like Brentwood, Venice, West LA, and Pacific Palisades. Whether you're feeling isolated in your own home or navigating motherhood far from family, you deserve support that makes you feel human again. And with virtual therapy, help is just a click away no traffic, no makeup, no need to explain yourself.
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 Santa Monica, CA
I created Alma de Madre after my own experience with postpartum cracked me wide open. I know what it’s like to feel invisible, exhausted, and unsure of who you even are anymore. That’s why I work with moms who are tired of faking it. My job isn’t to “fix” you it’s to walk alongside you while you reconnect with the parts of yourself that feel lost. You deserve care too.
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