Birth Trauma therapy in Los Angeles

Birth trauma is more than just a difficult delivery—it’s an emotional wound that can stay with you long after your baby is born. Maybe your birth didn’t go as planned. Maybe you felt powerless, afraid, or unheard. And now, even though everyone says “you’re both healthy, that’s what matters,” you feel anything but okay.

In case you're new here, I'm Karla Hernández, a licensed therapist specializing in birth trauma and maternal mental health. If you're struggling with flashbacks, anxiety, or lingering pain after birth, you’re not alone. And more importantly—you deserve support.

As a therapist for new moms in Los Angeles, I offer trauma-informed perinatal and postpartum therapy for women navigating the emotional aftermath of childbirth. This is a space where your experience is valid, your feelings matter, and healing is possible.

Birth trauma therapy helps mothers process distressing birth experiences that continue to affect their emotional, physical, and mental well-being. Whether it was an emergency intervention, lack of informed consent, or a moment where you felt terrified and out of control, your trauma deserves care—not dismissal.

Therapy provides a space to explore how the trauma is impacting your emotions, sleep, relationships, and body. You’ll have room to release shame, guilt, or resentment and restore a sense of control and safety in your mind and body.

• Flashbacks or intrusive memories of the birth
• Anxiety around doctors, hospitals, or medical settings
• Avoidance of talking about the birth experience
• Difficulty bonding with your baby or partner
• Emotional numbness or feeling disconnected from yourself
• Panic attacks, irritability, or heightened fear responses
• Sleep disturbances and nightmares

• Do I feel powerless, afraid, or unheard when I think about my birth experience?
• Am I experiencing distress when discussing or remembering labor or delivery?
• Have I avoided medical care or future pregnancy planning due to fear?
• Do I feel emotionally distant from my baby or myself?
• Do I replay my birth over and over, struggling to move on?

If you answered yes to any of these, birth trauma therapy can help you find relief.

My approach to birth  therapy in Los Angeles is trauma-informed, compassionate, and evidence-based. Together, we will focus on:

Some areas we may focus on include:

• Reprocessing the traumatic event with Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
• Using somatic techniques to regulate your nervous system
• Validating emotions like anger, guilt, grief, or fear
• Identifying triggers and learning how to respond to them
• Rebuilding your sense of safety, agency, and self-worth

I use a combination of:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to manage anxious thoughts and emotions
• Mindfulness and relaxation techniques to regulate stress
• Self-compassion and boundary-setting strategies to reduce guilt and pressure
• Guided emotional preparation for postpartum to ease the transition into motherhood

Therapy is not about eliminating worries entirely—it’s about helping you navigate them with greater clarity and confidence.

Every mother’s experience is different, but therapy may include:

• Flashbacks, avoidance, and panic symptoms
• Medical trauma and loss of control
• Difficulty bonding with your baby
• Fear of future pregnancies or deliveries
• Guilt, grief, or anger related to your birth story
• Rebuilding trust in your body and voice

• Practice grounding techniques like 5-4-3-2-1 or deep breathing
• Journal your birth story only if and when it feels safe
• Surround yourself with validating, trauma-informed support
• Acknowledge and honor difficult emotions—they are valid
• Remember: healing is non-linear and doesn’t happen alone