Postpartum OCD & Intrusive thoughts therapy
for moms in Pasadena & Sierra Madre
For the mom carrying scary, unwanted thoughts and wondering what they mean.
Having intrusive thoughts does not mean you want to act on these. In fact, these thoughts are usually the opposite of your values
When your thoughts feel frightening, but you know they are not what you want.
Maybe a thought flashes through your mind and your whole body reacts.
What if I drop the baby?
What if I lose control?
What if something terrible happens?
What if having this thought means something is wrong with me?
Postpartum intrusive thoughts can feel terrifying — not because you want them, but because you don’t. They can leave you anxious, ashamed, hypervigilant, and desperate to feel certain that you and your baby are safe.
You are not your thoughts. And having an unwanted thought does not mean you want it to happen.
Therapy offers a place to name what has felt too scary to say out loud, without shame.
You might be experiencing:
Scary or unwanted thoughts about harm, safety, or contamination
Checking on your baby over and over
Avoiding certain places, objects, or situations
Asking for reassurance but never feeling fully settled
Replaying moments in your mind to make sure nothing bad happened
Feeling afraid to be alone with your baby
Googling symptoms, risks, or “what if” questions
Shame, guilt, or fear about what your thoughts mean
These symptoms can feel isolating, but they are also treatable. You do not have to keep managing them alone.
How therapy can help
Together, we’ll work on reducing shame, learning how to respond to intrusive thoughts with more steadiness, decreasing checking and reassurance cycles, and processing any trauma, grief, or overwhelm that may be intensifying the fear.
My approach blends EMDR, IFS/parts work, somatic regulation, attachment-based therapy, and perinatal mental health support.
When OCD symptoms are present, we can also integrate practical tools that help you relate to intrusive thoughts differently, rather than getting pulled into fear each time they appear.
You can get support without being judged.
Many moms are afraid to tell anyone about intrusive thoughts.
But the thoughts that scare you most are often the ones that feel most opposite to who you are and what you want. You deserve support that understands this distinction.
This is a place where the fear, shame, tenderness, and exhaustion can be held with care.
You are not your thoughts.
You are not alone.
You deserve to enjoy your baby without fear running the show.
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They are much more common than most people realize. Research suggests that 70–100% of new mothers experience unwanted, intrusive thoughts about harm coming to their baby, and up to half report unwanted thoughts of intentionally harming their baby—even though these thoughts are deeply upsetting and do not reflect what they want.
For most women, these thoughts come and go. With postpartum OCD, however, they become "sticky." Instead of passing by, they trigger intense fear, shame, and compulsive behaviors like checking on your baby repeatedly, seeking reassurance, avoiding certain situations, or endlessly Googling symptoms.
The good news is that having intrusive thoughts does not mean you want to act on them or that you're a danger to your baby. In fact, the very reason these thoughts are so distressing is because they go against your deepest values as a mother. Postpartum OCD is treatable, and with the right support, you can stop living in fear and begin enjoying this season with your baby again.
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No. One of the most painful parts of postpartum OCD is believing that having a thought means you might act on it. In reality, these thoughts are unwanted and deeply distressing because they go against who you are and what you value most. The fact that they scare you is often one of the clearest signs that you don't want them. Therapy can help you respond to these thoughts with less fear so they lose their power over time.
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Both can involve excessive worry, but postpartum OCD is characterized by intrusive, unwanted thoughts and compulsive behaviors meant to reduce anxiety. This might include repeatedly checking on your baby, seeking reassurance, avoiding certain situations, or mentally reviewing events to make sure nothing bad happened. Many women experience both postpartum anxiety and postpartum OCD at the same time, which is why a careful assessment is important.
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Yes. Postpartum OCD is highly treatable. With the right support, most women experience significant relief and regain confidence in themselves as mothers. Treatment focuses on reducing fear, breaking compulsive cycles, processing underlying trauma when needed, and helping you relate differently to intrusive thoughts.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Therapy begins with understanding your unique experience and helping you make sense of what's happening. Together we'll reduce shame, build nervous system regulation, process unresolved trauma or birth experiences when appropriate, and develop practical tools for responding to intrusive thoughts without getting pulled into fear. My approach may include EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), somatic therapy, attachment-based therapy, and other evidence-based approaches tailored to your needs.
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Yes, when it's appropriate. EMDR can be especially helpful if your symptoms are connected to birth trauma, pregnancy loss, a difficult postpartum experience, or other unresolved traumatic memories. While EMDR isn't used to eliminate intrusive thoughts themselves, it can reduce the fear, distress, and traumatic experiences that often intensify OCD symptoms.
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Every person's experience is different. Some women seek help within weeks of giving birth, while others struggle quietly for months or even years before realizing they're experiencing postpartum OCD. The earlier you receive appropriate treatment, the sooner many women begin to feel relief. Recovery doesn't mean never having another intrusive thought—it means those thoughts no longer control your life.
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Absolutely not. Many mothers are terrified to tell anyone what they're thinking because they fear they'll be judged or misunderstood. Intrusive thoughts are far more common than most people realize, and talking about them is often the first step toward healing. My office is a place where you can share openly, without shame or fear of being judged.
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Yes. I provide in-person therapy in Sierra Madre, serving women throughout Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley, as well as secure online therapy for adults anywhere in California.