therapy for postpartum anxiety, therapy for moms in long beach

Molly Vasa Bertolucci

Licensed Clinical Social Worker, CERTIFIED RETAIN PARENTAL LEAVE COACH, Therapist in Long Beach

You’re new here - and parenting has a steep learning curve. I’m here to help you find confidence, calm, and connection so you can BLOOM in the early days, months, and years of motherhood. You’ve been thrown for a loop, that’s for sure. But I know that you are cut out for this and you do have it in you to be the parent you’ve always pictured you would be. I can help you get there.


I do this work because I know that going through motherhood in doubt, chaos, and isolation is not it. When moms have support, families are happier, healthier, and stronger.

Who runs the world? Moms.

I’m an expert in perinatal mental health and I’ve got the experience and the know-how to help you grow and flourish in your role as a mother.

As your therapist I will:

✿ Probably be drinking coffee in session - hot in the morning, iced in the afternoon

✿ Invite you into a judgment-free space to be yourself and express difficult emotions

✿ Help you explore your thoughts and feelings to gain self-awareness and clarity

✿ Offer education and new perspectives (I’ve been known to do a happy dance when a client says “I never thought of it THAT way before”)

✿ Support you to develop and practice the tools you need to cope

✿ Get a little nerdy with the neuroscience

✿ Empower you to discover changes you want to make and guide you in how to put them into practice

✿ Point out your strengths - this is one of my favorite things to do because ohmygosh are mothers strong

How it all started:

I became a therapist because I love helping people see the big picture - identifying their core values and what they want their life to look like, then helping them get there. My clients describe me as warm, understanding, and open.

I do my best work using a solution-focused and interpersonal approach to support moms in finding actionable and meaningful ways to move forward in their lives and become a more authentic version of themselves.

My Professional Background:

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and therapist in the state of California and a Perinatal Mental Health Certified therapist.I earned a Master of Social Work and a Pupil Personnel Services Credential from University of Southern California. My specialization is in therapy for moms and postpartum mental health and I have advanced training in perinatal mental health and a Certification in Perinatal Mental Health from Postpartum Support International. I’m a Certified RETAIN Parental Leave Coach, certified through the Center for Parental Leave Leadership. Through this structured, evidence-based and holistic form of coaching, expecting moms (and their managers!) are supported through the three phases of Parental Leave (Before, During & After) to ensure a successful, engaged and sustainable return to work while thriving at home.

I have training and experience in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, (TF-CBT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), and Perinatal IPT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). I am trained in Trauma Informed Yoga and Supporting NICU Parents.

We’re going for confident, calm, & connected! ✨

  • Becoming a mother is a huge, complicated life transition. Like any big life transition, the changes can bring along with them a lot of stress. However, if it feels like your worried thoughts are taking over and causing you pain and distress, might be experiencing postpartum anxiety. Counseling can help you learn different ways of thinking, reacting, and behaving - increasing your ability to tolerate uncomfortable emotions and your ability to be in the present moment and be at peace. Counseling for postpartum anxiety can give you tools to heal and feel grounded and find calm as a mother.

  • If your birth didn’t go as planned or expected, if there was a medical emergency, or if you didn’t feel heard or supported during the birth of your child, you might view your birth as traumatic. If you are suffering after a traumatic birth, therapy for birth trauma can help heal the emotional effects of your birth experience. Therapy for birth trauma can help you understand how the birth affected you and begin the healing process so you can move forward feeling connected with a sense of control, peace, and safety.

  • Whether it’s your first pregnancy or you’ve been a mom for years, it’s my privilege to help you make sense and meaning out of your role as a mother.  Everyone needs and deserves support during pregnancy and parenthood. Your mental health matters and counseling for moms can help. Therapy for moms is an opportunity for you to find calm and clarity in the early days, months, and years of motherhood. Everyone’s experience is unique, but you are not alone.

  • Postpartum depression is the most common of the perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. It is a complex mix of psychological, emotional, and physical changes that cause despair and sadness and can significantly impact your ability to live your day-to-day life. Counseling for postpartum depression can help you feel joy, confidence, and connection as a mother. Together we can find better ways to cope with your feelings, solve problems, set realistic goals, and respond to situations in a positive way.

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  • The first step is a consultation to determine if we are a good fit to work together.

    We’ll then schedule our first session.

    For virtual therapy sessions, after we’ve completed our phone consultation and scheduled our intake session, you’ll receive a link to a secure, private videoconferencing platform. I will also send you information about the platform to set us up for success.

    In-person sessions are held in beautiful Los Alamitos, California.

  • The length of time that someone is in therapy is highly individual. It depends on your specific goals, needs, and circumstances. This is something we’ll explore in our first sessions together and continually discuss as we journey together.

  • I charge $205 for a 45 minute session. Payment can be made by credit card.

  • I am an out-of-network provider with most insurances.

    I can provide you with a monthly superbill that you can submit to your insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Please contact your insurance plan administrator to determine if you’re eligible for out-of-network benefits.

  • Contact me today to book a free consultation!

Frequently Asked Questions

*Notice in accordance with the No Surprises Act, effective 1/1/2022

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. If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises