Therapy for New Moms
Postpartum & Perinatal Therapy in Gainesville
You are so not a failure - parenting is just stupidly hard.
Yes, there may be joy and delight in the magic of motherhood - the cuddles and closeness, laughter and fun, and the reverence for the gift of guiding new life.
But yet, here you are, experiencing a loss no one is talking about - a death not honored. The end of who you once were, of who you always knew yourself to be - your longings, dreams, and needs.
You are not the same.
Covered in spit-up and spaghetti sauce and god knows what else. Scrambling from the spill on the carpet to the diaper change, to the shoes to the snacks — trying to keep your head on straight, find your words, always be your best, and never lash out.
Who are you becoming? And who, through the composting of matrescence, have you already become?
Get the guidance and support you need to lift the weight of "failure" off your shoulders…
Receive practical support for the day-to-day hard moments and the 101 questions about how to parent like a pro.
Set boundaries (really), and haul self-care out of storage, putting it back on the table where it belongs.
Bring confidence and self-respect back into your bones, knowing you’re rocking this whole motherhood thing.
How I can help…
Hi, I’m Marina! I’m a licensed marriage and family therapist. I offer down-to-earth, compassionate therapy to help you remember that you are already whole and good despite the mess and chaos.
My approach includes:
✦ Client-Centered therapy
✦ Internal Family Systems (IFS)
✦ Nonviolent Communication
✦ Spiritually-rooted therapy
✦ Mindfulness-based therapy
It’s time to step into your strength, confidence and relaxed knowing. And allow your child to learn from you what it means to live with both strong legs and an open heart on this earth.
It’s easy to get started…
Step 01.
Schedule your free, 20-minute consultation.
Step 02.
We’ll chat via phone to see if we’re a good fit.
Step 03.
On the call, we’ll schedule your first session.
Some clients appreciate the extended sessions of 75 minutes either when they’re in a particularly tough place, and could use more support, or simply because the increased spaciousness allows their nervous systems to unwind and respond with more ease.
I have several sliding scale spots and offer them as they become available.
Frequently Asked Questions
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I work with new moms, women, and couples of all walks of life — LGBTQIA, folks of color, and folks of other marginalized identities — and encourage you to bring your whole self to therapy.
As an ever-aspiring anti-racist practitioner, it’s essential to me to support my BIPOC clients in feeling seen, held and understood within the context of the unequal power, privilege, and oppression that shape our world. I aspire to support and create a safe space for my clients, and always welcome feedback as to how to ever-better see, respect, and support you in your wholeness and complexity.
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Individual sessions are 50 minutes for $135 or 75 minutes for $160.
Couples sessions are 50 minutes for $150 or 75 minutes for $190.
Some clients appreciate the extended sessions of 75 minutes either when they’re in a particularly tough place and could use more support or simply because the increased spaciousness allows their nervous systems to unwind and respond with more ease. Couples, in particular, often request longer sessions.
I have several sliding scale spots and offer them as they become available.
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No. I do not bill insurance companies directly, but I can provide you with a superbill that you can submit to your insurance company for my services as an out-of-network provider.
It’s important to call and confirm with your insurance company in advance that they will reimburse you for my services. If they do, you will then pay me directly, submit the superbill I provide you to your insurance, and be reimbursed by your insurance company.
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Clients across Florida are welcome to meet with me via telehealth. We use Doxy, a user-friendly, HIPAA-compliant service similar to Zoom. This way, you can meet with me from the comfort of your own home, office, or even (parked) car - cars are great for privacy! - so long as I know where you are located.
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115 NE 7th Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601I am currently meeting clients in person at this location on Mondays only. It’s a beautiful old Victorian across the street from the Thomas Center. You can park in the lot or on the street and go for a walk under the oak trees when you’re done.
Unfortunately, it is not handicap accessible.
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Monday through Friday between 10 am and 5 pm. I don't currently work evenings or weekends to balance work with family and raising a little one.
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To establish safety and trust between us and to develop momentum in our work, I like to meet with clients either weekly or every other week to start. This is what allows us to get to know each other, and you start to see and feel changes in your life.
After 4-8 weeks, some clients who are currently weekly will feel ready to move to biweekly. After working together for some time, some clients will choose to see me for "maintenance" on a less frequent basis.
The frequency of our work is something we discuss together, and we co-create a plan that works best for you.
You are always free to discontinue therapy for any reason.
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To support both of us in having predictability in our scheduling, I request 24 hours notice of cancellation and will offer the same at a minimum. I otherwise charge my full fee for the session missed.
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In my work, I use IFS, a form of therapy predicated on the radical notions that we all contain a bunch of parts (at times contradicting and at each other’s throats), that this is totally okay rather than pathological, and that you can find clarity and help your more extreme and burdened parts out by accessing “Self” — your already-existing kind, calm, strong, wise essence.
IFS therapy empowers you to be your own best friend and ally and to hold yourself (and your many parts) with compassion and tenderness while making effective change.
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I also use NVC, a radically transformative communication practice for individuals, couples, and communities alike. Therapy with NVC gives you down-to-earth, practical help when you don’t know how the heck to respond to your stressed-out partner or how to initiate that scary conversation with a friend.
I’m a Certified NVC Trainer and can help you with communication tools and practices to empower you to be your most free, compassionate, and honest self when it counts.
Forget figuring out parenting all alone - you deserve a guide and a witness.
Imagine how it would feel to breathe deep again.
Through our work together, you’ll more clearly see your options when you feel pinned against a wall, and you’ll learn to take breaks (small to start).
By investing in yourself, you can give your child the most important thing they need from you: empathy and presence.
Book a free 20-minute consultation with me, so you can get out of the rut of feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and disconnected from your true abilities and re-ignite the self-compassion, self-trust, and freedom that is your birthright.