Ellie Messinger-Adams is a licensed therapist and childhood development expert providing in-person therapy to moms in and around San Diego, and remote therapy for moms anywhere in California.

ēmatherapy specializations

Feel calm, confident, and connected at all stages of motherhood.

Practical tools for thriving during pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenting

Calming Your Mom Anxiety

Motherhood can be filled with anxiety, self-doubt, and the pressure to be everything to everyone.

If you feel lost in motherhood—especially during the pregnancy/postpartum and teen/tween stages—you are not alone.

I offer personalized therapy to help you reconnect with yourself, manage anxiety, and find peace in parenting. Whether you're navigating the early days of pregnancy, the postpartum period, or the overwhelming demands of mothering, I’m here to support you.

Learn more about common motherhood anxieties and my approach to addressing them >

Feel Confident that You Are Enough

Parenting is full of uncertainty. For moms, this too often leads to fear, guilt, and a sense of inadequacy.

We’ll explore proven, research-backed strategies to build confidence in your parenting ability and decisions, and release the anxiety and self-doubt that prevents you from experiencing the upsides of motherhood.

As a former professional school counselor and child development expert, I will support you with parent coaching, offering practical guidance on the areas you’re struggling: from toddler tantrums to preparing for your child's transition to middle school.

Starting building confidence today. Read more about my approach to uncertainty and inadequacy.

Reconnect with Yourself After Trauma

Trauma isn’t limited to catastrophe—even small events in your past and present can can cast a long shadow over motherhood, limiting your ability to feel confident and calm.

  • Childhood Trauma: a chaotic home, emotional neglect, or the feeling that you had to "earn" love

  • Birth Trauma: a complicated delivery, an unexpected medical emergency, or a feeling of powerlessness

  • Relational Trauma: betrayals, unresolved grief, or abandonment

Together, we will help you break free from the guilt and reclaim your confidence and sense of self.

Learn more about trauma that can affect motherhood >

How We’ll Work Together

I help moms navigate pregnancy, postpartum and parenting by addressing anxiety, trauma, and guilt, so they can feel calm, confident, connected again—and actually enjoy motherhood.

Client-Centric: Your journey is unique, and I will meet you exactly where you are. Whether you're struggling with pregnancy or postpartum anxiety or just feeling lost in the chaos of motherhood, we’ll work together to find solutions that feel right for you.

Somatic: Anxiety lives in both your mind and your body. We'll use somatic techniques to release tension and ground you, helping you feel more in control and less anxious.

Practical: I know that sometimes, anxiety in motherhood stems from the unknowns of raising children. I can offer practical parent coaching that helps you feel more confident in your parenting choices, whether you're navigating the newborn stage or preparing for your child’s teenage years.

Internal Family Systems (IFS): Let’s work together to understand the different parts of you—the worried mom, the people-pleaser, the self-critical voice—and create harmony within so you can feel at peace.

Are you ready to feel calm, confident, and connected?