We were lucky to catch up with Karla recently and have shared our conversation below.
Karla, appreciate you joining us today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.
A defining moment in my career was having my son. By the time I became pregnant, I had worked in nonprofits for over nine years. I assumed that when he was born, not much would change in terms of my professional path. But the reality of early motherhood made things unmistakably clear: I could no longer pour 40+ hours a week into emotionally demanding work that was already pushing me toward burnout.
I had always taken pride in working hard, giving everything to my job, and pushing past my own boundaries, often at the expense of my own wellbeing and without the clinical support I truly needed.
When I experienced my own postpartum depression and anxiety, something shifted. I realized I was being called into different work. It was work that centered mothers who, like me, needed deeper support, understanding, and care. That clarity changed the trajectory of my career and ultimately led me to the path I’m on now.
I decided to specialize in perinatal mental health and dedicate myself to supporting new parents through challenges that are often misunderstood or minimized. The lesson I learned is that our purpose often reveals itself in the moments that push us to grow and care for ourselves more deeply, especially in the vulnerable, transformative experience of becoming a new mother.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m a perinatal mental health therapist who supports mothers and parents through the emotional, psychological, and identity shifts that come with pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. My path into this work began after nearly a decade in the nonprofit world, where I served vulnerable communities, including Latine and BIPOC mothers. When I became a mother myself, everything shifted. My own postpartum depression and anxiety opened my eyes not only to how challenging this stage can be, but also to how underserved and misunderstood many parents feel. That experience ignited a calling to specialize in perinatal mental health and create the kind of support I desperately needed at the time.
Today, I provide individual therapy for mothers navigating postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, identity transitions, birth trauma, emotional overwhelm, and the pressure to “do it all” while feeling anything but grounded. I help clients build emotional resilience, strengthen their support systems, reconnect with themselves, and move through motherhood with more confidence, compassion, and clarity.
What sets my work apart is the combination of lived experience and specialized training. I understand what my clients are going through not only as a clinician but also as a mother who has been in the trenches of postpartum. That dual perspective creates has helped me create therapeutic space that is warm, validating, and attuned to the realities of motherhood. My clients often tell me they feel truly seen.
I’m most proud of creating a space where mothers can be honest about their struggles without shame or judgment. I want potential clients to know that my work is grounded in empathy, collaboration, and the belief that you deserve support just as much as the baby you’re caring for. My mission is to help parents feel less alone, more understood, and more connected to themselves during one of the most transformative chapters of their lives.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
The most effective strategy in building my clientele has been cultivating authentic relationships with professionals who support expectant and postpartum families. As a postpartum mental health therapist, I believe it’s essential to ensure my clients can access comprehensive care, because truly supporting a new mother takes a village. This means building strong connections with doulas, OBs, midwives, lactation consultants, and other birth workers who regularly serve new moms. These partnerships allow me to confidently refer my clients to trusted providers, knowing they will be cared for with the same compassion and professionalism that I strive to offer in my own work, and that those providers feel equally confident referring clients to me for mental health support.
Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?
To be successful in this field, I believe a therapist must cultivate strong self-awareness and have the courage to be authentic. When people seek therapy, they are looking for someone they can trust, someone with whom they can feel safe enough to be themselves. Therapists who are self-aware are better equipped to create these safe, supportive spaces, which ultimately helps clients feel fulfilled and confident in continuing their therapeutic work. In a time when mental health information is widely accessible, what many people still deeply need are authentic human connections. Offering genuine presence alongside professional and emotional support is both meaningful and necessary. It plays a powerful role in building a positive reputation and lasting client relationships.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.almademadre.com
- Instagram: @almademadre.therapy
Image Credits
Photographer:
Chelsea Stratso