You had a baby, and everything changed. The love you feel is real — but so is the distance that's crept in. The conversations that used to flow now come out clipped and frustrated. You're living parallel lives in the same house, passing the baby back and forth, managing endless logistics, and somewhere in the middle of all of it, the two of you got lost.
This is one of the most common — and least talked about — experiences in new parenthood. And it doesn't mean your relationship is broken. It means you're human, and you're going through one of the biggest transitions a couple can face.
At The Mother Hood, our couples therapy is built specifically for parents. Not generic communication workshops — but real, targeted support from therapists who specialize in the unique relational and emotional terrain of parenthood. We serve couples in Los Angeles and throughout California, in person and online.
Why Parenthood Is So Hard on Relationships
It's not a character flaw that your relationship has taken a hit since baby arrived. The research is clear: relationship satisfaction drops significantly in the first year postpartum for the majority of couples — even happy, healthy ones. Here's why:
Sleep deprivation impairs emotional regulation, making small frustrations feel enormous
The mental load becomes deeply unequal, and resentment builds quietly
Physical and emotional intimacy naturally decrease when you're touched-out and exhausted
Both partners are grieving their pre-baby identities while trying to step into new ones
Postpartum mood disorders in one or both partners can go unrecognized, adding invisible strain
Differences in parenting styles surface, sometimes for the first time
If any of this resonates, you're not failing — you're experiencing something very common and very treatable. Our blog on how couples therapy supports new parents goes deeper on what this transition actually looks like from the inside.
Who Our Couples Therapy Is For
Our couples therapy is designed for partners navigating the emotional weight of parenthood together — or trying to. You might be a good fit if:
You're feeling more like co-managers than romantic partners
The same arguments keep happening, and nothing ever gets resolved
Intimacy — physical or emotional — has all but disappeared
One partner is struggling with postpartum depression or anxiety, and it's affecting the relationship
You're navigating a difficult birth experience or pregnancy loss together
You're expecting your first baby and want to get ahead of the transition
You're not in crisis — you just want to feel close again
You don't have to be at a breaking point to benefit from couples therapy. Many of the couples we work with come to us not because things are terrible, but because they want to protect something they value before it slips further.
What Makes Our Approach Different
There's no shortage of couples therapists in Los Angeles. What sets The Mother Hood apart is that our therapists are specialists in perinatal and maternal mental health — not generalists who also see couples. We understand how postpartum mood disorders, birth trauma, identity shifts, and the asymmetry of the mental load show up inside a partnership. We work with the full picture.
Our couples work draws from evidence-based frameworks that have been proven to help:
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
EFT is one of the most research-backed couples therapy approaches available, with decades of studies supporting its effectiveness. It works by helping couples identify the emotional patterns driving their conflict — often rooted in attachment fears like abandonment or disconnection — and then shift those patterns toward security and closeness. When new parents find themselves stuck in pursue-withdraw cycles or constant reactivity, EFT helps them understand why and find their way back to each other.
The Gottman Method
The Gottman Method gives couples a concrete, research-based toolkit for communication, repair, and connection. Developed from decades of observational research on what makes relationships thrive (or fail), Gottman-informed therapy is practical and actionable — ideal for time-pressed parents who need tools they can actually use during the chaos of early parenthood.
Trauma-Informed Couples Work
When a difficult birth, pregnancy loss, or fertility journey is part of the picture, the relational impact can be profound. Our therapists are trained in EMDR and Cognitive Processing Therapy and understand how trauma lives in a relationship — not just in an individual. We can weave trauma-informed approaches into your couples work when relevant.
What to Expect in Couples Therapy at The Mother Hood
We offer two formats depending on what fits your life and the depth of support you're looking for:
Weekly Couples Therapy Sessions
Traditional weekly sessions (50 minutes) give you a consistent, structured space to work through what's happening in your relationship at a sustainable pace. This works well for couples who want ongoing support and gradual, lasting change.
The Couples Intensive
For couples who need to make significant progress quickly — or who can't find a weekly slot that works with two busy parent schedules — our Couples Intensive condenses deep work into a focused, extended format. You'll complete a comprehensive relationship assessment before the intensive begins, then work through your patterns, communication breakdowns, and reconnection in a concentrated, highly personalized experience.
Both formats are available in person at our Los Angeles office and virtually for couples anywhere in California.
When One Partner Is Struggling with Postpartum Mental Health
Sometimes one partner is carrying the weight of postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, or birth trauma, and that individual pain is quietly reshaping the relationship. In these cases, we often recommend a combination of individual therapy alongside couples work, so both the individual and the relational dimensions can be addressed.
If your partner is navigating their own mental health challenges postpartum, our blog on navigating the postpartum journey as a couple offers a grounded look at what that can feel like — and how therapy can help you both.
Couples Therapy in Los Angeles and Beyond
Our office is located in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles, making us easily accessible to couples in Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Century City, and surrounding neighborhoods. For couples further afield — including Pasadena, the Valley, or anywhere else in California — virtual sessions provide the same quality of care from wherever you are.
Other Ways We Support Your Family
Couples therapy is one piece of the support The Mother Hood offers. If you're navigating this season as a family, we also offer:
Individual Therapy for Mothers — specialized one-on-one support for your own mental health alongside your relationship work
At-Home Postpartum Therapy — for new moms in those early weeks when leaving the house isn't realistic
Group Therapy for Mothers — community and connection with other mothers who understand what you're going through
Couples Therapy FAQs
Do we need to be married to do couples therapy?
Not at all. We work with all partnered couples — married, engaged, cohabitating, or dating — who are navigating parenthood together.
What if my partner is hesitant or resistant to therapy?
This is extremely common. We meet both partners where they are. There's no blame, no sides, no one being "the problem." Many partners who come in skeptical leave relieved. If it would help, reaching out for an initial consultation call — solo — is a great first step.
Do you offer virtual couples therapy in California?
Yes. We offer secure, HIPAA-compliant virtual sessions for couples throughout California. Whether you're in Los Angeles or Sacramento, you can access our specialized care from home — during nap time, after bedtime, or whenever works.
What's the difference between the weekly sessions and the Couples Intensive?
Weekly sessions are a great fit for couples who want consistent, gradual support over time. The Intensive is a condensed, deep-dive format that's ideal for couples who need to make real progress quickly, have busy schedules that make weekly sessions hard to maintain, or are dealing with a specific crisis or transition. Both include comprehensive assessment and personalized treatment.
Can we do both couples and individual therapy at the same time?
Absolutely, and we often recommend it. Individual therapy and couples therapy address different dimensions of the same challenges. Many of our clients work with one therapist for individual sessions and another for couples work within our practice.
Do you take insurance?
We're out-of-network providers. We'll provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement and help you navigate that process. Sliding scale spots are available.
Your Relationship Is Worth Fighting For
The early years of parenthood are exhausting and beautiful and disorienting all at once. But feeling like strangers in your own home doesn't have to be the story. With the right support, couples come out of this season with a stronger foundation, a deeper understanding of each other, and a partnership that can actually hold the weight of family life.
Ready to find your way back to each other? Book a free 15-minute consultation and let's talk about what support looks like for you.