Michelly Garcia-Arroyo

You dreamed of what becoming a mother would feel like — and maybe this isn’t it. You’re exhausted in ways you didn’t expect. You’re anxious, or numb, or you can’t stop the intrusive thoughts. You love your baby and yet you feel lost inside your own life. That disconnect is real, and it makes sense.

I specialize in supporting mothers through the emotional weight of the perinatal period; from pregnancy through the postpartum years. This includes birth trauma, postpartum anxiety and depression, intrusive thoughts, and the profound stress of a NICU stay or premature birth. If your baby’s early days were shaped by fear, separation, or medical uncertainty, you don’t have to carry that alone.

In our work together, you won’t be rushed, minimized, or handed a generic coping list. You’ll have space to say the things you haven’t been able to say out loud and to slowly feel like yourself again.

I offer virtual sessions, making it easy to get support from the comfort of your home — no babysitter required.

Ready to take the first step? Book a free 15-minute consultation and let’s talk about whether we’re a good fit.

Therapy with me is collaborative, unhurried, and built around YOU ... not a protocol.

I take a strengths-based, trauma-informed approach, which means we begin with what you’ve already survived and build from there. Together, we gently explore how past experiences, relationship patterns, cultural expectations, and generational stories may be shaping your experience of motherhood right now.

I pay close attention to the body because anxiety, birth trauma, and the stress of a NICU stay don’t just live in our thoughts. They live in our nervous systems. I draw from mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS/parts work), attachment-based therapy, and somatic approaches to support healing that is both deep and practical.

Sessions are a blend of reflection and real tools, so you leave not just with insight, but with something you can actually use between appointments.

I also bring cultural awareness to our work, honoring the ways that identity, family expectations, and community shape the experience of becoming a mother.

The first session is a space to begin gently and you don’t need to arrive with everything sorted or know exactly where to start.

We’ll talk about what brought you in, what this season of motherhood has felt like, and what you’re hoping might feel different. I’ll ask thoughtful questions to better understand your emotional world, your relationships, your support system, and any experiences — including birth trauma, medical complications, or a NICU stay — that may be shaping how you feel right now.

There is no pressure to share more than feels right. We move at a pace that feels steady and respectful, and nothing you bring will be too much.

By the end of our first meeting, you’ll have greater clarity about next steps, space to ask any questions, and a felt sense of whether working together is the right fit.

If you’re considering reaching out, the free 15-minute consultation is a no-pressure way to start. You can ask questions, share a little of what’s going on, and see how it feels ... no commitment required.