Prenatal and postpartum therapists & psychiatrists in Sierra Madre, CA

I am a compassionate and experienced therapist dedicated to helping you heal and reclaim your life. I have over 20 years of experience treating trauma, anxiety, depression, grief and stress related to major life transitions. I specialize in trauma-focused therapy, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I believe in providing a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where you can process difficult experiences at your own pace. I am passionate about helping you find hope, healing, and renewed purpose in your life.

I am a dedicated mental health professional who supports children and adults through life’s challenges. I currently provide individual therapy only and do not offer couples counseling. My background in behavioral health and social services, along with hands-on community experience, has shaped my practical, compassionate, and solution-focused approach.

I have worked with individuals involved in the justice system, people living with serious mental illness, children in foster care, and families navigating behavioral or developmental concerns. My experience includes case management, crisis support, employment readiness, behavioral coaching, and coordinating care with medical providers, mental health facilities, and community programs to ensure consistent, long-term support.

I help clients facing depression, anxiety, trauma, life transitions, behavioral challenges in children and teens, parenting and co-parenting concerns, and reintegration after legal involvement. My approach is strengths-based, trauma-informed, and client-centered. I believe everyone has resilience and the ability to grow with the right support.

My style is warm, honest, and structured. I value accountability while always leading with empathy and respect. I focus on building coping skills, improving communication, setting clear goals, and developing practical strategies that support emotional balance and independence.

Welcome,

My name is Erika A. Cadenas, a bilingual Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist practicing in California with 12 years of clinical experience. I have experience helping clients with perinatal mental health conditions, anxiety, and life transitions. I believe connecting with the right therapist is crucial in addressing life's obstacles and challenges. Collaboratively, we will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

I am a licensed therapist who specializes in anxiety depression and behavioral addictions such as gambling, gaming, shopping, and technology use. I became an LCSW because, quite simply, I love people and have the deepest respect for all living things. I have a masters in Social work and background in Psychology, Sociology and Education. I believe that every individual has innate strengths and my goal is to help you tap into yours. Whether you are in a difficult life transition, navigating healthy relationships, or looking to understand yourself more deeply, I am here to empower you so that you can move from feeling "stuck" to feeling capable.

Outside of the therapy room, I am a proud mom and dedicated reader. As someone who identifies as a lifelong learner, I will bring curiosity and warmth to every session. In addition to my private practice, I am a crisis clinician. This background has sharpened my ability to remain grounded, and provide a safe, stable space even when a situation may feel the most chaotic.

My approach to mental health care centers entirely around you. True healing happens when trust, safety, and collaboration come together. Whether you are navigating severe depression, managing long-term anxiety, or recovering from trauma, my goal is to provide a premium, supportive environment where you feel heard and empowered to reclaim a stable, fulfilling life.

As a board-certified adult psychiatrist, I bring unique depth to my clinical practice. I earned both my MD and PhD from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, grounding my approach to medication management in advanced scientific research and evidence-based medicine.

My leadership and clinical training within the University of Texas Health System—including roles as Chief Resident, Assistant Medical Director, and Assistant Professor—deeply shaped my view of mental health. Having cared for individuals across institutions like MD Anderson, Memorial Hermann, the Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center, and Maui Memorial Medical Center, I possess the outpatient and inpatient expertise required to manage complex clinical cases with complete confidence.

I provide convenient, high-quality telepsychiatry and virtual care for adults (ages 18 and older) actively located in Texas, California, Hawaii, and Alaska.

Primary Clinical Focus Areas:

• Mood Disorders: Advanced care for major depression, treatment-resistant depression, and bipolar disorder.
• Anxiety & Stress: Targeted strategies for generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and high-stress professional burnout.
• Trauma: Compassionate, evidence-based recovery and support for PTSD.

Above all, I believe in partnering with you as a collaborative ally. My practice is a safe, sophisticated space where clinical excellence is a given, and we work together to help you rediscover hope and transformation.

I work with women of color who are tired of always being the strong one. If you’re carrying old wounds that still feel fresh, stuck in patterns that don’t even feel like yours, or wondering when it’s finally your turn to be cared for; I’m here for that. You won’t have to code-switch with me. Let’s set down the masks you wear just to move through the day.

In this space, you get to be fully seen--the soft parts, the angry parts, the parts you’ve hidden just to keep the peace. All of you is welcome here. Together, we’ll make room for the messy, the painful, and the hopeful parts of your story, at a pace that feels right for you. Healing doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to start with a space where you’re safe to be real.

Support throughout life, especially during life transitions, is critical yet often hard to find. Family and friends may be unavailable or simply not understand. Furthermore, guilt, shame and overwhelm can complicate navigating transitions, whether due to a significant loss, medical diagnosis, new beginnings or a host of other reasons.

I am a licensed mental health therapist who is well versed in providing support to diverse individuals working through life transitions including the immense pain and harsh reality that grief and loss can bring. I am also a trained perinatal mental health therapist with a passion for providing support during preconception, pregnancy, postpartum and beyond.

Neurodivergent, Autism Spectrum,ADHD,Social anxiety, LGBTQIA+: I can help!

Welcome! With the supportive help of an experienced, "seasoned" therapist, we will take action towards the change you need to make. I will hold your hand and hold you accountable, with the right dose of support, guidance, and humor.

I trained as a psychotherapist in European and American Universities. I use effective, science based approaches.

If you do not find availability in my calendar, please contact me directly at [email protected].

Questions? Text/call me at 415-48-EARTH; 415-483-2784