Exhausted beyond what sleep can fix
You could sleep for twelve hours and wake up just as tired. This isn’t a nap problem, and more coffee isn’t the answer.
Therapy for moms · Austin & online in 40+ states
Therapy for
new moms.
For the mom who is running on empty and can’t remember the last time anyone asked how she’s doing.
You love your kids. You also lock the bathroom door some days just to breathe. Both are true, and neither makes you a bad mom. I’m a perinatal psychologist and a mom, and this is the work I do most.
A 15-minute call with me, Dr. Jana Rundle.
Sound familiar?
You’re not failing.
You’re drowning without support.
What you’re feeling has a name: maternal burnout. It’s what happens when you pour from an empty cup for months without anyone pouring back. These are signs you need support, not signs you’re broken.
Guilty about everything
Guilty for working, guilty for not working, guilty for wanting an hour alone, guilty for not enjoying every moment like everyone said you would.
You’ve lost yourself in the role
You remember who you were before. You’re not sure where she went, or whether she’s coming back.
Fighting more than connecting
You and your partner have become roommates who hand off a baby. The resentment about who does what is louder than anything else between you.
If some of this sounds like you, a 15-minute conversation is an easy next step.
Book a free consultationNot bubble baths
What we’d actually work on.
This isn’t lying on a couch talking about your childhood, unless that’s what you need. Therapy with me is practical, focused, and built around your real life. Depending on what’s going on for you, we might work on:
Reclaiming your identity beyond “mom”
Reconnecting with the parts of you that feel lost or far away, and deciding which ones you actually want back.
Breaking the guilt cycle
Learning to need things for yourself without the shame spiral that follows. Guilt is information, not a verdict.
Talking to your partner so it lands
Moving past the scorekeeping about invisible labor, and asking for one specific thing instead of “more help.”
Grieving what changed
Becoming a mom involves real loss: your body, your freedom, old friendships, your sense of being good at things. You can grieve that and love your child at the same time.
Building a life you can actually live
Not “self-care” as bubble baths. Structural changes to your days, your support, and what you’ve agreed to carry.
Working with me
I’ve been the mom in the kitchen at 3 a.m.
I’m Perinatal Mental Health Certified and I specialize in exactly this. I won’t tell you to enjoy every moment or suggest more self-care. Motherhood is hard, even when you wanted it, and I’ll meet you where you are: in my Austin office with your baby on your lap, or by video during nap time.
- 01
A 15-minute call
You tell me what’s going on; I tell you honestly whether I’m the right fit.
- 02
A plan that fits your life
Weekly for the first 8 to 12 weeks while the momentum builds, then every other week or monthly.
- 03
Work on what matters
Real situations from your week, changes to try between sessions, and regular check-ins on what’s helping.
Burnout, or something more?
If it feels bigger than tired.
Many moms aren’t sure whether this is exhaustion or something that needs treatment. You don’t have to know before you call. If one of these sounds closer, I have a page for it.
A few practical details
Before you reach out.
In person at my Austin office.
Online in 40+ states.
Can my baby come to sessions?
Yes, please. There are babies in my office most weeks, and they are the highlight of my day. Feed, change, rock, bounce; none of it derails anything. On video, a baby on your lap is completely normal. They are an addition, not a subtraction.
How do I find time for therapy with a baby?
Most of my moms meet by video during a nap, or in person at my Austin office with the baby along. We pick one consistent weekly time so you aren’t renegotiating it every week, and we work around your schedule, not against it. Getting out the door is half the battle, so you don’t have to.
What if I think I have postpartum depression or anxiety?
Then you’re in the right place. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are my specialty, and I have dedicated pages on postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety if you want to read more. You don’t need to know which one it is before you call; figuring that out together is part of the first conversation. If you’re having thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room rather than waiting for an appointment.
Do you work with moms of older children too?
Yes. The hard parts of motherhood change shape as kids grow; they don’t disappear. I see moms of toddlers, school-age kids, and teenagers, and moms who are several years in and only now realizing how depleted they are.
I feel like a bad mom for needing therapy. Is something wrong with me?
No. Motherhood is one of the biggest transitions a person goes through, and most of us do it with far less support than any previous generation had. Needing help with it is ordinary. You wouldn’t judge a friend for seeing a therapist; you’re allowed the same.
How is therapy different from venting to friends?
Friends are essential, and they are not trained in maternal mental health. In therapy we look for the pattern underneath the hard days, you learn specific tools, and you have a place to say the things you feel too guilty to say to anyone who knows your kids. Nothing you say will shock me.
What if my partner doesn’t think I need therapy?
Your mental health is your decision. If you’re struggling, you deserve support whether or not your partner understands yet. Often partners come around once they see the change. If he needs something to read, I wrote a post for partners on the mental load that many moms forward.
Can you help with my relationship with my partner?
Yes. Many moms come in for themselves and find that the division of labor, the resentment, and feeling like roommates are a big part of the picture. In individual sessions we work on how you communicate, ask for what you need, and set limits. If couples therapy would help, I’ll help you find the right person for that.
What does it cost?
I’m an out-of-network provider. You pay at the time of the session and I give you a monthly superbill to submit to your insurance; many PPO plans reimburse a portion. Current fees are on the fees and insurance page, and the first 15-minute consultation is free.
Your next step
Let’s talk about what you need.
A free 15-minute consultation with Dr. Jana Rundle. Babies welcome.