Parenthood Stress

Meghan Hammel, Psychologist, PhD - Primary Therapist

Support for mothers navigating the stress of parenting young children

You love your child more than anything.

You want to do everything you can to give them the best start in life.

But some days, it feels like no matter what you do, it’s not enough.

You might find yourself second-guessing how you handled a tantrum or wondering whether you were too harsh—or not firm enough.

You might worry whether your child feels securely attached to you, even when you’re doing your best under immense pressure.

You may feel guilty for snapping, for needing a break, or for not being more patient.

This isn’t how you imagined parenthood would feel.

You may think:

“How do I meet my child’s emotional needs when I’m already overwhelmed?”

“My child is so reactive—is this normal? Am I doing something wrong?”

“Will they come to me when they’re older? Am I building the kind of relationship I want with them?”

“Sometimes I hear myself and think—I sound like my own parent, yikes!”

I work with mothers of young children—mothers who care deeply, give their all, and at times still feel unsure.

Many of the women I work with are juggling parenting with work or are managing the household full-time. They often feel pulled in every direction, and no matter how much they do, there’s a lingering sense that they’re falling short.

Some days bring confidence and joy. Other days bring guilt, exhaustion, and shame.

You might lie awake at night wondering if you handled things the right way—or worrying that your stress is affecting your child.

The pressure to “get it right” can be relentless.

What you want isn’t perfection. You want to raise a child who is secure, resilient, and emotionally supported—and you want to feel connected, calm, and present along the way.

You want your child to thrive. And you want to feel like you’re thriving, too.

Therapy can help you quiet the inner critic, begin to let go of unrealistic standards, and build confidence in your own parenting voice.

With tools from CBT, ACT, mindfulness, and self-compassion, you’ll learn to respond rather than react, care for yourself without guilt, and build the kind of parent-child connection you truly value.

We can explore aspects of parent-child relationships and explore principles of the Circle of Security Parenting model to increase important relationship capacities rather than focusing just on managing behaviors.

You don’t have to do this alone.

There is room for grace, growth, and repair.

And it’s okay to ask for support—even as you continue to give so much to those you love.

Contact Me

Find out more about my services

[email protected]

760-266-7430

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Licensed Providers

Philip Hammel, Psychologist, PsyD

Meghan Hammel, Psychologist, PhD

Therapy for adults navigating relationships, career fulfillment, parenting, life transitions, grief, and personal empowerment.

Licensed Provider

Philip Hammel, Psychologist, PsyD

Meghan Hammel, Psychologist, PsyD