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Work with me

What therapy will look like

I work with high-achieving BIPOC mothers across California, and I'm based in the San Francisco Bay Area. My focus is perinatal mental health, supporting you through pregnancy, postpartum, and the early years of motherhood.

Sessions are 60 minutes.

 

This isn't a worksheet-and-send-you-on-your-way kind of therapy. This is depth work.

 

We go beneath the surface: the beliefs, the conditioning, the cultural scripts keeping you in push-through mode.

 

We move through three phases: Remember. Realign. Reclaim.

 

Mothering is a new lane. New skills. Another person now in the mix.

 

We make sure you can do it sustainably, with safety in your body and the support you need around you.

This is how you stop performing strength and start coming home to yourself.

Image by Ron McClenny

The details...

Format

1:1 virtual therapy via secure video

 

Session length

60 minutes

Frequency

Weekly or biweekly

Investment

$250 per session

 

Insurance

I am an out-of-network provider. I provide a superbill you can submit for potential reimbursement.

 

Location

I see clients throughout California via telehealth.

Take the next step

1. Book a free consultation

This is a 15-minute call, just you and me. You tell me what’s going on. I listen. We see if it feels right. No pressure, no sales pitch.

2. We schedule your first session

If it’s a good fit, we get your first full session on the calendar and I send you some simple intake paperwork.

3. You show up

We slow down. And we start building the emotional, internal, and yes external support. You've been doing this alone too long. 

Image by Jei Lee

FAQ

What if I don't know exactly what I need help with?

That's more common than you'd think. Most women who reach out to me don't have a clean answer to "what's wrong." They just know something feels off, heavier, harder than it should be. You don't need a diagnosis or a tidy explanation to start. We figure that out together.

What happens on the free consultation call?

It is a 15-minute conversation. I ask what brought you to therapy and what you are hoping for. You can ask me anything. By the end, we both have a sense of whether this is the right fit.

What's the difference between this and a mommy group or coach?

Mommy groups and coaching can be wonderful for connection and practical tools. But this is clinical work. We go underneath the symptoms into the patterns, the nervous system, the conditioning that's keeping you stuck. If you've already tried groups or coaching and still feel like something's missing, that's usually why.

Do you only work with first-time moms?

No. I work with later-in-life mothers at any stage, first baby or fourth. What matters more than the number of kids is the season you're in: rebuilding your footing, recalibrating your identity, and figuring out what this version of motherhood actually requires of you.

Is virtual therapy effective for postpartum support?

Yes. Research supports virtual therapy for perinatal mental health. For many mothers, virtual sessions are more accessible — no commute, no childcare logistics, and the ability to attend from wherever feels comfortable.

Can I use my insurance?

I am out-of-network, meaning I do not bill insurance directly. I provide a superbill — a receipt you can submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement. Many PPO plans offer partial reimbursement.

What if I need to cancel?

I ask for 24 hours notice. Life with a baby is unpredictable, and I understand that.

Let's talk

Cynthia Manuel-Shah, LMFT, PMH-C, perinatal therapist for BIPOC mothers in California, based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Ready to take the first step? Fill out a short consultation request, and you'll be taken to schedule a free 15-minute call at a time that works for you.​

logo mom holding child with tree and roots

Cynthia Manuel-Shah, LMFT, PMHC

Perinatal Therapist for BIPOC moms in California

Virtual therapy  |  San Francisco Bay Area and California

© 2026  Cynthia Manuel-Shah, LMFT #79289.    All rights reserved.            

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