Hi, I’m Judith Rivera, LMFT
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist | Birth Trauma & Postpartum Specialist | EMDR-
Trained Therapist | Parenting Coach
Why I Do This Work
If you’re here, it might be because your motherhood journey hasn’t gone the way you dreamed. Maybe you’ve faced birth trauma, infertility, pregnancy loss, or postpartum struggles you didn’t expect. I know how heavy that can feel — how it can shake your confidence, strain relationships, and make you wonder if you’ll ever feel like yourself again. I’ve walked this road, too. My own story includes a difficult birth, the ache of secondary infertility, and the heartbreaking miscarriage of our sweet boy. Those seasons changed me — and they deepened my calling. My family and I have committed ourselves to uplifting others walking through their own pain, reminding them they’re not alone and that hope, and healing are possible.
My Approach
With over 15 years in the field of counseling, I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside individuals and families through seasons of loss, transition, and growth. As a somatic therapist, I work from a holistic perspective—addressing the mind, body, and spirit—because true healing reaches every part of who you are. Our work together will go beyond exploring thoughts and emotions. We’ll also tend to how your body has held and responded to trauma. By integrating somatic practices, EMDR, and trauma- informed therapy, I help clients release what’s been carried both physically and emotionally, creating space for balance, resilience, and peace
Professional Background
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) – California License #111379
- EMDR-Trained Therapist – Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing
- Advanced training in Perinatal Mental Health & Birth Trauma Recovery
- Over 15 years of experience supporting women and families through infertility, pregnancy loss, NICU stays, and postpartum adjustment
- Master Trainer for Parenting – Providing advanced training and education in evidence- based parenting strategies
- Provider with ALMA – You may be eligible for reimbursement through your insurance plan. You can look me up directly on ALMA’s website to check coverage.
A Little More About Me
Beyond my work as a therapist, I’m a wife and mother who deeply understands that motherhood is both beautiful and challenging. Our family’s experiences with loss and healing inspired us to create Nurturing the Nest—a resource hub for parents seeking tools, education, and encouragement for their journey. I invite you to visit Nurturing the Nest to explore additional support. We love to travel as a family, whether exploring new cities or soaking in the beauty of quiet places. Travel has become our way of reconnecting, making memories, and celebrating life after loss. I also enjoy music and taking long walks with our sweet dog, Nala.
Your Healing Matters
You don’t have to walk through this season feeling alone or weighed down by the past. Healing is possible—and you can step into motherhood with clarity, connection, and confidence.
FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
Therapy can be vulnerable and new, so it’s natural to be nervous. It can be difficult to imagine the words around what you are feeling. Maybe you’ve experienced feeling tongue tied when trying to open up to friends or loved ones in the past. The fear around that can feel overwhelming. Going to therapy even when you are nervous is not easy. It may take courage to take those steps. You reading this now shows that you are already stepping in the right direction.
Therapy is a safe and encouraging space where you can be yourself and come just as you are. I’m committed to finding a way to care for your uneasiness and ensure sessions are as comfortable as possible.
Take your time to read through my website. If you sense that I may be a good fit based on what you are reading, you can contact me.
We can discuss how I have helped other people like you before, what a typical session with me is like, or any other questions you may have that are specific-to-you. You’ll also be able to share what’s transpiring in your life and we can decide together how I can help.
It may be helpful to think of the first few sessions as an opportunity to experience our collaborative journey. During the sessions, you’ll be able to get a feel of what working with me is like. My approach is not going to work for everyone. What’s most important to me is that you find someone who you feel is the right fit for you. We can explore that together.
It’s natural to not want to share some of the painful or difficult things we’ve been through. During our sessions, it will always be up to you if you feel ready to talk about something or not. It’s my hope that you will slowly come to feel that this is a safe place to work through those painful areas in your life. Gradually and at a pace that feels comfortable to you, you can share what you feel ready to share.
You are courageous for taking this step. Many of my clients have had the same fear because of past experiences. Through my own life journey and working with my clients, I know how ‘normal’ your experience is.
I know many of us are overwhelmed, we all have our strengths and weaknesses, we may have normal reactions to abnormally challenging experiences.
Whatever it is you’re going through, I provide a safe space where you can feel heard and supported.
To maximize your experience during our time together, you will need a quiet and confidential space wherever you are at, a strong Wi-Fi connection (a wired connection is preferred to avoid interruptions) and a good pair of headsets or ear buds. Finally, if you are interested in EMDR, you will need to join our sessions from any device except a phone.
For mothers navigating perinatal challenges, infertility, and the ongoing demands of parenting, healing begins best with weekly therapy sessions for the first four months. This steady rhythm helps create a safe space to build trust, find your footing, and develop practical tools for daily life. After this initial phase, clients may choose to transition to a maintenance pace—meeting every other week or monthly—once they feel more grounded and confident. Others prefer to continue with weekly sessions for as long as it feels supportive, especially when working through deeper layers of healing. The pace is always shaped by your needs, your season of life, and what feels most nurturing for you.
Overall, you can think of the first session as a free-flowing conversation through which we start getting to know each other. I’ll invite you to share more about yourself and we can also talk about what’s worked or not worked for your mental health in the past.
Some questions that I like to ask during a first session include:
- What brought you to therapy?
- What’s taking place in your life right now?
- Have you gone to therapy before? How did that go?
You can ask me questions as well. You might be curious about why I’m a therapist or how I’ve helped other clients like you.
The most important part of a first session is that you see if you feel I’m a good fit for you. If you feel supported, seen, and at-ease with me, we can discuss if you’d like to meet again.
It can be concerning feeling like things you say or do in therapy could “get out.” This can be especially concerning if you are someone in ministry, so I want you to know that your privacy and trust are of utmost importance. If you have specific questions about how confidentiality works, please know that we will cover this prior to our first session together.
Fill out the contact form and I will be in touch with you!
I understand the unique concerns that can come with seeking therapy—especially when your personal or professional life is highly visible. Whether you hold a public role, lead a team, or serve in ministry, you can be assured that your privacy and discretion are paramount. Before we begin, I will walk you through exactly how confidentiality works, so you can step into our work together with complete confidence and peace of mind
