“Is This Just Motherhood, or Do I Actually Need Therapy?” 

January 2026 

Written by Kristine Page LCPC, LPC, PMH-C

This is a question I hear often in my work with my new moms in my consultation calls. Many people come to therapy wondering the same thing, even if they’ve never said it out loud before. If you’ve been asking yourself this, you’re not alone.

What This Question Is Really About

When clients ask this, what they’re often really wondering is:

These questions usually come from a place of exhaustion, uncertainty, and wanting validation—not failure.

What’s Actually Happening (Mind, Body, or Nervous System)

Here’s the part that often brings relief: there is usually a very real reason this is happening. During motherhood, the body and nervous system are under constant demand. Hormonal shifts, lack of rest, increased responsibility, and emotional load all play a role.

A lot of the time moms will compare themselves to their mom, friends, people on social media and say things like “Well, they can do it, why can’t I?” This isn’t a personal flaw—it’s a physiological and emotional response to a very real season of life.

What This Is Not

This does not mean:

So many clients assume they should be able to “push through,” when what their system actually needs is support. 

A Gentle Reframe

Instead of asking, “Should I feel this way?”
 Try asking, “What might my body or nervous system be asking for right now?”

Support isn’t something you earn by suffering—it’s something that helps you move through this season with more steadiness and compassion.

One Small Takeaway

If this question keeps coming up for you, that’s information worth listening to. You don’t have to have a certain reason to seek support. You’re allowed to get help simply because this feels hard.

Gentle Invitation

If this resonates, know that you’re not alone—and nothing about this makes you a bad parent or a broken person. It means you’re human, navigating a big transition, and your experience deserves care.