Serving the Coachella Valley & Online throughout California.
Specialized Therapy for High-Functioning Perfectionist Moms.
You’re the glue holding it all together, but who’s holding you?
Trade the “perfect” facade for nervous system regulation.
You’re doing too much and it’s costing you everything.
From the outside, you’re the one holding the house together. But inside? You’re just… running on fumes. You’re over-functioning not because you want to, but because you’ve learned that if you stop, everything might tilt.
It shows up in the quiet moments. It’s the Midnight Loop, that heavy, restless replaying of the day’s "missed" expectations when you finally have a second to yourself. It’s the Invisible Load that keeps your own needs permanently at the bottom of the pile. It’s Performance Parenting, that gnawing, quiet fear that if you ever stop "doing," people will finally realize you’re just a human, not a superhero.
You aren't failing. You’ve just spent years using perfectionism as a survival strategy to keep the world safe. But you’re starting to realize: the control isn't keeping you safe anymore. It’s just keeping you stuck.
If you’re ready to put the performance down, I’m here.
Moving from Doing to Being
You’ve spent years trying to think your way out of anxiety. You read the parenting books, you track your moods, and you try to be more mindful, but when the stress spikes, your nervous system still pulls the same alarm.
That’s because your perfectionism isn't a personality flaw; it’s a biological survival state.
This is where our work together begins. We don't just talk about the why of your stress; we look at the how of your body.
Through Integrative Body Psychotherapy (IBP) and nervous system regulation, we help your body learn that it is safe to put the armor down. We aren't trying to fix you or teach you to be perfect at being calm. We’re simply learning how to notice when your system is racing, how to hold space for the exhaustion you've been carrying, and how to gently guide you back to center. It’s not about doing more. It’s about feeling enough, just as you are.
A Different Way to Mother
We spend so much time looking for the ‘right' way to do this, the best sleep training, the most enriching activities, the perfect calm response. But what if the goal isn't to be a better version of 'perfect'?
What if motherhood wasn't about adding more to your plate, but about giving yourself permission to put some of it down?
I don’t offer parenting hacks or another to-do list. I offer a way back to yourself.
We work to shift your body out of the 'fight or flight' of perfectionism and into the steady, grounded space of simply being present. We learn that your nervous system is the heartbeat of your home, and that when you are regulated, your children are, too. This is the 'Good Enough' path.
It isn't a consolation prize; it is the gold standard of freedom. It’s the permission to be human, to make mistakes, and to show your children that repairing a rupture is the truest form of love.
Hi, I’m Sophie
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist | Coachella Valley & Online Across California
I work with high-functioning perfectionist moms in the Coachella Valley, and online throughout California, so you can begin from wherever you are.
I’ve spent my career as an LMFT learning the science of how we heal. But if I’m being honest? My most important qualification isn’t my degree, it’s the deep, lived-in understanding of what it costs to be the one who carries it all.
I see the "high-functioning" facade every day because I know exactly how much work it takes to maintain it. I know the specific exhaustion that comes from being the glue, the planner, and the keeper of everyone else’s peace. I’m not here to give you another to-do list to make you a "better" mom. I’m here to help you get back to the version of yourself that exists beneath the armor, the one that doesn't need to perform to be worthy of rest.
We’ll use somatic work and nervous system regulation to help your body feel like a home again, not a battlefield.
I’d be honored to walk this part of the path with you.
Let’s see if we are a good fit.
Read more about my background.
Therapy Services at Haven Wellness in Palm Desert and Online Across California.
Therapy for the Complexities of Family Building. Because the path to “here” hasn’t always been linear.
You don’t need to know exactly where to start; we’ll figure that out together. Book a free consultation.
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Infertility & IVF Therapy
Navigating the Long Wait: When your body feels like a project, not a home.
You’ve spent months or years in survival mode, tracking every cycle and holding your breath for the next result. It’s exhausting to feel like a patient first and a person second. We’ll work to move out of hyper vigilance of medicalized conception and find a space where you can truly breathe again, regardless of where you are on the timeline.
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Donor Conception & Family Building Therapy
Honoring the Unique Path: Building a family story that feels grounded and true.
Whether you are navigating the nuances of donor conception or the specific complexities of non-genetic parenting, your journey is layered. We tackle the “imposter syndrome” of motherhood and the practicalities of telling your child’s story with pride. We’ll build a foundation where honesty is the framework and love is the anchor.
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Adoption & Identity Therapy
The Adult Adoptee Experience: Navigating identity, belonging, and the journey home to yourself.
Adoption is a lifelong experience, not a one-time event. It’s common for the “mother wound” or questions about your own roots to surface more loudly once you become a parent yourself. We hold space for the parts of your story that feel unheard, ensuring you aren’t self-abandoning in an attempt to be the “perfect” anchor for your family.
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Postpartum & Early Parenthood Therapy
Finding You in Transition: Because Motherhood shouldn’t mean losing your identity.
The shift into parenthood is a beautiful, brutal “becoming.” It’s okay to acknowledge the grief for who you used to be while you learn to embrace who you are now. We use somatic work to help your body feel safe in this new role, moving from the “doing” of caretaking to the “being” of presence.
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Child & Family Therapy
Tending the Roots: Building a foundation of safety and honesty from day one.
The journey to parenthood was complex, and raising a child carries its own unique layers. Whether you’re navigating how to share a donor-conception story, supporting an adopted child’s identity, or simply wanting to ensure you aren’t passing down generational cycles, I help you create a home built on co-regulation. We focus on your child’s nervous system and yours, ensuring that your family story is held with truth, repair, and deep connection.
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Healing the Mother Wound
Breaking the Cycle: Healing the imprint left by the one who raised you.
You’re an expert at over-functioning because you had to be. Now, you’re trying to parent differently than you were parented, but the old patterns still pull at your nervous system. We move gently through the grief of what you didn’t receive so you can stop performing motherhood and start experiencing it on your own terms.
Your healing is the blueprint, but connection is the house.
We move from individual regulation to relational harmony.
Extending the Anchor
Relational Regulation (Couples)
Moving from “who’s doing more?” to “how are we doing?”
In high-stress years of family building, it’s easy to become roommates managing a schedule. We use somatic tools to help you and your partner recognize when you’re both in “survival mode” so you can move back into partnership.
Creating the Secure Base (Families)
Your children don’t need a perfect mother; they need a regulated one.
Your nervous system is the heartbeat of your home. We focus on family-wide safety and co-regulation, creating an environment where big emotions are held with care and repair is always possible.
A Path Made For You
A simple, steady process, so you always know what to expect.
Getting started doesn’t have to feel complicated or overwhelming. Here’s what it looks like:
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Before we dive into the deep work, let’s make sure we click. This is a dedicated space for you to ask the “real” questions and for me to hear what your days look like beneath the surface. No pressure to sign up, and no need to perform. Just two humans seeing if we can walk this path together.
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We’ll keep the paperwork part simple. You’ll get access to. a private portal (Simple Practice) to handle the intake details, scheduling, and payments on your own timeline. It’s designed to be straightforward and stress-free, so you can start your journey feeling supported, not busy.
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Our first session is about creating a soft landing. We’ll start by slowing everything down to notice what your nervous system has been carrying and where your body has learned to keep its “armor” up. There is no pressure to have it all figured out or to perform for me. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all clinical plan; it’s a collaborative process of helping your system feel safe enough to rest and helping you move from doing to being, just as you are.
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Therapy isn’t a linear checklist; it’s a living process that adapts to your actual life. As your needs shift, whether you’re in a season of transition or a week of pure survival, our work adjusts with you. We’ll focus on building steady, sustainable ways of responding to stress, always leaving plenty of room for real life, not perfection.
In-Person Therapy in Coachella Valley & Online Across California
Support that meets you where you are… literally.
Whether you’re local to Palm Desert or logging in from your kitchen floor between feedings, after a long workday, or during a season of transition, therapy at Haven Wellness is designed to fit into real life, not compete with it.
Online therapy across California
No commuting. No childcare scramble. No rushing in and out.
Just steady support from wherever you can catch a quiet moment.
In-person sessions in Palm Desert
If face-to-face connection feels important to you, I offer weekly in-person sessions at:
One El Paseo Plaza
74-225 Hwy 111, Suite C
Palm Desert, CA 92260
It’s a calm, grounding space for parents, parents-to-be, couples, and adults navigating stress, relationship changes, family building, and major life transitions.
Serving clients in Palm Desert, Palm Springs, La Quinta, Indio, Rancho Mirage, and the entire Coachella Valley, with online therapy available anywhere in California.
Reflections from colleagues who share this work of supporting parents through life’s tender seasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
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I am an out-of-network provider and do not accept insurance directly. Many clients choose to use their out-of-network benefits, and I’m happy to provide a superbill you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.
If you have questions about cost or coverage, we can talk through that during the free consultation.
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Yes. I offer secure online therapy to clients anywhere in California.
Online sessions allow for flexibility and consistency, especially during busy or transitional seasons. Many people find it helpful to receive support from a familiar, comfortable space
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I work with individuals and couples.
This includes parents, parents-to-be, couples navigating relationship transitions, and adults carrying long-term stress, anxiety, or emotional overwhelm. We’ll talk together about what kind of support feels most helpful for you.
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Yes. I work with LGBTQIA+ individuals, couples, and families, including those navigating family building, parenting, adoption, donor conception, and relationship transitions.
My work is affirming, inclusive, and grounded in respect for each family’s lived experience.Absolutely. Haven Wellness is fully affirming. I work often with queer parents, donor-conceived families, and two-mom or two-dad family systems, offering support that honors your identity and lived experience.
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In some cases, yes, especially during pregnancy or early postpartum.
We can talk together about what feels supportive and practical, and make a plan that prioritizes both your needs and the therapeutic space.
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Yes. While my primary focus is supporting parents and parents-to-be, I do offer therapy for young children as well as parent-child support to help you understand and respond to your child’s emotional needs and behaviors.
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That depends on your goals, needs, and the season you’re in.
Some people come for short-term support around a specific transition. Others choose longer-term therapy to work through patterns shaped by chronic stress or survival mode. We’ll check in regularly and adjust as needed, there’s no fixed timeline.