Therapy for Maternal Mental health and First Generation Adults based in Bakersfield, CA
Therapy for mothers, women, and first-generation adults navigating anxiety, burnout, relationships, and life's changing seasons.
Seeking Support Through Change
*
Seeking Support Through Change *
You may be feeling :
You’ve gotten used to holding a lot—often without pause, and often without being asked how you’re doing in return.
You may feel like you’re constantly “on”—thinking ahead, managing responsibilities, reading the needs of everyone around you, and trying to stay one step ahead so nothing falls apart. Even when things are quiet, your mind isn’t.
There’s a mental list that never really turns off. And no matter how much you do in a day, it can still feel like it wasn’t enough.
You might find yourself saying “I’m fine” automatically, even when you feel overwhelmed, anxious, emotionally drained, or disconnected from yourself. Rest doesn’t always feel restful—your body may pause, but your mind keeps going.
In motherhood, you may be loving your child deeply while also feeling overstimulated, touched out, irritable, or guilty for needing space. You may wonder how something that matters so much can also feel so heavy at times.
As a first-generation adult, you may feel the weight of navigating two worlds—carrying family expectations while also trying to build a life that feels aligned with you. You might notice guilt when you set boundaries, pressure to always be the strong one, or the sense that you’re figuring everything out alone.
And underneath it all, there may be a quiet exhaustion from always being the one who adapts, holds, and keeps going—no matter how full you already feel.
If this feels familiar, therapy can be a place where you don’t have to hold everything at once—or translate your experience to be understood. You get to have space too.
Our Services
Maternal Mental Health
Find support as you navigate the emotional, mental, and identity changes that often accompany pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood.
First Generation Adult Experiences
Explore the challenges of balancing family expectations, cultural values, and your own goals while building a life that feels authentic to you.
Anxiety & Stress
Move from feeling overwhelmed and exhausted to feeling more grounded, confident, and in control of your daily life.
Relationships & Life Transitions
Strengthen your relationships and gain support through life's changes with greater clarity, confidence, and resilience.
About Me
Hi, I'm Susana
I created Sostén Therapy because I believe everyone deserves a place where they feel genuinely supported. As a mother, first-generation daughter, and bilingual Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I understand the complexity of balancing family responsibilities, personal goals, relationships, and life transitions—all while trying to hold yourself together through it.
Many of my clients are used to being the strong one—the person others rely on—while quietly carrying stress, anxiety, burnout, or uncertainty on their own. Over time, it can start to feel like there’s no space left for them.
I understand how quickly life can become overwhelming when you’re meeting the needs of everyone else while also trying to meet high expectations for yourself.
At Sostén Therapy, I offer a warm, compassionate space where you can slow down, feel seen, and feel supported without needing to hold it all together. Together, we work through anxiety, motherhood transitions, relationship challenges, life stress, and the many roles you carry—so you can feel more grounded, connected, and empowered in your daily life.
