Why I Specialize in Therapy for Moms with Burnout and Overwhelm
Hi, I’m Émilie Avon-Green, and I specialize in therapy for moms—moms who feel burnt out, overwhelmed, and often question if they’re a “bad mom.” Many of the women I support struggle with not feeling good enough. Sometimes they’ve had a history of anxiety or self-worth struggles, but most often, they’re just weighed down by the crushing expectations of society—expectations they can’t keep up with, and maybe don’t even want to.
This is why I’ve chosen to specialize in working with moms. Let me explain.
Why I Focus on Therapy for Moms
When I tell people that I work with moms, I usually get two very different reactions:
From moms or people who work closely with moms: “That’s so needed. Amazing. Moms need specialized support.”
From people who aren’t parents or don’t usually work with moms: “Why moms specifically? Why not parents in general?”
Here’s my short answer:
When moms prioritize themselves, they’re better able to care for their families and loved ones.
And here’s the fuller picture: when moms care for their mental, physical, and emotional health, when they nurture relationships with themselves, their partners, and their friends, they thrive. And when moms thrive, they have the capacity to be present with their children and to build strong family bonds.
But when moms don’t prioritize themselves, it often leads to emotional dysregulation, overstimulation, and the constant feeling of being “touched out.” Without rest and support, moms are at capacity—and when you’re at capacity, it’s impossible to show up the way you want to for yourself or your kids.
Why Not Work With Fathers Too?
Fathers absolutely deserve their own specialized support, and I would love to see more therapists working with dads. But for me, I focus on moms because that’s my lived experience.
I’m a mom. I have a toddler who, as I write this, is upstairs fighting bedtime. I know firsthand how complicated, exhausting, and beautiful motherhood can be. I’ve lived the struggles, the guilt, and the moments of joy. That lived experience allows me to deeply connect with and support the moms I work with.
What I Learned Working With Families
Before private practice, I worked at an agency supporting children, teens, and families. What I noticed was that children were often presented as “the problem” or “the client.” Parents would bring their child to therapy hoping I could “fix” them.
But over time, I saw a pattern: the child’s struggles were often connected to what was happening in the family environment. If parents weren’t emotionally regulated, the child’s progress in therapy rarely stuck.
When I started involving parents—encouraging them to work on their own regulation, triggers, and past wounds—the family dynamic improved. Often, the child’s struggles lessened simply because the environment shifted.
That experience was my first clue that supporting parents (especially moms) could create the biggest ripple effect.
Breaking the Cycle of Mom Guilt and Shame
Being a mom is a completely different experience than being a dad. Society treats moms differently, and the expectations are relentless:
Be the perfect parent.
Keep a spotless, Instagram-worthy home.
Cook nourishing meals.
Maintain a full-time career.
Look put together while doing it all.
And of course, do it flawlessly—without asking for help, without setting boundaries, and without ever showing that you’re at your breaking point.
Moms are told that self-sacrifice is honorable. That running on empty means you’re doing motherhood “right.” But the truth is, those expectations are impossible.
The result? Many moms end up stuck in cycles of guilt and shame:
Feeling guilty for needing time away.
Feeling guilty for not loving every moment.
Feeling guilty for not being “enough.”
I can’t tell you how many clients have admitted they feel guilty just for wanting a break from being a mom for a single day. But the truth is—that’s normal. You’re allowed to want space. You’re allowed to be your own person.
My Lived Experience as a Mom and Therapist
Part of why I work with moms is because I’ve been there myself.
My pregnancy was difficult, and I experienced severe postpartum depression and anxiety. For the first couple of months, I didn’t even feel connected to my daughter. I told myself, “I can’t be a mom.” I remember thinking I wanted to disappear.
At the time, I thought those feelings meant I was a horrible mother. What I didn’t know was that I was experiencing postpartum depression—and it wasn’t my fault.
Sadly, so many moms I speak with describe similar experiences. They thought what they were going through was “just normal motherhood.” That breaks my heart. Because no, it’s not normal to feel like you’re drowning, disconnected, or consumed by shame. But when society tells us “this is just what motherhood is,” moms don’t always seek the support they deserve.
Why Supporting Moms Matters Most
Working with moms wasn’t something I planned at first. I thought I’d focus on anxiety and self-worth. But over time, I realized that the clients who lit me up—the ones I connected with most deeply—were moms who wanted to:
Prioritize themselves without guilt.
Strengthen their relationships with their children and partners.
Break generational cycles of disconnection and burnout.
The more I worked with moms, the clearer it became: this is my calling.
Because here’s the truth: motherhood should be enjoyed. Yes, it’s hard. Yes, it’s messy. But it’s not supposed to be constant depletion, shame, or survival mode.
As I often say: It’s your child’s childhood, but it’s your motherhood too—and you deserve to enjoy it.
A New Vision of Motherhood
Moms are often called superheroes—and they are. But I wish they didn’t always have to be.
The moms I work with aren’t just trying to “get through” motherhood. They want to enjoy it. They want their kids to remember them as present, happy, and thriving—not just surviving.
That’s why I do this work. And that’s why I’ll keep talking about what I call slow motherhood: a way of mothering that puts moms first so they can raise their families outside of society’s impossible expectations.
Motherhood is not meant to be constant sacrifice or survival mode. You deserve joy, rest, and connection in this season of life. My hope is that by supporting moms, even in small ways, we can begin to shift how society sees and values motherhood—so that future generations inherit something different.
Watch the full video version of this blog here: Why I Chose to Work With Moms as a Therapist