Vera McGrath, LMFT · EMDR Certified Therapist · Carlsbad, CA
Therapy for Women & Mothers in Carlsbad & San Diego
You Don’t Have to Keep Running on Empty
On the outside, you look like you have it all together. Inside, you feel anxious, overwhelmed, exhausted, or stuck in patterns you can’t seem to change.
Whether you are navigating motherhood or a major life transition, healing from trauma, or carrying the pressure of keeping everything together, therapy can help you understand what’s keeping you stuck and create meaningful change.
In-person therapy in Carlsbad and online throughout California.
From the Outside, You Look Fine. On the Inside, You Are Barely Keeping It Together.
You are used to being the one who handles things. You keep going, take care of what needs to get done, and show up for the people who depend on you. But lately, it feels harder.
You feel overwhelmed or anxious, constantly thinking ahead, questioning yourself, or wondering why you are not handling things better. Motherhood, pregnancy, fertility challenges, relationships, work, or past experiences are bringing up parts of you that you thought you had already figured out.
The strategies that helped you get this far, like pushing through, staying productive, keeping everyone happy, or holding everything together, are starting to take a toll.
Therapy can help you understand what is underneath these patterns, work through what keeps getting activated, and find a way of moving through your life that feels more like you.
Meet Your Therapist
Hi, I’m Vera.
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and EMDR Certified therapist specializing in trauma, anxiety, and perinatal mental health.
I work primarily with women and mothers who are used to holding it all together, but are ready for something to change. Some come to therapy during pregnancy, postpartum, fertility challenges, or loss. Others are struggling with anxiety, burnout, relationship patterns, or experiences from the past that continue to affect how they feel and respond today.
My approach goes beyond simply talking about what is happening. Together, we work to understand the patterns underneath it and help your mind and body process experiences that continue to keep you stuck.
Therapy with me is collaborative, practical, and focused on helping you create changes you can actually feel in your everyday life.
“You don’t have to earn the right to ask for help. You are already enough, even on the days it doesn’t feel that way.”
Vera McGrath, LMFT
Issues I Specialize In
Pregnancy, Postpartum & Perinatal Mental Health
Pregnancy and motherhood can bring enormous change, even when this is a chapter of life you deeply wanted. I offer specialized support through pregnancy, postpartum, fertility challenges, loss, birth trauma, and the emotional transition into motherhood.
- Pregnancy & Prenatal Anxiety
- Postpartum Anxiety & Depression
- Infertility & Fertility Treatment
- Pregnancy & Baby Loss
- Birth Trauma
- Motherhood & Burnout
Trauma, Anxiety & Patterns That Keep You Stuck
Sometimes what you are struggling with now has roots in experiences or patterns that have been with you for a long time. We can work with both what is happening in your life today and what is underneath it.
- Anxiety & Overwhelm
- Trauma & PTSD
- Childhood & Attachment Wounds
- People Pleasing & Perfectionism
- High-Functioning Anxiety & Burnout
- Relationship Patterns & Self-Esteem
My Approach
Therapy That Goes Beyond Talking
Understanding why you feel or react a certain way can be incredibly helpful, but insight alone does not change the way you feel.
Our work can include EMDR therapy, attachment-focused work, and approaches that pay attention to both your mind and your body. We will look at what is happening in your life now while also understanding the experiences and patterns that shaped how you learned to respond.
Sometimes that means developing practical tools you can use right away. Other times, it means working more deeply with experiences that continue to get activated in the present.
The goal is not simply to understand yourself better. It is to help you experience real change in how you feel, relate to yourself and others, and move through your life.
How It Works
Three Steps to Getting Started
Free Consultation
We will connect for a brief, no-pressure call to talk about what is bringing you to therapy, what you are looking for, and any questions you have about working together.
Your First Session
We will spend time understanding what is happening in your life, what you want to change, and the experiences and patterns that are important for us to understand.
Begin the Work
From there, we will work together in a way that is tailored to you. This can include practical tools, deeper exploration, EMDR, attachment-focused work, and attention to what is happening in your body and nervous system.
How I Can Help You
Specialized therapy for anxiety, trauma, motherhood, pregnancy, and major life transitions.
What People Are Saying
5.0 stars from 7 reviews
“Some very daunting times in my life had left me overwhelmed by mixed emotions. When I finally turned to Vera I felt lost and paralyzed, my life had become too hard to handle. Vera created a safe space for me to express my feelings, she let me unload the weight I was buried under....”
Eva
“Vera creates a rare and important space that feels both safe and real, something truly valuable in a healing journey. With deep compassion, clarity, and just the right touch of humor, Vera helps clients reconnect with their bodies, make sense of complex trauma, and move forward w...”
Jeanie
“Vera is a trusted colleague. Recently I joined a year long training program through an organization where Vera is affiliated. I was overwhelmed and felt like a fish out of water after the first meeting. I reached out to Vera for support and guidance. She took the time to help me...”
Rachel
“Vera is a highly skilled, capable and intelligent therapist. She is good at honing in on what's really important and focusing on making meaningful change with her clients. Vera specializes in working with moms through postpartum and beyond, and has extra training and expertise in...”
Katie
“I have known Vera for many years. She is so incredibly attuned to her clients and those around her. She's compassionate, kind and warm. She has this amazing ability to really see people and connect. She is a true light in this field.”
Jen
“I've known Vera for years. We've attended many networking and professional events together. She approaches her work with a calm confidence and a depth of knowledge that immediately puts you at ease. Vera listens attentively and is a very skilled therapist. I would highly recommen...”
Kristen
“Vera is an extremely intuitive, compassionate, and talented therapist. She is highly skilled in EMDR and other trauma treatments and multiple other modalities. I highly recommend her!”
Dr. Courtney
“Some very daunting times in my life had left me overwhelmed by mixed emotions. When I finally turned to Vera I felt lost and paralyzed, my life had become too hard to handle. Vera created a safe space for me to express my feelings, she let me unload the weight I was buried under. I left our sessions feeling lighter. It is thanks to her understanding, gentle and kind guidance that, little by little I was able to sort my emotions, gain clarity and see my situation from a different perspective. She provided practical strategies to cope with my emotions and encouraged a more positive outlook, this gave me confidence in my ability to overcome and navigate the challenges in my life. I will forever be thankful to Vera for helping me find my way out of a very dark period in my life and for inspiring me to believe in myself.”
Eva
A Friendly Face
You May Have a Furry Greeter
Bella, my office dog, is a beloved part of the practice and often joins me for in-person sessions. Many clients enjoy having her around, and she brings a little warmth and informality into the therapy room.
If you have allergies, are uncomfortable around dogs, or simply prefer a dog-free session, just let me know. I will make sure the space is comfortable for you.
EMDR Certified Therapist
Vera is an EMDR Certified Therapist through EMDRIA, reflecting additional training, consultation, and experience in the use of EMDR therapy.
You Deserve to Feel Like Yourself Again
You do not have to keep pushing through on your own. Schedule a free consultation to talk about what is bringing you to therapy, what you are looking for, and whether working together feels like a good fit.
Request Your Free Consultation