Mom life is not what you were expecting.

Right now you are feeling all of the “outs” – stressed out, burned out, tapped out, touched out, maxed out, worn out. This unfortunately is the norm for most women today. And what’s even worse is that it’s taboo to talk about these feelings when they’re connected to motherhood.

We’re here to change that with therapy that’s designed just for women who are in the fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and early motherhood phases of life.

Good-bye mom anxiety, postpartum rage, overwhelm and all that mom burnout…

it’s time to enjoy REAL motherhood.

I’m Dr. Julie Franks.

your maternal mental health therapist in seattle, on bainbridge island, and in washington state

I offer individual therapy and support groups for women who are on a fertility journey, experiencing pregnancy, postpartum, and in the early years of motherhood.

I'm a licensed clinical social work therapist, an expert in women's mental health, and a social work educator. But most importantly, I’m also a mom who is right there with you in experiencing the social pressures and demands of motherhood + all the stress it creates.

I help women protect their mental health while caring for and creating their families..As a postpartum anxiety survivor who had a difficult start to motherhood, I get the way social pressures and expectations make it hard to understand + focus on your values and identity.

Becoming a parent changes the way you care for yourself, the way mental health symptoms show up, and the relationships you rely on for support. Nurturing the Sisterhood is dedicated to supporting you through the nuances of this challenging phase of life.

I’m here to help you understand your mental health symptoms, find ways to cope, and learn to focus on what matters so things get better for you.

Ways we can work together:

I’m here to support you. I created Nurturing the Sisterhood to give women and mothers a dedicated space to be nurtured, heal and grow. Creating your family and journeying through early motherhood isn’t easy, but it’s less difficult with support. I’m here to help when you’re ready.

  • Looking for resources that don't require you to establish a therapy relationship? These non-clinical, educational, self-paced courses, workbooks and programs are a great place to get started. And there's even a few freebies!

  • Clinical therapy for women who are facing infertility or pregnancy loss, are trying to get pregnant, or are pregnant, postpartum, and in the early years of motherhood. Washington State residents only.

    LEARN MORE

“A refreshingly honest perspective on Motherhood.”

Women who get support tend to feel better quickly, and that includes you.

  • Therapy for women who have experienced anxiety throughout their lifetime, for just a bit, or while undergoing fertility treatment, experiencing pregnancy, postpartum, and at any point during motherhood. As a postpartum anxiety survivor and someone who has lived with anxiety for my entire lifetime, I understand how challenging it can be + how motherhood changes and challenges anxiety in new ways. I'm here to help.

  • Postpartum depression (PPD) is more than the baby blues, and it’s different than feeling sad or overwhelmed. Many women who experience PPD descibe feeling exhausted, irritable, insecure, and even hopeless. I understand the way these feelings can cause you to feel like you aren’t doing your best as a parent. I want you to know tha you’re not alone and this isn’t your fault. I’m here to support you without judgment. With support, I believe you can feel better.

  • Therapy for women and partners who are experiencing infertility, making decisions about pregnancy, going through the process of family planning, and/or seeking support after receiving an infertility diagnosis. I work with families who exploring gestational surrogacy, adoption, foster care, and considering stopping fertility treatment.

  • Therapy for women and/or partners who have experienced miscarriage or pregnancy loss, including stillbirth and loss by abortion. I experienced multiple pregnancy losses during fertility journey, and I won't talk about the details unless you're interested. It's important that you know that I get it.

  • Therapy for women who are navigating the unique challenges that come alongside starting and loving your family, including relationship struggles, trouble connecting to your child or partner, finding balance between work/home/personal life, and general mental health challenges that come along during motherhood and cause distress. Every woman's needs are unique, and no issue is too big or too small for therapy.

Lately, on the Blog

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Through Thick and Thin 

EVERY-OTHER-THURSDAY I'M IN YOUR INBOX WITH TIPS, TOOLS, RESOURCES and a little humor TO MAKE BEING A MOM A LITTLE BIT EASIER, BECAUSE BEING A MOM feels BETTER WHEN WE'RE IN IT TOGETHER.