What is Kristina Anzell, LCSW, CPSC?

Perinatal therapist in Bend, OR. Postpartum, anxiety, Gottman couples, nature-based therapy & CBT-I insomnia. In-person + telehealth Oregon.

Resources & Insights

The Blog

Evidence-based insights on postpartum mental health, sleep, relationships, and thriving in motherhood - written by Kristina Anzell, LCSW, PMH-C.

Postpartum Mental Health

Postpartum, Couples & Sleep: What Changes After Baby — and How to Find Your Way Through

When a baby arrives, everything shifts at once — your identity, your relationship, and your sleep. Here is how postpartum mental health, couples dynamics, and sleep are deeply connected, and what you can do about it.

7 min readRead

Identity & Matrescence

Who Am I Now? Navigating Identity After Becoming a Mother

Matrescence — the psychological transformation of becoming a mother — is one of the most significant identity shifts a woman can experience. Here's why it's so disorienting, and what it looks like to find yourself again.

7 min readRead

Health & Wellness

Building Healthy Habits in Motherhood That Actually Stick

What worked before baby probably doesn't work now. Here's how to build sustainable health habits that fit this season of your life — without the guilt spiral.

6 min readRead

Postpartum Anxiety

Is It Just 'New Mom Anxiety' — Or Something More?

Postpartum anxiety affects up to 20% of new mothers, yet it often goes unrecognized. Here's how to tell the difference between normal new-mom worry and something that deserves real support.

6 min readRead

Sleep

Why You Can't Sleep Even When the Baby Does — Understanding Postpartum Insomnia

Postpartum insomnia is one of the most frustrating experiences for new mothers — you're exhausted, but you can't sleep. Here's why it happens and what CBT-I can do about it.

7 min readRead

Burnout & Overwhelm

Burnout in Motherhood: When You Have Nothing Left to Give

Maternal burnout is real, it's measurable, and it's not caused by weakness. Here's what the research says about why mothers burn out — and what actually helps.

6 min readRead

Pediatric Sleep

Gentle Baby Sleep: What Actually Works (And What Doesn't)

Gentle sleep support doesn't mean no support at all. Here's what the evidence says about helping babies and toddlers sleep — without methods that feel wrong to you.

7 min readRead

Postpartum Mood

Postpartum Rage: The Emotion Nobody Talks About

You love your family deeply. You also feel an anger that frightens you sometimes. Postpartum rage is real, common, and often a sign that something deeper needs attention.

6 min readRead

Relationships

What Gottman Couples Therapy Actually Looks Like After Baby

Research shows that 67% of couples experience a significant decline in relationship satisfaction after having a baby. Gottman Method couples therapy offers a research-backed path back to each other.

7 min readRead

Empowered Motherhood

What Is Empowered Motherhood — And Is It Right for You?

A 13-week therapist-led group program for postpartum women who are ready for measurable change. Here's what it is, who it's for, and what you can expect.

8 min readRead

About the Author

Kristina Anzell, LCSW, PMH-C

Kristina is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in perinatal mental health, with advanced training in TEAM-CBT, DBT, ACT, and the Gottman Method. She is the founder of Empowered Motherhood and sees clients in person in Redmond, OR and via telehealth in OR, CA, and FL. She is also a mom - which means she gets it.