Mindful Mama Support Group in Fresno, CA

Find Peace During Pregnancy & Postpartum with Expert-Led Support

Pregnancy and postpartum can be overwhelming times filled with unexpected emotions, anxiety, and mood changes that leave you feeling isolated and uncertain.

At Olive Leaf Therapy, we understand that perinatal mental health challenges affect many women, yet finding specialized support in the Central Valley can feel impossible when you need it most.

Our Mindful Mama Support Group, facilitated by PSI-certified therapist Cheryl Hixson, provides a safe, understanding space where pregnant and postpartum women connect with others experiencing similar challenges. Unlike generic support groups, our program specifically addresses perinatal mood and anxiety disorders with evidence-based approaches tailored to the unique needs of motherhood.

Conveniently located in Fresno with multiple locations, our group offers Central Valley families accessible, specialized care that recognizes the specific stressors facing mothers in our community, from family pressures to the challenges of raising children in California's Central Valley.

Laura Slagle, CEO and founder, brings extensive experience in attachment-based and trauma-informed therapy

Established practice serving Fresno families since 2014 with specialized adoption and foster care expertise

Multiple locations throughout Fresno and Clovis for convenient access to specialized care

Collaborative approach with local adoption agencies and foster care organizations

Established practice serving Fresno families since 2014 with specialized adoption and foster care expertise

Our Services

Facilitated by Cheryl Hixson, our Clinical Manager who holds PSI (Postpartum Support International) certification, this group provides expert-led support that goes beyond general counseling.

Our group sessions combine evidence-based therapeutic techniques with peer support, creating a unique healing environment where women can share experiences, learn coping strategies, and develop meaningful connections. Each session incorporates mindfulness practices, psychoeducation about perinatal mental health, and practical tools for managing the emotional challenges of pregnancy and early motherhood.

The group follows a structured yet flexible format that allows for both guided discussion and individual sharing. Participants learn about the normalcy of perinatal mental health struggles, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and build a support network that extends beyond group sessions. We address common concerns like baby blues, postpartum anxiety, birth trauma, breastfeeding challenges, and the identity shifts that come with motherhood.

Our trauma-informed, attachment-based approach ensures that each woman feels heard, validated, and supported in her unique journey. The group provides a confidential, non-judgmental space where mothers can process their experiences while learning from others who understand the complexities of perinatal mental health in a supportive, therapeutic environment designed to promote healing and connection.

The Mindful Mama Support Group is a specialized therapeutic group designed specifically for pregnant women and new mothers experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, including postpartum depression, anxiety, and adjustment challenges.

Find Peace During Pregnancy & Postpartum

How You Benefit

Our Service Categories

Our Process

Step 1: Initial Contact and Assessment 

Contact our office to discuss your needs and determine if our Mindful Mama Support Group is the right fit for your situation. We'll conduct a brief assessment to understand your current challenges, support needs, and any safety concerns. This typically takes 15-20 minutes and helps us ensure the group setting will be beneficial and appropriate for your mental health needs.

Step 2: Group Orientation and Introduction 

Attend an orientation session where you'll meet Cheryl, learn about group guidelines and expectations, and connect with other group members in a structured, supportive introduction. This session helps you feel comfortable and prepared for ongoing group participation while establishing the safe, confidential environment essential for therapeutic group work.

Step 3: Regular Group Participation 

Engage in weekly group sessions that combine psychoeducation, mindfulness practices, peer support, and therapeutic processing. Each session follows a structured format while allowing flexibility for addressing current concerns and challenges. You'll develop coping strategies, build connections, and work through perinatal mental health challenges with professional guidance and peer support.

Step 4: Progress Monitoring and Continued Support 

Work with Cheryl to monitor your progress, adjust participation as needed, and plan for continued support as your needs evolve. We provide resources for maintaining mental health gains and connections to additional services when beneficial for your ongoing wellness and family stability.

Our Approach

Our approach to maternal mental health support centers on creating authentic connections within a professionally guided, therapeutic environment.

We believe that healing happens through both expert clinical intervention and meaningful peer relationships with other women experiencing similar challenges. The Mindful Mama Support Group combines evidence-based therapeutic techniques with the powerful healing that comes from shared understanding and community support.

We utilize trauma-informed care principles that recognize how pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood can trigger or compound existing mental health challenges. Our PSI-certified facilitation ensures that group sessions address the specific biological, psychological, and social factors affecting perinatal mental health, moving beyond generic mental health approaches to focus on the unique needs of pregnant and postpartum women.

The group format allows for both structured learning and organic peer support, creating space for psychoeducation about perinatal mood disorders alongside personal sharing and mutual support. We incorporate mindfulness practices, attachment-based concepts, and family-centered perspectives that recognize how maternal mental health impacts entire family systems and relationships.

Our Central Valley focus means understanding the cultural, economic, and social factors specific to our community that impact maternal mental health. We address the real challenges facing local mothers while building on the strengths and support systems available within our Fresno-Clovis community, creating sustainable healing and connection that extends beyond group sessions.

FAQs

Olive Leaf Therapy has served Central Valley families since 2014, providing specialized trauma-informed, attachment-based mental health services throughout Fresno and Clovis. Our experienced team combines evidence-based therapeutic approaches with deep understanding of local community needs and family dynamics.