Each month, we love introducing our community to a provider we genuinely trust and refer our families to. This month, that’s Betsy Hegardt, LMFT — a perinatal mental health therapist right here in Encinitas who we think every mom should know about.
Meet Betsy
Betsy Hegardt, LMFT, is a perinatal mental health therapist at Betsy Hegardt Therapy, supporting moms through one of the biggest transitions of their lives: pregnancy and postpartum.
“I am a perinatal mental health therapist (aka I work with moms!). I support new moms while they navigate one of the biggest transitions of their lives, pregnancy and postpartum. This season is so exciting yet it can often feel overwhelming, lonely, and potentially different from what you expected. My hope for my clients is that therapy feels like sitting down with someone who truly gets it and that they leave feeling more calm, confident, and empowered in this new role. Together, we make sense of your new reality and help you feel more like yourself again — whoever that new version of you might be.”
Who She Loves Working With
Betsy works with women during pregnancy and postpartum — whether they’re preparing for their first baby, adjusting to life with a newborn, or finding her in the early stages of new motherhood while trying to piece themselves back together.
She also works with couples navigating family planning or adjusting to life after baby. Research by Drs. John and Julie Gottman found that about 67% of couples report a decline in relationship satisfaction during the first three years after having a baby. Betsy’s goal is to help couples stay connected through these transitions and build a foundation that supports both their partnership and their growing family.
What Makes Her Approach Different
“I can’t help it — I’m a feeler. Yes, I laugh with my clients, but I also cry with them too.
My hope is that every person who walks into my office feels safe enough to say the things they’ve been too scared to say out loud. I often hear things like, ‘I feel like an awful mom for saying this,’ or ‘I am so happy I was able to talk through this, I already feel less overwhelmed.’
My clients tell me they feel much lighter leaving our sessions, that therapy was the turning point to feeling like themselves again, and that it was a relief to share how they’re actually doing. I hope our sessions feel like talking with someone you’ve known forever, with very little distance between what you’re thinking and what you’re able to say out loud.”
Why She Does This Work
Betsy is trained in perinatal mental health, and much of her caseload centers on pregnancy and postpartum — but it wasn’t until she experienced the depths of postpartum herself that she truly understood what her clients were feeling.
“My lived experience with postpartum anxiety and intrusive thoughts has deepened my empathy and reinforced my passion for maternal mental health. The transition to motherhood is hard, and I strongly believe moms shouldn’t have to suffer for as long as we often do. Motherhood can potentially be the best chapter yet, if we allow ourselves to get the help and healing that our bodies and minds deserve.”
A Piece of Wisdom for Our Families
“‘Nothing is permanent; everything is temporary.’ One of my greatest mentors told me this when I was just two weeks postpartum, and I found myself coming back to those words over and over again. You will sleep again. You will feel like yourself again. You will have time to yourself. You will laugh with your partner again.
In the middle of those long days and sleepless nights, it’s easy to believe that this is how life will always feel. But it won’t.
And while time does bring change, you don’t have to suffer while you’re waiting for it. Get the help you need now so you don’t have to wait to enjoy motherhood.”
A Little More About Betsy
Born and raised in San Diego, Betsy loves being a local travel guide for anyone visiting or new to the area. Her ideal San Diego day starts early with a drive to Mt. Laguna, hiking the mountain trails, lunch in Alpine, and a sunset back home in Encinitas.
“It’s one of the things I love most about living here — you can spend the morning in the mountains and end the day by the ocean. It’s the best of both worlds.”
Where to Find Betsy
If you’re navigating pregnancy, postpartum, or the shift into parenthood as a couple, Betsy is one of the providers we trust — and we’re so glad our community knows her too.
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