About Lauren puliz
MA, LMFT #133941
Well hi there! My name is Lauren. I’m a mom of two little girls, and they + my own motherhood journey are the reason I love working with moms.
My first daughter was born in 2021 (hello pandemic baby!) and I remember being shocked at how ill-prepared I was for postpartum despite how prepared I felt during my pregnancy. I felt shattered, lost to myself, pulled in a million directions. I was so in love with my baby, and eager to hide away from everyone and never be found.
Over time, I began to find my footing and root into my new identity as a mother and adjust to the ways it colored all parts of my world. That experience gave me a love and appreciation for matrescence: the process of becoming a mother.
My Bio
Lauren Puliz is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist located in Sacramento County, CA (Northern California). Lauren serves pregnant and new mothers living in California through in-person and virtual telehealth therapy appointments, and New Mom Crew (in-person drop-in support group). Lauren supports millennial moms across all stages of their motherhood journey — from the first pregnancy test to the first thought of “WTF did I get myself into?” and beyond. Lauren works with moms individually and in group therapy settings, as well as together with their partners in couples therapy.
My Approach To Virtual Therapy In California
Finding a new therapist is hard on a good day, but who is looking for a therapist on a good day? My goal is to help you know ASAP if I’m the right therapist for you. So here’s what you can expect from therapy with me.
mothers
No one told you it would be like this and I am so sorry for that.
We spend a TON of time preparing for pregnancy and birth, only to be smacked in the face by the rollercoaster of postpartum. Night sweats? Unexpected tears and rage? Suddenly hate your beloved dog? I've been there, I promise it's normal – please know you are not alone in feeling this way.
Together, we will navigate your individual journey through motherhood — calming the storm, fostering resilience, and developing self-compassion as we go.
My goal: For you to know that you ARE a good enough mom, and you ARE the right mom for your baby. There is no right way to be a mom, but it is important to find YOUR WAY of being a mom.
Things you’ll hear me say a lot:
“Your kids don’t need a perfect mom, they just need a good enough mom.”
“You’re doing the best you can with what you have.”
“The relationship you have with yourself is the most important relationship in your life.”
“How can we help you be kinder to yourself?”
“Let’s fall in love with all the new parts of you!”
Parent Couples
I consider myself your relationship’s biggest fan and cheerleader.
Parenthood is a rough transition and most couples don’t even know to expect it. I mean, how can you create a child with someone you love, only to find yourself falling out of love with that person? No one wants that, but so many of us experience it.
I’m not interested in figuring out who is “right” or taking sides. I AM interested in helping you find your groove and feel like yourselves again. You both are completely new people now that you are parents and that’s ok! There are a ton of new parts of you to meet and understand. So let’s help you start falling in love all over again.
You’ll frequently hear me say:
“Let me make sure I understand, I heard you say: ______. Did I get that right?”
“I’m wondering if you’re experiencing/feeling/thinking: ______. Am I on the right track?”
“How did it feel to hear your partner share that experience with you?”
“Let’s make a plan to create safety for one another to continue sharing deeply.”
“How can we separate the person from the problem?”
“Neither one of you is the problem, and your relationship is not the problem. The patterns and dynamics are the problem. How can we work together to find new patterns that work better for both of you?”
Education, Training & Licensing
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #133941 — California, 2022
MA in Counseling — Western Seminary, 2019
BA in Communication Studies: Interpersonal/Organizational Communication — Azusa Pacific University, 2015
The Good Mom/Bad Mom Loop: Using Internal Family Systems to Support the Mental Health of Moms — SCV-CAMFT, Mothercentric, 2024
Perinatal Mood Disorders: Components of Care — Postpartum Support International, 2023
Brainspotting Phase I — Pacific Counseling and Trauma Center, 2019