Beyond the Baby:

Preparing for Parenthood

With Jess Garman & Abby Shah

What to Expect

So you’ve heard about making a registry, taking birthing classes and prenatal yoga, and “nesting” - why isn’t anyone talking about what it means to become a parent (or a parent of multiples)? Too often, we overlook parents’ needs as we prepare to welcome our new little ones to the world. Join with therapists Jess Garman and Abby Shah, as well as other expecting parents, to prepare for how this transition may impact you. From guidance for planning rest, meals, and infant feeding support, to tackling what it means to find a new sense of identity for yourself and for you and your partner as parents, we’ll talk about the parents of “expecting” that often go undiscussed!

Cost: $100 per couple

Next Session: Wednesday, April 16th 6:00pm-7:30pm

Meet the Instructors

  • Jess Garman

    Jess Garman is a perinatal mental health therapist specializing in the emotional and psychological transitions of pregnancy and early parenthood. Trained in EMDR and perinatal mental health, she helps parents navigate identity shifts, anxiety, and relationship changes. As a parent of two young children, she understands firsthand how transformative this stage can be. Jess offers individual and couples therapy in person (Lafayette) and virtually.

    Associate Clinical Social Worker Therapist #123636

  • Abby Shah

    Abby is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist with training in peripartum mental health through Postpartum Support International. She believes that we need to prepare parents to care for themselves with the same intentionality that we prepare them to care for their new children. She lives in Moraga and is a mom to a 3 year old and 5 year old.

    Associate Marriage and Family Therapist #150428