In-person and online therapy for stepmotherhood
Therapy for Stepmoms Who Don't Feel Like Their Life Is Up To Them
From a therapist who's a stepmom herself.
You're Not Imagining It
You love your partner and you're trying to do right by your stepkids. And somewhere in between, you've started to feel like a guest in your own life. You find yourself biting your tongue at dinner, second-guessing every decision, wondering if anyone notices how much you're carrying.
That feeling has a name, and you're far from the only one who's felt it.
You might recognize yourself in this if you're:
Feeling like an outsider in your own home
Walking on eggshells around parenting differences with your partner
Resentful, exhausted, or quietly burnt out, and guilty for feeling that way
Unsure where your role starts and stops
Struggling with dynamics in the other household that you can't control
Grieving the version of family life you thought you'd have
None of that means you're doing it wrong. The truth is, you're doing an incredibly hard, mostly invisible job without a script and without anyone who genuinely understands it from the inside.
Hi, I'm Lilly Gibson, LMFT & Stepmom of 3
I get it from both sides of the desk.
I built my therapy practice around the specific, under-supported experience of stepfamily life because, like you, I couldn't find anyone else who understood it from the inside either.
Everything I bring into this work, the frameworks, the tools, the questions I ask, comes from both my clinical training as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and from having lived a version of what you're living.
Working together, we'll focus on:
Getting clear on what's yours to carry as a stepmom, and what isn't
Setting healthy boundaries that don't come with a side of guilt
Working through resentment, grief, and the nuanced parts of this journey you haven't said out loud to anyone
Managing anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns that may be intensified by stepfamily stress
Navigating differences with your partner around parenting, discipline, and expectations
Making sense of the relationship with your stepkids as it actually is, not as you think it "should" be
Untangling how your own history shows up in how you respond to stepfamily challenges today
You're not here to become the world's greatest stepmom. You're here to understand yourself, strengthen your relationships, and find a way through that feels sustainable.
Not sure if therapy or coaching is the better fit for where you're at?
Here’s the difference between therapy and coaching:
Therapy addresses your mental health. This can look like processing past experiences, working through anxiety or depression, and understanding patterns that show up in your relationships. Coaching is more forward-facing: practical, goal-oriented support for your role as a stepmom right now. Many stepmoms benefit from one or the other; some do both at different points.
Emotional/mental health concerns
Anxiety, depression, etc.
Processing past experiences
Stepmotherhood challenges
Boundaries & communication
Practical stepfamily tools
Goal-oriented support
Therapy
Coaching
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Still Have Questions About Therapy for Stepmoms?
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Sessions are typically held weekly, though that can flex based on what you need. Each one is a private, one-on-one conversation, some weeks more about talking through what's going on, others more focused on specific tools and strategies, depending on where you're at. Sessions are available in person in Westlake Village or virtually anywhere in California.
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Yes, both. In-person sessions are held in Westlake Village, and virtual sessions are available anywhere in California.
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I'm not in-network with any insurance providers, but I can provide a superbill you can submit for possible out-of-network reimbursement. I'd recommend checking with your provider first to see what your out-of-network benefits look like.
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Start with a free 15-minute consult. We'll talk through what you're navigating, and if it feels like the right fit, we'll schedule your first session from there.
Navigating Stepmotherhood Can Feel Lonely, But You don’t Have To Do It Alone
Take the first step today and partner with a therapist who specializes in stepfamily dynamics.