The Parenthood Question:
A Decision Focused Therapy Group For Women Navigating Ambivalence About Motherhood
Get compassionate, practical support for the decision about motherhood
Some decisions don't have a simple right or wrong answer.
For many women, deciding whether to become a parent can bring uncertainty, grief, hope, excitement, fear, and pressure - all at once. Yet it's a conversation that often happens quietly, leaving many people feeling isolated in their indecision.
Our new therapy group, The Parenthood Question, is designed for women who genuinely feel undecided about whether to have children.
Using evidence-based approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), this 6-week virtual group offers a thoughtful, supportive space to explore one of life's biggest decisions.
Does this sound familiar?
You keep going back and forth about whether you want children.
Some days, you can picture a life with a child. Other days, you feel relieved imagining a life without one.
You worry that no matter what you choose, you might regret it.
You feel pressure from family, your partner, social media, or the sense that time is running out.
You wonder whether your hesitation means you do not want children, or whether you are simply afraid of such a permanent decision.
You find yourself comparing your life to friends who seem completely certain.
You feel guilty for not having a clear answer by now.
You are trying to separate what you want from what you have been taught you are supposed to want.
You keep searching for certainty, but every answer seems to bring up another question.
You wish you had a space to talk openly without being judged, rushed, or pushed toward a particular choice.
If you’re nodding along, you’re exactly who this group is for.
Why does this decision feel so overwhelming?
Because you're trying to answer one of life's biggest questions, often while navigating uncertainty, pressure, and conflicting emotions.
You might be:
Wondering what kind of future will feel most meaningful to you
Balancing your own desires with expectations from family, friends, culture, or society
Feeling the pressure of a biological timeline or relationship decisions
Grieving the life you might not choose, regardless of your decision
Searching for certainty when certainty simply doesn't exist
Comparing yourself to people who seem completely sure of what they want
Questioning whether your fears are telling you something important—or simply making the decision harder
Of course this feels overwhelming. It is overwhelming.
This isn't a decision that can be solved by making another pros-and-cons list or waiting until you feel 100% certain.
What often helps is having a space to slow down, explore your values, make room for uncertainty, and discover what matters most to you—without judgment or pressure to choose one path over another.
What to expect
This is not a group that encourages one path over another. Instead, we will help you:
Clarify what truly matters to you
Separate your own values from family, cultural, or societal expectations
Build skills to navigate uncertainty with greater confidence and self-compassion
Connect with other women asking the same deeply personal questions
Practice between sessions through brief reflective writing exercises that deepen your self-understanding.
Each 60-minute session will include:
A check-in
An opportunity to ask specific questions or seek support from the group
Introduction of a new topic, concept, or skill
Facilitated discussion about the week’s topic
Tangible reflection questions or exercises to bring with you between each meeting
Topics may include:
Clarifying your personal values
Understanding the difference between fear and desire
Navigating uncertainty without needing immediate certainty
Untangling family, cultural, societal, and relationship expectations
Exploring grief for the life paths not chosen
Identifying barriers that keep you feeling "stuck"
Making decisions that align with who you are—not who you think you should be
Cultivating self-compassion throughout the decision-making process
Because each group is unique, discussions may naturally evolve based on the needs and experiences of members.
What makes this different?
This isn't a group where you'll be told what the "right" decision is. It isn't about convincing you to have children, or convincing you not to.
Instead, you'll get:
A nonjudgmental space where every path is respected
Evidence-based tools from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Guidance in separating your own values from outside expectations
Skills for tolerating uncertainty instead of waiting for perfect certainty
Honest conversations with women navigating the same questions
A structured, decision-focused process that supports clarity, not pressure
A compassionate environment where you can explore your thoughts without having to defend or justify them
Our goal isn't to give you the answer. Our goal is to help you discover your answer.
Group details:
Format: 6-week closed therapy group
Length: 90 minutes per session (with brief reflective writing practices between sessions)
Location: Virtual
When: Tuesdays, 6:00–7:30 PM PST (beginning September 8)
Cost: $450 for the full 6-week series
Facilitator: Meghan Brown, M.S., doctoral extern with training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), under the supervision of Julia Birt, PsyD
Who Can Join: Women (21+) residing in California who feel genuinely undecided about whether to have children and are connected to—or willing to engage with—an individual therapist outside of group.
FAQs
-
This group is for women who are genuinely undecided about whether to have children.
You may be questioning whether parenthood aligns with your values, feeling torn between different possibilities, or finding it difficult to separate your own desires from outside expectations. Whether you've been thinking about this decision for months or years, you'll find a supportive space to explore it with others who understand.
To participate, you should:
Be a woman, age 21 or older
Reside in California
Feel genuinely undecided about whether to have children
Be connected to—or willing to engage with—an individual therapist outside of group
This group is not a good fit for women who have already made a firm decision about parenthood or who are currently pregnant.
-
Ideally, you'll join a few weeks before returning to work so you can build coping strategies and a support system before the transition begins.
That's okay. This group is designed for women who genuinely feel they are still exploring the decision. You don't have to be exactly "50/50"—just open to better understanding yourself.
-
That's completely normal. There's never pressure to share more than you're comfortable with. Many participants begin by listening, and as trust builds, they naturally become more comfortable opening up.
This is a warm, supportive space where you don't have to pretend you're doing it all perfectly.
-
No. The purpose of this group is not to steer you toward a particular decision. Instead, we'll help you clarify your own values, navigate uncertainty, and make a decision that feels authentic to you.
-
Only what feels comfortable. While many members find it meaningful to share their experiences, there is never pressure to disclose more than you're ready for.
-
We know life with a baby is unpredictable. While we encourage attending all eight sessions to get the most from the group, we understand that illnesses, family issues, and work demands happen. If you need to miss a session, we'll make sure you receive any handouts or resources that were shared.
-
Yes. Creating a safe and supportive space is a top priority. While we can't guarantee what participants do outside the group, everyone is expected to respect one another's privacy and keep personal stories shared in the group confidential.
-
Questions? Email Megam here!