Welcome! My name is Dr. Catherine Schmidt.
If you’re navigating fertility struggles, burnout, or a major identity shift, you don’t have to hold it all alone.
As a clinical psychologist, I work with high-functioning women who are outwardly keeping it together- but feeling anxious, exhausted or lost underneath. This is a place for clarity, compassion, and support.
Compassionate and Straight Forward Support
I’m Dr. Catherine, a psychologist and fertility support expert based in the San Francisco Bay Area, and I help women move through the most tender and defining chapters of their lives- infertility, motherhood, loss, identity shifts, burnout, and everything in between.
My approach is warm, honest, and conversational. Most people assume therapy is always heavy and clinical, however I’ve found that lightness, humor, and pop culture references go a long way. You get to bring your entire self into therapy.
I specialize in:
Anxiety and stress management
Fertility stress, grief, and loss related to building your family
Burnout and compassion fatigue
Perfectionism and Self-Worth
Therapy is a personal journey towards health, growth and acceptance. A few of the topics we explore can include setting realistic boundaries so your relationships can thrive, restoring energy levels, prioritizing joy and healthy habits, learning effective stress management skills, gaining new insights into your behaviors, and rebuilding your sense of self and purpose.
My Own Personal Experience
I know what it feels like to sit on the other side of the couch. I’ve been in therapy during different seasons of my own life, and I know the deep uncertainty and confusion of secondary infertility and IVF. This lived experience informs my work and has given me invaluable insight into what my clients are experiencing.
Professional Background
I have over a decade of experience supporting women and their mental health. My work is grounded in clinical expertise, warmth, and a deep understanding of the emotional lives of women, mothers, and those navigating major life transitions.
Education & Training
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) License #30291
Bachelors Degree in Cultural Anthropology
Extensive training in evidence-based approaches, with specialization in women’s emotional wellness, reproductive mental health, and life transitions.
Leadership and Professional Service
Former Board Member, San Francisco Psychological Association
Early Career Professional Chair, San Francisco Psychological Association
Advanced Clinical Training
I have completed extensive continuing education focused on women’s emotional health and reproductive psychology, including specialized training in:
Reproductive Trauma
Reproductive Trauma: Essential Tools for Pregnancy Loss, Birth Trauma, and Perinatal Mental Health Disorders- advanced training in assessing reproductive stories, understanding the emotional and relational impact of pregnancy loss and birth trauma, and using evidence-informed interventions
Infertility Grief & Trauma
Infertility Grief and Trauma: Integrative Strategies for Working With Individuals and Couples- trauma informed approaches to infertility counseling, including reducing stigma, and navigating cultural and emotional layers of reproductive distress.
Integrative Mental Health & Nutrition
Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional (CIMHP) Coursework- Nutritional and Integrative Medicine for Mental Health Professionals- comprehensive instruction on lifestyle, nutrition, and integrative tools that support emotional regulation, anxiety management, and overall mental well-being with world-renowned Harvard clinician, Dr. Leslie Korn.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Approaches
Foundational training in IFS to support trauma recovery, emotional clarity, and self-leadership in clients navigating identity shifts, motherhood and relationship stressors.
Additional Expertise & Media Features
My work has been featured on platforms including Motherhood Meets Medicine, Happiness in Progress, Modern Motherhood, and Connecting and Finding Meaning. I also run an online platform (@drcatherineschmidt) where I’m passionate about making emotional health accessible and deeply relatable for women.
My episode on Motherhood Meets Medicine ranked among the podcast’s most top performing- highlighting the need for honest support around reproductive and maternal mental health.
Outside the Office
When I’m not working, you'll usually find me with my family- planning our next adventure, savoring slow mornings, or curled up with my husband, our two children & labradoodle, Richard. I love baking (a ritual that began during our IVF journey), pottery, and listening to audiobooks while I putter around the kitchen. I'm someone who believes deeply in beauty, ritual, and the small moments that make a life feel full.