TRUEME® COUNSELING GROUP
Becoming a Dad Group: Stress, Partnership & the New You
A group for new and expectant fathers navigating the identity shifts, relationship changes, and emotional demands that nobody fully prepares you for.
ABOUT THIS GROUP
Everyone asked how she was doing. This group asks how you are doing.
The cultural script for new fathers is surprisingly thin. You are expected to be present, capable, supportive, and steady — often while quietly processing a transformation in your own identity, your relationship, your sense of purpose, and your daily life that is every bit as significant as the one your partner is going through. The difference is that almost no one asks.
New fatherhood is one of the most significant psychological transitions a man can experience — and one of the least supported. The joy is real. So is the anxiety. The sleep deprivation. The fear of doing it wrong. The grief for a version of your life and relationship that no longer exists. The pressure to provide, protect, and show up fully at a time when you have never been more exhausted or uncertain. And the profound, sometimes bewildering love that makes all of it feel worth it — and makes it hurt more when things are hard.
This community was built for that experience. Not to tell you what kind of father to be. Not to add to the list of things you are supposed to do. But to give you a space — direct, judgment-free, and clinically informed — where you can be honest about what becoming a father actually feels like, connect with other men going through the same transition, and develop the tools to navigate it with more clarity, resilience, and genuine presence.
BECOMING A DAD GROUP
You are in the right group if any of this resonates.
You love your child completely — and some days the anxiety, exhaustion, or overwhelm feels just as big as the love
Your relationship with your partner has shifted in ways that are hard to name and harder to talk about
You feel pressure to be a certain kind of father — and are not sure you are living up to it
You are grieving the freedom, spontaneity, or identity you had before — and feel guilty for grieving it
You feel isolated in what you are experiencing because the people around you seem to be handling it fine
You want to be genuinely present for your family — and you are not sure how to get there from where you are
You don't have to figure this out alone. Let's talk.
WHAT YOU WILL GET FROM THIS BECOMING A DAD GROUP
What this healing group provides
GLP-1 medications address the biology of hunger and metabolism. This will addresses the psychology — the beliefs, behaviors, emotions, and identity shifts that determine what lasts.
A space built for men
Direct, no-nonsense, and free of judgment. This group is facilitated with an understanding of how men process, communicate, and benefit from peer support — not a generic therapy format.
Identity & the new you
Fatherhood changes who you are at a fundamental level. This group helps you understand and integrate that shift — rather than simply trying to manage it.
Partnership under pressure
The relationship dynamics that new parenthood creates — division of labor, intimacy, communication, resentment, reconnection — addressed directly and practically.
Stress & emotional regulation
Evidence-based tools for managing the specific stressors of new fatherhood — sleep deprivation, financial pressure, performance anxiety, and the chronic activation of sustained responsibility.
Men who get it
The specific isolation of new fatherhood is real. This group connects you with men at the same stage — no explaining necessary, no pretending it is all fine.
The father you want to be
Beyond the immediate challenges — the longer work of becoming the kind of father you actually want to be, with intention and clarity rather than default.ut.
BECOMING A DAD GROUP
Group Details
FORMAT
- Weekly group sessions
- In-person & virtual options available
GROUP SIZE
- Small & intimate
- Limited enrollment to ensure every member has space to be heard
FACILITATED BY
- TrueMe® therapist
- Clinically structured and professionally guided
WHO IT'S FOR
- New & expectant fathers
- From pregnancy through the early years — any man navigating this transition
Meet Our Therapists
TrueMe® Counseling is a team of licensed MFTs and PhDs with decades of combined clinical experience.
Marina Edelman LMFT #51009
Founder of TrueMe® Counseling | Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Cheryl Baldi,
LMFT #39801
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Dr. Rachel Chistyakov, PsyD, LMFT #150001
Licensed Psychologist
Sharalee Hall,
LMFT #135374
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Chris Calandra, AMFT#129479
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist
Suzanne Perry,
AMFT #132904
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist
Hayley Willis, AMFT #132776
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist
Jasmine Johnson, AMFT #137660
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist
Kylee Garfield, AMFT #145651
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist
Sean Palmer, AMFT #
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist
FAQ - BECOMING A DAD GROUP
Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Dad Group
Honest answers from our licensed therapists — before you take the first step.
Is this group only for first-time fathers?
No — this is open to any man navigating the transition into or within fatherhood, including fathers welcoming a second or third child and expectant fathers who want psychological support during the prenatal period. Each new chapter of fatherhood brings its own specific demands and identity shifts — and this group provides a space to navigate all of them.
What if I am not comfortable talking in a group setting?
This is one of the most common concerns men bring before joining. The format is direct and practical, not emotionally pressuring. Many men find that being in a room with other fathers who are clearly going through something similar makes opening up feel significantly more natural than expected. You are never required to share more than you are ready to — and most men find it becomes one of the most genuinely useful parts of their week.
Can this group help if my relationship with my partner is struggling since the baby arrived?
Yes — and relationship strain after a new baby is one of the most consistently present themes in this group. Division of labor, changes in intimacy, communication under sustained stress, resentment when both partners feel unsupported — these are addressed directly with both clinical insight and practical tools. If the relational strain warrants dedicated couples therapy, your facilitator can help you explore that as a complementary next step.
I think I might be experiencing paternal anxiety or depression — will this group address that?
Yes — paternal anxiety and postpartum depression in men are real, clinically documented, and affect an estimated 10% of new fathers. This group addresses paternal mental health directly and without stigma. If your symptoms are significant enough to warrant individual therapy alongside the group, there is no shame in needing more than one form of support at once.
How do I join — and what does the enrollment process look like?
Enrollment begins with clicking the button below with no obligation. Group size is intentionally limited to protect the intimacy and safety of the space, so availability may be limited. Call us at (818) 964-1806 or reach out through our contact page. We will respond promptly and handle your inquiry with the discretion it deserves.
