Leila Zwelling

LCSW — PMH-C

I'm Leila Zwelling, a psychotherapist specializing in supporting women through fertility challenges, reproductive loss, and family-building transitions. My style is warm, collaborative, and rooted in the belief that healing is relational.

More than two decades of clinical experience and advanced psychotherapy training shape my approach. I’ve worked extensively within women's mental health and trauma programs, including leadership roles at the San Francisco VA.

I’ve served as clinical faculty at UCSF and have provided national training in Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) to clinicians through the Veterans Health Administration. My teaching received the Excellence in Teaching Award from the UCSF Haile T. Debas Academy of Medical Educators.

Much of my work centers on supporting women through the emotional complexities of reproductive transitions. When the path to parenthood becomes more complicated than expected, it can feel disorienting. Therapy offers a place to pause, grieve what has changed, and begin moving forward with greater clarity.

Who I Work With

I often support people through:

I also work with women and gender-diverse individuals navigating anxiety, trauma, depression, and relationship patterns, especially as they intersect with reproductive transitions.

Clients across identities, relationship structures, and family-building experiences are welcome, whether you are moving toward parenthood, redefining it, or living a life that looks different from what you once imagined.

Thinking About Reaching Out?

Start with a complimentary consultation.

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Schedule a Consultation

My Therapeutic Style

Guided by attachment theory and the understanding that meaningful change often happens within relationships, I offer a calm, attentive presence, attuned to what's said and what isn't. I can sit comfortably with what feels heaviest, and make room for humor when it finds its way into the room.

I draw from depth-oriented and evidence-informed approaches, tailored to your history, needs, and pace, including:

  • psychodynamic therapy

  • accelerated experiential dynamic psychotherapy (AEDP)

  • control mastery

  • interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT)

  • EMDR

  • dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)

Beyond clinical training, other experiences also shape how I listen and show up in the therapy room. An early career in journalism sharpened my ear for nuance and personal stories. Years of meditation practice, deepened by extended periods of silence, cultivate groundedness and support my capacity to sit with grief, uncertainty, and hope without rushing toward resolution.

Together, these influences support a steady, thoughtful attentiveness that can hold the layered realities of reproductive transitions.

Licensure & Certifications

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), California

  • Certified in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C), Postpartum Support International

  • Certified Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) Supervisor and Trainer, International Society of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (ISIPT)

Education & Academic Appointments

  • Associate Clinical Professor in Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco

  • Master of Social Work (MSW), San Francisco State University

  • Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of Virginia

Professional Affiliations

When the journey to parenthood unfolds differently than expected, it can feel lonely and uncertain.

You don’t have to navigate it alone.

With support, you can feel clearer and steadier.