About
Hi! I’m Kate
Author, Thought-Leader, Maternal Mental Heath Advocate, Coach & Consultant
My Philosophy
Becoming a mother changes everything. It can fill you with love you didn’t know was possible—and at the very same time, it can stir up worry, self-doubt, and that buzzing sense that you’re “not doing it right.” For so many women, this shows up as postpartum anxiety. And it can feel especially confusing when you’re used to having things “figured out” everywhere else in your life.
One of the core beliefs in my work is this: postpartum anxiety is not a personal flaw or a pathology. It’s a natural response to a huge life transition, an overwhelmed nervous system, and a world that puts impossible expectations on new mothers. You are not broken. You are human.
High-achieving moms are used to pushing through, planning ahead, and solving problems fast. But in early motherhood, those same strengths can turn into overthinking, perfectionism, and constant scanning for danger. That’s where postpartum anxiety tends to grow: inside a caring, capable mom who is simply trying her best to keep her baby safe.
My work is here to help you soften all of that. I support moms who feel stuck in postpartum and on-going anxiety in motherhood to find steady, grounded calm—so you can enjoy your baby or young child and trust yourself again. Using neuroscience-based and attachment-informed tools, I’ll help you understand what’s happening in your brain and body, regulate the anxiety that keeps looping, and reconnect with your natural intuition as a mother (Yes! You have it!)
Because the truth is: you already have everything you need inside you. You just deserve support that helps you feel safe enough to access it.
When a mother feels calm and confident, her baby feels it too. And when you learn how to settle your own system, you lay the foundation for the deep, secure connection you’ve always wanted with your child.
My Background
I’m Kate Kripke, LCSW, PMH-C—founder of the Calm Connection System™ and a passionate advocate for mothers learning to thrive in both life and motherhood.
For more than two decades, I’ve supported women through the most important transitions of their lives. I founded the Postpartum Wellness Center of Boulder in 2007 (now the Parent and Family Wellness Center) and served as its Founding Director and Senior Psychotherapist for over 15 years. In that role, I built one of Colorado’s most trusted hubs for perinatal mental health, ensuring women and families had access to expert, compassionate care.
Today, my work extends nationally and internationally, guiding mothers through coaching, teaching, and consulting. I specialize in supporting women who are struggling with postpartum and on-going anxiety in early motherhood—those who love their babies deeply yet feel constantly on edge, uncertain, or overwhelmed. Postpartum anxiety can make even ordinary moments feel heavy, filling your mind with worry and your body with tension. I help mothers understand what’s happening in their nervous systems, calm the constant mental noise, and reconnect with a sense of steadiness and trust in themselves. When a mother feels grounded and safe, she can respond—not react—and both she and her child begin to thrive in that calm connection.
I also work at the vital intersection of maternal and child mental health. Research is clear: when mothers are well, children thrive. By helping women regulate their nervous systems, release patterns of overwhelm, and cultivate calm and connection, I support both maternal resilience and the development of secure, emotionally healthy children. Flourishing mothers lead to flourishing children—and that ripple effect extends to families, communities, and the world.
My background includes a BA in Sociology from the University of Colorado at Boulder, a Master’s in Clinical Social Work from Smith College, and advanced training in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. I’ve served on state and national task forces, including the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Pregnancy-Related Depression State Advisory Committee, and I am certified by Postpartum Support International as a Perinatal Mental Health Counselor.
While I believe deeply in the importance of early support, I also know it is never too late. Whether you are a brand-new mom with a fussy baby, a career-driven mother navigating guilt and overwhelm, or a parent of teens seeking deeper connection, my work is about creating lasting mental wellbeing and relational strength through every phase of motherhood.
On a personal note: my own joy is found in hiking the Colorado trails with my dog Darwin, dancing in the kitchen with my daughters (despite their eye-rolls), swapping stories with friends, planning adventures with my husband, and starting my mornings with writing and meditation.
Kate Kripke is exceptional. She combines compassion with research-based cognitive behavioral therapy [and other therapeutic techniques]. Through her practice and unwavering support, moms learn to take a breath and to feel their emotions. She is exactly what you want in a therapist —intelligent and kind—creating a safe space to grow not only as a parent but as an individual.
— Susanne, Mom of two