Article by Kate Ernstrom, LCSW, PMH-C, CST and Gabby Pendley, LCSW, CADC, PMH-C Infertility is a highly personal journey, impacting not only one’s hopes for the future but also emotional, relational, and sexual health. In today’s world, an estimated 10-15% of couples experience infertility (ASRM, 2023), a reality that often creates a ripple effect across…
I am the Director of Clinical Operations of Wildflower, an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and Perinatal Mental Health Certified Clinician and psychotherapist at Wildflower. In my role as Director of Clinical Operations I ground Wildflower’s clinical services in evidenced based, ethical, and client-centered attuned care to work towards most effectively meeting the needs of all Wildflower clients. As a clinician and a leader, I center authentic human connection, empathy, compassion, and respect are integral components to health and well-being. I am passionate about the clinical work we do at Wildflower, and believe in creating a safe, inclusive, inspiring environment to cultivate change both internally and within our communities. As a clinician, I draw from a variety of clinical approaches centering evidenced based care, somatic based mind-body connection, cultural competency and humility, integrity, and self-compassion. I work with individuals and couples at all stages of life. I focus primarily on working with clients who want to explore and address concerns related to reproductive mental health including infertility, PMDD, PMS, pregnancy, postpartum, miscarriage and child loss, perimenopause, as well as concerns related to sexual health including libido and desire, intimacy and connection, pain and discomfort, identify and self expression, relationships, and much more. In addition, I also work with clients who want to understand and address concerns related to mood and anxiety symptoms or disorders. I believe providing evidenced based and factual reproductive and sexual health care is social justice, and that talking about sex and helping clients understand, discover, and work towards creating their own sexual health plans can change the world. I work to understand and honor the unique stories we all hold as individuals, while centering our common humanity and desire for growth, change, connection, and joy. I have had the honor of joy of witnessing first hand many profound transformations of clients who have successfully worked towards creating their own best lives, and I ardently believe that we all hold the inherent ability to heal, grow, and thrive. I emphasize the here and now, and use humor to connect while creating a safe and validating therapeutic space in order to explore vulnerable topics. I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Cornell University and later obtained my Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from Loyola University, Chicago. I am a Perinatal Mental Health Certified Clinician, and am an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist. I have extensive training in treating perinatal and reproductive mental health issues, sexual health, mood and anxiety disorders as well as trauma and complex trauma reactions through evidence-based practices. I draw on many theories and approaches in alignment with psychodynamic psychotherapy alongside Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP), Radically Open Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (RO-DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help facilitate personal growth and sustainable change. Celebrating the diversity of sexual identity and expression is a central focus of Wildflower’s practice. We welcome LGBTQIA+, Queer, Trans, Gender Non-Conforming, gender-expansive, non-monogamous, kink, BDSM, and polyamourous clients. Furthering Wildflower’s education mission is an area of passion of mine. I have presented on a variety of themes to clinicians at Wildflower and beyond including topics related to sexual and reproductive health, navigating COVID-19 with teens and adolescents, engaging in effective assessment and treatment planning. LCSW License Number: 149018053 Type 1 NPI Number: 1568710424 Accepts: Lyra, self-pay and out of network clients
Pronouns
she/her/hersSelected training and affiliation
AASECT Certified Sex Therapist (CST) Sexual Health Certification from University of Michigan Perinatal Mental Health Certified Clinician (PMH-C) Dialectical Behavior Therapy Trainings Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy Training Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Training Exposure Response Prevention Training Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Level 1 and 2 Highly-Sensitive Person (HSP) Knowledgeable Therapist EMDR Basic TrainingPresentations and Facilitated Trainings
The Flexible Roadmap: Developing an Accurate Diagnosis, Case Conceptualization, Treatment Plans and the Importance of Effective Treatment Coordination Severe Symptoms and Suicidality: Assessing and Addressing Worsening Psychiatric SymptomsKey beliefs
Emotions are messengers; let’s lean in and hear what they have to tell us. We are all doing the best we can with the knowledge and skills we have right now, and we can always work to learn more, and do better. You got this! I’m right here with you. We can do this one day at a time, one foot in front of the other.More about me
I am a dedicated life long learner, and am passionate about personal and educational growth and development. I am the mom to two small boys, and find my lived experiences as their mom has helped me thrive as a human and as a therapist, and shaped the person I am today. I adore gardening, nature, and the great outdoors.
Self-Care During the Postpartum Period: Strategies to Minimize the Risk of Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders
The postpartum period is filled with many physical, psychological, and emotional changes. Matrescence is a term that aptly captures this experience. It is defined as the physical, social, hormonal, and identity shifts associated with becoming a mother and is a distinct stage of life (Sacks, 2017). In reflecting on matrescence, Ignacz (2018) states, “Life will…
Care Coordination: The Benefits of Collaborative Healthcare
What Is Care Coordination? Care coordination is the sharing and exchanging of information about your health and mental health among your healthcare providers to ensure that you receive the most effective treatment possible while minimizing any unnecessary costs, delays, or misunderstandings in the process. During care coordination, members of your healthcare team work collaboratively towards…
Is Sex Therapy For Me?
What is Sex Therapy? Sex therapy is a type of talk therapy designed to help individuals and couples address medical, psychological, personal, and interpersonal factors impacting sexual satisfaction and sexual health. The broad goal of sex therapy is to address any physical or emotional challenges impacting sexual health, and create a path for people to…
What is Postpartum Psychosis?
What is Postpartum Psychosis? The reproductive years are a time of intense psychological vulnerability for women, with a significant number of psychiatric admissions occurring more around childbirth than any other time in the female life cycle (Wisner, Gracious, Piontek, Peindl, & Perel, 2003). One of the rarer presentations seen during this time period is postpartum…
The Six Principles of Sexual Health and How to Create Your Best Sexual Self
Have you ever taken time to reflect on what your sexual health means to you? Depending on our personal histories and our access to resources (educational, medical, etc.), we may not have an idea of what exactly sexual health means. Historically, sexual health has been understood as simply avoiding unwanted pregnancy or contracting a sexually…
What is Dyspareunia and the Underlying Diagnoses of Sexual Pain
Addressing unwanted sexual pain is a key component of sexual health. The presence of unwanted sexual pain, also known as dyspareunia, can make engaging in sex become quite stressful. Dyspareunia can vary based on the person, and can occur before, during, or after sexual intercourse. It can sometimes even happen while using female hygiene products—such…
How Understanding Desire Can Help You Connect with Your Sexual Self
Source: Joanna Nix-Walkup on Unsplash What is desire? Typically in popular culture, we see sexual desire depicted in a binary way; there are people with high sex drives and people with low sex drives, and there are a multitude of messages about what being in either of these two groups may mean. Mismatch or misunderstanding…
What Is Sexual Health?
Source: Photo by Leticia Pelissari on Unsplash Have you ever taken time to reflect on what your sexual health means to you? Depending on our personal histories and our accessibility to resources (educational, medical, etc.), we may not have an idea of what sexual health means. Historically, sexual health has been understood as avoiding unwanted…
What We Are Reading This Summer
As we move into summer, we are reflecting on what books have helped us learn and grow over the past few months. We’re sharing what some of the members of our team are reading for comfort, exploration, growth, and knowledge with the hope to instill some inspiration! Natalie Breitmeyer, MA, LPC, R-DMT, RYT Right now…
