Mental Health Stigma During Pregnancy Pregnancy is a transformational period in life. You may experience joy, comfort, or excitement as you navigate your pregnancy journey, which are emotions that may feel welcomed and special. Additionally, a myriad of less pleasant emotions can also surface during pregnancy including sadness, loneliness, anxiety, discouragement, anger, and fear. Pregnant…
Perinatal and Reproductive Mental Health
Being a Psychotherapist in a Post-2020 World
Source: Photo by Greg Rosenke on Unsplash What does it mean to be a psychotherapist in a post-2020 world? What does it mean to work in reproductive mental health at a time when rights are being systematically attacked and birthing people lack bodily autonomy and the resources to parent? In the past months, this probably…
Self-Care and Boundary Setting After Giving Birth
Source: Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash Whether this is your first child or your fifth, life undoubtedly looks different after welcoming your new baby into the world. During this transition, you might find that you are putting pressure on yourself to do everything just as you did before baby arrived. Unhelpful societal expectations with…
Matrescence as a Psychotherapist: Part III
Source: Photo by Vivek Kumar on Unsplash In our first two articles in this series written in collaboration with Chrissy Ellis, LCSW, PMH-C, we have identified what matrescence is and what it means to navigate this transitional period as a therapist, the various client and therapist reactions that commonly occur, and how to use the…
Pregnancy and Infant Loss: Navigating the Journey as a Couple
The impact of loss, whether it be through miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss, is immense. This grieving process can often feel lonely both for you as an individual and for you and your partner as a couple. Differences in how you process the experience individually within your relationship have the potential to exacerbate these feelings…
Matrescence as a Psychotherapist: Part II
Source: Photo by Bethany Beck on Unsplash In our first article in this series which was written in collaboration with Chrissy Ellis, LCSW, PMH-C, we discussed the profound change we undergo during matrescence, or the physical, psychological, and emotional changes associated with the transition into motherhood. We also explored just how challenging it is to…
Matrescence as a Psychotherapist: Part I
[Photo by Ryan Franco on Unsplash] Our roles as therapists are characterized by the ability to create and hold space, bear witness to vulnerability and change, and attend to the dynamic and varying needs of our clients. Our roles as mothers and caregivers often demand these very same things. The transition to motherhood fundamentally changes…
Mindful Parenting
Many new parents and parents-to-be reflect on the question, “What type of parent do I want to be?” This question can seem so monumental and challenging to answer. This article offers a way to sort through how to arrive at answers. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help us in this exploration. The goal of…
The Birth of a Mother
When a woman gives birth, she births not only her child but also a new identity: that of a mother. This identity has been in the making since the moment she found out she was pregnant — and perhaps even before then — especially if her decision to start a family was an intentional one.…
The Loneliness of Perinatal Loss
October is the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. This formal designation is meaningful and important as it lets parents who have experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth or infant loss know that their loss is not invisible. Grief can feel incredibly lonely — the whole world around you is still buzzing with its steady, everyday activity…
