One of the best ways to help moms with various postpartum difficulties is to let them know they are not alone. Helping to do that is what Mom & Mind is all about, and today’s guest wants to help shed light and understanding on intrusive thoughts and OCD. We hope many people will benefit from hearing Jenn’s story. Please join us! Jenn Holmes lives in Mississippi with her husband and two-year-old son. She is the Mississippi State Lead Coordinator for Postpartum Support International, and she’s...
Jul 10, 2023•48 min
We already know that the perinatal experience can be multi-layered and differently nuanced for each person. The story we’re hearing today brings several conditions into the spotlight of our attention and highlights the need for awareness and sound treatment around the world. My guest shares her experience with tokophobia, a term that may be unfamiliar. It refers to “a pathological fear of childbirth.” You can only imagine that this condition would cause a mental health crisis and complicate the ...
Jul 03, 2023•1 hr 5 min
We have a very special episode today, as we’re hearing from two guests about their important work through Postpartum Support International that is based on their lived experiences through perinatal mental health conditions. They are working tirelessly to help others access the resources they could have used, and they share how community support and other types of healing have helped them. We hope many people can find encouragement and support through their advocacy efforts and their openness in ...
Jun 26, 2023•57 min
Today, we are highlighting the importance of mental well-being for fathers worldwide. Today’s episode features a devoted father who shares his personal journey through postpartum depression after the birth of his child. Kevin Seldon is the founder of a leading social-impact consultancy with clients ranging from award-winning artists and Fortune 500 companies to world-renowned non-profits. However, more than a decade of building a company focused on inspiring passion in others and five years of s...
Jun 19, 2023•56 min
Fathers are often overlooked in the conversation around perinatal mental health, and that needs to change. June is not only the month of Father’s Day but also International Fathers’ Mental Health Day, celebrated on June 19. Fathers, and men in general, have been conditioned to look past their feelings in most cultures, but we know men have complex emotional responses to the challenges of fatherhood. We need to offer more support for fathers in the co-parenting relationship, and these conversatio...
Jun 12, 2023•41 min
We all can learn from the stories others share about their struggles. Perhaps the most important benefit of that kind of sharing is to let people know that they are not alone. Today’s guest shares her experience because she wants people to understand what it’s like dealing with perinatal mental health issues and why it is vitally important to see a mental health professional. Her memoir, A Dance in the DSM: My Tango with Postpartum Depression, Anxiety, and OCD, documents her story. Join us to he...
Jun 05, 2023•48 min
There is an overall lack of information and education about pelvic health in the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum world. A new mother’s ability to care for her newborn has everything to do with her mental, physical, and emotional health, but modern medicine and our society have lost touch with this message. Our systems are designed to nurture the infant, neglecting to empower mothers with dignity, truth, and preparedness. Let’s change that! Join us to learn more! Dr. Laura Williams is a Doctor o...
May 29, 2023•47 min
Maternal mental health has a profound impact on individuals, couples, families, children, and our society as a whole. It’s important that every parent, regardless of race, color, or ethnicity, has access to resources and support when they need it most, and that just isn’t the case in our country. Today’s conversation focuses on maternal mental health in the Black community, and our perspective comes from a dedicated, mission-driven mental health provider who wants to make a difference in the liv...
May 22, 2023•48 min
Today is a very special episode because I not only have the pleasure of hosting this podcast, but I am also the guest. Yes, that's right! Today, in honor of Maternal Mental Health Month, I'm opening up my heart and sharing my postpartum story with you once again; I last told my story way back in Episode 1 in June 2016. I want all of you who know me as Dr. Kat professionally to understand why I am so deeply passionate about the cause of maternal mental health. Join us now! Karen Kleiman is a well...
May 15, 2023•45 min
We continue in the month of May, Mental Health Awareness Month! We always need more awareness and advocacy for mental health in general, but for far too long, maternal mental health has been underrecognized and underdiagnosed. So many people have suffered without good resources and the proper support in place. Today’s guest has vast experience with perinatal mental health, and it allows her to see the long view of how far we’ve come and how far we still need to go. Join us to learn more! Karen K...
May 08, 2023•42 min
Sabemos que 1 de cada 7 mujeres (1 de cada 10 padres) experimenta síntomas de depresión y ansiedad durante su etapa posparto. Los Trastornos del Estado de Ánimo Perinatal (PMD) durante el embarazo y dentro del primer año después del parto, pueden manifestarse en las personas de todas las edades, niveles de ingresos, raza y cultura. En este episodio, me acompañan Karla Cardoza, LMFT, PMH-C, y Marianela Rodriguez, Ph.D., PMH-C para hablar mas sobre este importante tema e informar a las mamas de ha...
May 01, 2023•44 min
The conversation around parenting in non-traditional families needs to be expanded and better understood in today’s world. More and more families are being created with dynamics that make them non-traditional in some way, and support on the path to parenthood for EVERYONE is crucial. Join us to explore this topic in today’s episode! Marie Sloane is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Perinatal Mental Health Specialist based in Arizona. She focuses her practice on helping new parent...
Apr 24, 2023•37 min
What happens to a person’s nervous system during times of stress, specifically in the transition to parenthood? The impacts of this stress on an individual’s nervous system are also felt in the entire family system. My guest has spent 25 years specializing in physical and neurological recovery in children with challenges and working with the entire family to recover “the family nervous system™”. I hope you are intrigued and want to know more! Join us now! BG Mancini is a licensed acupuncture phy...
Apr 17, 2023•40 min
Today’s episode is a replay of one of my most popular episodes that I’m sure you will enjoy. Please tune in and share with your friends. We, as women, have absorbed much history into ourselves over time regarding our bodies and our health. We wonder why we feel unheard and dismissed, and the more we learn, the more enraged we should become about how modern Western medicine has treated women with medical and mental health conditions. Join today’s conversation for deep insight and a message of hop...
Apr 10, 2023•1 hr
The message of today’s conversation is that postpartum depression and anxiety don’t always have simple, easy fixes. Medications, therapy, and other supports don’t help some as quickly as others. In these cases, suffering mothers need to know that they are not alone and that others are going through the same challenges that come with lingering depression. Today’s guest shares her story to bring awareness to this issue. Join us to learn more. As a social worker and mom of a three-year-old son, Lyn...
Apr 03, 2023•47 min
My guest today shares her personal story of severe postpartum anxiety and depression while appearing in a high-functioning state to those around her. It is important for us to hear real-life accounts from those who look like “everything is fine.” Join us for a closer look from this unique perspective. Caitlin Shadek is a mom of three boys, ages 3, 6, and 8. She is a lawyer who has practiced as a commercial litigator for the past 14 years, but she recently left her job to attend Rutgers Universit...
Mar 27, 2023•53 min
Hearing that your child has a medical diagnosis throws a new kind of stress and strain into the parenting arena. Whether the diagnosis is transient or severe, increased parental anxiety is a common issue that presents many twists and turns. Today’s guest shares a pediatrician’s perspective on supporting parents’ mental health through this process. Join us to learn more! Dr. Kelly Fradin is a pediatrician and the author of Advanced Parenting: Helping Kids Through Diagnoses, Differences, and Menta...
Mar 20, 2023•40 min
Perinatal mental health is important for every new mom, but there are extra challenges for moms who are immigrants living in a country and culture that are unfamiliar. Such is the story of today’s guest. Join us to hear how she overcame many difficulties to turn her trauma into her renewed purpose to help others! Eszter Kalman is a mom of two who struggled with postpartum depression and anxiety. She experienced the loneliness of motherhood after moving to the US from her native Hungary. She shar...
Mar 13, 2023•45 min
We know that family building can happen in many different ways. Today’s show highlights one of the most harshly judged routes to having a child. Let’s take an insightful look at the beautiful process of surrogacy, also known as gestational surrogacy. This family-building option can be something that brings out the best in us as humans! Join us for the conversation! Today’s personal story comes from Lizzie Smith, a 40-year-old school administrator who is the mother of 17-month-old James. She and ...
Mar 06, 2023•47 min
Postpartum psychosis is a topic we have highlighted on the podcast before, but the need for more information about this devastating condition always increases when it is mentioned in a tragic news story. There are so many questions and concerns when this condition turns up in the national spotlight because many people don’t understand what a mother might be going through as a result of postpartum psychosis. Regardless of the details around a specific situation, it is clear that factual informati...
Feb 27, 2023•49 min
Understanding culture is extremely important, especially in the field of perinatal mental health. The cultural context has everything to do with how someone experiences the world and manages their mental health. Join us in this episode to learn more! Kalena Kaopuuokalani Lanuza is a Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) and a doctorally prepared, fully-certified family and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and certified lactation counselor. She currently resides in the unceded territory of t...
Feb 20, 2023•55 min
Today’s important topic is near and dear to my heart. We are discussing what it’s like to be a highly sensitive parent, and if you’ve listened for very long, you know that I am a highly sensitive parent. We can’t shy away from this topic, because it affects many parents, and it puts a different spin on the challenges that are part of the journey to parenthood. Join me to learn more! Amy Lajiness, LCSW, PMH-C, is a psychotherapist and parenting coach with nearly a decade of experience in working ...
Feb 13, 2023•1 hr 4 min
Today’s show is about the effects of sexual abuse on pregnant, birthing, and postpartum people. This topic may be difficult for some, even though we are not discussing specific details of sexual abuse events; please determine for yourself whether you are ready to listen to this episode or not. You can find all of our episodes available for you whenever you are ready at www.momandmind.com. If you are ready, join us to learn more in today’s episode! Deborah Flam is a reproductive therapist in New ...
Feb 06, 2023•52 min
Many people experience some kind of mental health condition through pregnancy and postpartum. The reproductive journey brings many challenges, and today’s guest gives us a glimpse into her story of recurrent loss, pregnancy, postpartum, and how she came to self-advocacy and empowerment through her challenges. Join us to hear Megan’s story! Megan Monds fills many roles in life, none more important to her than mother to her two small children, ages 5 and 3. She is a highly-sensitive person who wor...
Jan 30, 2023•48 min
Those trained in perinatal mental health can still struggle with perinatal mental health conditions. Having professional knowledge of the issues doesn’t make someone immune from any mental health problems. I’m grateful that today’s guest is sharing her story to show that those in the helping professions can experience the same struggles that any other person does. Join us to hear Kelsie’s story! Kelsie Hammons is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Perinatal Mental Health Therapist i...
Jan 23, 2023•47 min
Today’s focus is on thinking ahead in your perinatal mental health journey. Most of us learn about our problems as they are happening, and we have to learn how to cope along the way. When someone who has “been there” is open and honest about their experience, we can plan ahead and be better prepared. Join me to hear the journey story of today’s guest. Kayce Hodos has spent the better part of her 20+ year career in mental health focused on loss and life transitions. After having her son in 2012, ...
Jan 16, 2023•39 min
Talking about your own mental health can be even more difficult if you work in the mental health field. There is shame and stigma attached to a therapist who admits that they need help because the assumption is that therapists don’t need help with mental health. My guest shares her story of postpartum struggles and the effect on her relationships and life as she experienced stress, anxiety, and isolation when her second child was born during the pandemic. Join us to hear her perspective. Laura G...
Jan 09, 2023•48 min
Welcome to another episode and a New Year! A new year brings times of reflection, especially with all that we’ve been through over these last few years with the pandemic, and some people are still struggling with getting back to “normal.” Wherever you are, it’s OK to be integrating into this new normal in whatever ways you can, and every decision is part of a more complex dynamic. Today’s focus is on the burnout that comes with holiday celebrations and the reintegrating we are doing around socia...
Jan 02, 2023•33 min
Today’s focus is on pediatric occupational therapy and how it helps many families with a variety of feeding, swallowing, and developmental issues. My guest shares her exciting work and her experience in helping struggling parents with physical difficulties AND mental health. Join us to learn more! Aviril (Apple) Sepulveda, OTD, MS, OTR/L, BSP, SCFES, IBCLC is a board-certified pediatric occupational therapist with over 20 years of experience. She spent most of her career in pediatrics at a child...
Dec 26, 2022•42 min
Having a perinatal mood disorder is challenging on its own, but it becomes even more difficult in rural communities where the right resources are not readily accessible. In addition, rural areas are made up of small communities where everyone knows everyone else’s business, which further stigmatizes anyone seeking mental health resources. My guest shares her experiences and explains how she found the help she needed. Join us! Hannah Helms is a spouse, trauma therapist, and mother of three. She c...
Dec 19, 2022•1 hr 4 min
