One of the main goals of this podcast is to empower and support people through sharing stories because we know that hearing the experiences of others can help us feel not so alone in our struggles. Today we meet two moms who host the Golden Hour Birth Podcast, where they “create community around storytelling.” Join us! Liz and Natalie describe their podcast as two average Midwest moms having conversations around birth stories. They laugh and cry with other moms while holding space and normalizin...
Dec 25, 2023•36 min
As far as we have come in recent years in removing the shame and stigma of mental health care and educating the public about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, we still have a long way to go. Today’s guest shares her experience and describes the scope of her work with underserved segments of the population. The fact is that every person deserves the same access to quality healthcare for their physical and mental well-being! Join us to learn more! I’m joined by Hajara Kutty, an educator and pe...
Dec 18, 2023•37 min
Today’s topic is showing up in therapy sessions everywhere right now with the holidays and the end of the year. Many people have conflicted feelings about their relationships with their families and upcoming family events; while we feel the pressure to be happy, cheerful, and joyous, we need to realize that some people have much dread, stress, and pressure during this time. Some people are just not okay. Let’s talk about how to better manage whatever holiday stress you might be feeling. Show Hig...
Dec 14, 2023•28 min
Disordered eating, eating disorders, and body image issues are very common experiences for many women, yet they are overlooked by most medical providers during pregnancy and postpartum. Today’s guest is passionate about educating us about these topics and offering more understanding to struggling women. Join us to learn more! Kathryn Gantt is an eating disorder dietitian, certified yoga instructor, and mom of two who uses her experience to help people change their relationships with food and the...
Dec 11, 2023•50 min
Today’s guest shares the personal story of her unborn baby’s traumatic diagnosis in utero. She hopes her story assures others that they are not alone in facing this type of diagnosis, and she explains coping skills and how to remain hopeful through a bleak and terrifying time. Join us to learn more! Kate Stacom is a licensed clinical social worker and mother of two who has lived experience of perinatal trauma, depression, and anxiety. Her perinatal mental health journey began when her daughter, ...
Dec 04, 2023•56 min
Have you ever found yourself in situations where trying to figure out your emotions feels like trying to untangle a knot? Or perhaps you have experienced an overwhelming whirlwind of conflicting feelings, which happens often. Life is anything but linear. It is messy and full of ups and downs that challenge us emotionally. Over the last 70 years, there has been more emphasis on psychology, and we understand so much more about getting in touch with our feelings. But even so, some of us are still l...
Nov 30, 2023•21 min
We are delighted to have Dr. Elliot Berlin back on the podcast for the first time since he was with us last in 2018. He joins us today to share the latest from his Informed Pregnancy Plus world and discuss his incredible work in perinatal chiropractic care for pregnancy and labor. Our bodies go through so much to support pregnancy and make birth happen, and Dr. Berlin truly knows how to help! Dr. Berlin is passionate about helping people achieve optimal health- especially women navigating pregna...
Nov 27, 2023•43 min
Welcome to a very special episode! It’s our 300th episode, which is mind-boggling to think about. Not only that, we also address ADHD in the perinatal period, a very important topic. We all can benefit from a deeper understanding of ADHD and how it impacts perinatal mental health. Join us to learn more! Jacqueline Cohen is a Licensed Professional Counselor, ADHD-Certified Clinical Specialist Provider, Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, coach, consultant, writer, and speaker. She has been in priv...
Nov 20, 2023•1 hr
The idea of feeling like a failure comes up often in therapy; I hear it multiple times each week. People who are struggling often feel like they are a failure, and this is heartbreaking to hear. Let’s go behind the scenes and talk about what’s happening underneath the feelings of failure. Show Highlights: Why being perfect and being a failure are NOT the only two options Failure and perfection—defined and explained Why failure and perfection cannot be the measure of parenting success Why a defen...
Nov 16, 2023•25 min
Today you’ll hear Jigyna Patel’s story. She and I met recently at the PSI Conference, and I knew her perspective as a South Asian mom of Indian heritage would be valuable for listeners to hear. She’s a Houston-area mother of three, and she is a passionate perinatal mental health advocate who loves her volunteer work with PSI. Join us to learn more! Show Highlights: Jigyna’s story of her first pregnancy, nine years ago, which involved PCOS, infertility, emergency C-section, and a traumatic birth ...
Nov 13, 2023•48 min
In far too many segments of our society, there is a stigma and terrible shame around perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Even now, when there is a huge push to validate mental health support for those who need it, many women are suffering in silence. The Christian faith is one subset of society where postpartum support is truly lacking, and simply “praying more” or “reading more scripture” are not valid ways to treat mental illness. Because of her suffering on the motherhood journey, my guest ...
Nov 06, 2023•37 min
Welcome to another episode in our bonus series, Behind the Sessions. A topic that comes up frequently with my clients is how they are impacted in therapy when their family doesn’t get it and does not understand what is happening for them. This disconnect can even go as far as families judging or blaming the person for what they are experiencing. It’s a difficult topic that can leave people feeling isolated and very much alone. While I am primarily addressing the emotional pain and struggle of mo...
Nov 02, 2023•30 min
There are not many group models that are supportive of a wide range of people concerning their languages, environments, and backgrounds. My two guests today have formed a powerful support system that needs to be replicated everywhere in the world. Join us to learn more! Annette Cycon has been a social worker for over 30 years, specializing in group work. With Liz Friedman, she co-founded the nonprofit MotherWoman in Massachusetts, and she went on to lead that organization for 15 years. Their mis...
Oct 30, 2023•1 hr 4 min
Becoming a mother is an intricate dance of transition that impacts every part of a woman’s life down to her very identity. Matrescence is the name for this “motherhood development process,” and it’s not an easy journey for every woman to navigate. This process is every bit as vital to a healthy, thriving family as child development, but it’s often overlooked or pushed to the back burner. Join us as we dive into this topic in today’s episode! Christine Carrig is the founding director of Carrig Mo...
Oct 23, 2023•43 min
Today’s topic is one that all of us have experienced, and many may be going through it right now. Why are we hesitant to talk openly about our emotional pain and suffering? Part of the problem is that society misconstrues the expression of pain or suffering as weakness, and we have the mistaken idea that strong, capable people do not show any weakness. Emotional pain and suffering are part of the human experience. It’s okay to seek help, talk about your feelings, and not suffer alone. Remember, ...
Oct 19, 2023•32 min
Welcome back for another great episode! I’m joined by Dr. Carla Meijen to discuss her book, Empowered Birth: Lessons From Sport Psychology for Your Maternity Journey. Her book is a fascinating take on how pregnancy can be viewed as an endurance sport. Join us to learn more! Dr. Carla Meijen is an accredited sport psychologist and Associate Professor of applied sport psychology at St. Mary’s University in London. In her work, she focuses on the mental demands of endurance performance, stress, and...
Oct 16, 2023•50 min
We are tackling a hot topic that carries with it many misconceptions. Unlike with other medical conditions, there are fears around taking medications specifically for anxiety and depression. Our goal with today’s show is to help shed the stigma and misconceptions about medications in pregnancy and postpartum, letting women know that it’s okay to use medication support if that’s what you and your doctor decide. Join us to learn more! Victoria Vaughan is a military spouse and mom to a beautiful ba...
Oct 09, 2023•48 min
Welcome to a new series of the Mom & Mind podcast called Behind the Sessions. We will have a new episode every other Thursday to give additional insight into therapy and the perinatal mental health and reproductive health specialties. Our goal is to pull back the curtain on as much as possible so that asking for help and finding help can feel more accessible and possible. I’ll be diving into topics that come up in therapy sessions around emotional and relationship challenges, along with shar...
Oct 05, 2023•33 min
New insights and fresh perspectives on pregnancy and postpartum are always helpful! I’m intrigued and excited for today’s guest who discusses her new book, To Carry Wonder. This unique book is a beautiful weaving of her personal experience, clinical information, and perinatal mental health information and is much different from most “pregnancy books.” I know this conversation and Emese’s book will offer help and hope to many people. Join us to learn more! Emese Parker is a board-certified women’...
Oct 02, 2023•35 min
My guest today helps us understand reproductive trauma, what it looks like, and how to recognize it. She explains the difference between trauma and PTSD, how these conditions can show up in the reproductive period, and how they can impact individuals, partnerships, and families. Most importantly, her message is one of hope because there are proven ways to heal from reproductive trauma, and that’s the overriding theme of today’s episode. Join us to learn more! Bethany Warren is a psychotherapist ...
Sep 25, 2023•1 hr 3 min
Today’s personal story comes from Savannah Burton. She’s the mother of two and the owner and therapist at My Memphis Therapist Counseling and Consulting. She is a University of Memphis alumnus and a postpartum anxiety advocate and survivor after experiencing different challenges with the birth of her two children. With a passion for maternal mental health, Savannah feels fortunate to live out her dream of helping others as a therapist and entrepreneur. She explains what it feels like to not like...
Sep 18, 2023•44 min
I’m excited to welcome back Dr. Daniel Singley back to the show. He joined me about seven years ago when we were a brand-new podcast, and he’s been busy doing meaningful work in the world around paternal mental health. Join us to learn more about why the mental health of fathers cannot be overlooked in perinatal care. Dr. Daniel Singley is a San Diego-based, board-certified psychologist and director of The Center for Men’s Excellence. His research and practice focus on men’s mental health with p...
Sep 11, 2023•43 min
Today’s episode features another personal account of struggle through postpartum issues and a journey to healing. Join us to learn more from Ruthie’s story! I’m joined by Ruthie Ayzenberg, LMFT, LPCC, PMH-C, CYT, a dedicated California-licensed psychotherapist with over a decade of experience specializing in maternal and perinatal mental health. She provides therapy, postpartum CBT/DBT skills coaching, and support groups through her private practice, Mental Fitness Therapy. She explains how her ...
Sep 04, 2023•49 min
Struggles in the transition to motherhood can be a great motivator to help others. Such is the story of today’s guest. Becoming a mom during the early months of the COVID pandemic left Molly feeling blindsided by her birth and postpartum experience, even as a therapist. Unexplained seizures sent her newborn daughter to the NICU, an experience that fueled her postpartum anxiety. Later, she had a missed OCD diagnosis and went through the understandably difficult decision to have a second child. Jo...
Aug 28, 2023•41 min
Today’s guest shares her experience with postpartum depression and how she got through it to the other side. Sleep deprivation is common for new parents, and it can definitely get in the way and diminish the magic of the brand-new relationship with their baby. Along with depression and the unusual condition of D-MER, sleep deprivation can make parents feel disconnected to the point that they misinterpret who they are and how they are functioning as new parents. Join us to learn more from Alicia’...
Aug 21, 2023•47 min
I’m excited that today’s episode covers the new postpartum depression medication, Zuranalone (brand name Zurzuvae). This is the first pill for PPD and was just recently approved by the FDA. It differs from the IV infusion Braxanalone, which was FDA approved in 2019. As with any new medication, there are many questions to consider if we are to stay ahead of any misinformation and hesitations. Join us to learn what you need to know and understand about this fantastic new tool in the treatment of P...
Aug 14, 2023•41 min
Today’s show focuses on how Black birthing people and mothers might experience trauma in the healthcare system that impacts them during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. There is great complexity in the emotions that people feel during the transition to parenthood, and today’s guest is dedicated to providing support, resources, and healing. Join us to learn more! I’m joined by Chetina Guadalupe, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, consultant, and the owner/creator of Always Live Lovely. In...
Aug 07, 2023•44 min
Today’s episode sheds light on the truth that we never know what someone has been through, especially regarding the journey to parenthood. It’s so easy, and often inaccurate, to assume that another person’s path has been somehow easier than our own. My guest’s story includes many elements, including infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, and the decision to use a surrogate, also known as a gestational carrier. A beautiful part of her story is that her best friend chose to carry her twins for her...
Jul 31, 2023•42 min
Sadly, many moms fall through the cracks in the field of perinatal mental health because healthcare providers don’t have the proper knowledge about perinatal mental health conditions. Today’s guest is a doctor dedicated to making a difference in the lives of women and families. Join us to learn more! Dr. Jessica Vernon is a mom who experienced a perinatal mental health condition. As an Ob-gyn, she is dedicated to helping educate residents in her field with adequate training and information about...
Jul 24, 2023•44 min
I’m joined today by Abla Benyahia, a Moroccan, London-based postpartum doula and birth educator. She is the mother of two children under two years of age, and she’s a postnatal depression survivor. Passionately supporting women during their postpartum journey, Abla helps them navigate through mental health challenges and mom’s guilt to reclaim their true identities. Abla experienced postnatal depression after the birth of her first child, which was followed quickly by her second pregnancy. She s...
Jul 17, 2023•59 min
