Mom & Mind Podcast | Postpartum | Birth | Pregnancy | Maternal Mental Health |

It’s a good time to acknowledge the trauma that is raging around the world, which just adds to the stress from the challenges we have come through with the COVID pandemic. Here in the US, we are going through a time of multiple mass shootings, baby formula shortages, wars in other countries, political issues, and controversy about women’s bodies. There is lots of tense energy, worry, and confusion, along with the normal challenges of parenthood. For many parents, it has become very hard to process it all and keep living life. With so many people experiencing anxiety, depression, exhaustion, and burnout, navigating the journey is a difficult challenge. In today’s episode, I’m calling this trauma what it is and admitting that life can be so difficult at times. Join me for a closer look.   Show Highlights:   How these traumas bring emotional impacts on parents and kids Why it’s difficult to talk to our kids about the worry, anxiety, and trauma The importance of remaining present with our feelings over tragedi

During pregnancy and parenthood, we listen to SO many voices telling us what we should look like, feel like, and do. The stereotypes can be frustrating and demeaning to the point that we feel very unheard and unseen. Today’s conversation brings to the forefront the importance of finding self-worth and fulfillment in yourself and who you are, instead of what other people say. Join us to learn more! Jocelyn Lam is the mother of an energetic, kind, and silly toddler. Jocelyn is a second-generation immigrant who grew up in Calgary, Canada, and currently resides in the Bay Area of CA. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist who helps folks with intersecting identities break intergenerational trauma cycles, particularly in the areas of parenting, re-parenting, and body image. Jocelyn has training through Postpartum Support International and is working toward her certified eating disorder specialization. In today’s conversation, she shares her personal experience in parenting as a second-generation Chinese a

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 hope.  Dr. Elinor Cleghorn is a feminist cultural historian, and her critical writing has been published in several academic journals. After receiving her Ph.D. in 2012, she spent three years as a post-doctoral researcher at the Ruskin School, University of Oxford, where she worked on an interdisciplinary medical humanities project. She is the author of Unwell Women: Misdiagnosis and Myth in a Man-Made World, a book that I recommend highly to all our listeners.  Show Highlights: What brought Elinor to write the book after a lupus diagnosis that followed a very complicated pregnancy with her son How Elinor began her research with urgency into her lupus di

Welcome! Today’s show highlights some important upcoming dates in the world of perinatal mental health as we celebrate Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month in May. Stay tuned for the end as I have an exciting update to share with you. This podcast is very important to me. My purpose is to foster and provide space for people’s stories but to balance those experiences with a clinical perspective with proven experts in the field. As I say often, we need to raise awareness with information and education to reduce the stigma related to perinatal mental health conditions. Along with that awareness, I want to empower people further to seek help and support without shame or embarrassment. Thank you for coming along for the ride, and don’t forget to share the podcast and available resources with a friend or loved one who might benefit. I’m sharing a lot of helpful resources in this episode, so don’t miss out! Join me! Show Highlights: Important dates in May, Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month: Maternal Mental

My guest today shares her personal story and clinical perspective of her complicated journey into motherhood. Her story includes the support of reproductive technologies, as well as the loss of her twin daughters and the adoption of her son. Join us to hear more. **Today’s episode covers sensitive topics of perinatal loss and pregnancy loss. Use your own judgment as to whether it’s right for you or not at this time. Jeanae Hopgood, LMFT, M.Ed, PMH-C, is an individual, couple/partner and family therapist, clinical sexologist, author, speaker, doctoral candidate, and occasional adjunct professor. Her Pennsylvania private practice centers people of marginalized identities (specifically Black and LGBTQ+). She helps them heal from family-of-origin challenges, relational difficulties, fertility and family creation processes, perinatal mental health, perinatal loss, healing and healthy sexuality, and realignment of the mind, body, and spirit. Jeanae is also the founder of the Black Angel Mom community, which include

Today’s show looks at postpartum psychosis, a much-misunderstood condition, and diagnosis. Unfortunately, we usually hear about this condition after a tragedy has occurred, but that is not always the hallmark of postpartum psychosis. My guest shares her journey, including the missteps by the mental health clinicians and medical professionals who didn’t provide the help that she needed. Along with so many misconceptions about postpartum psychosis, the main problem is that people just are not educated about this topic. Join us to learn more. Jillian Parente is a licensed clinical social worker, adjunct professor, multi-trauma and postpartum psychosis survivor, yogi, and holistic wellness advocate. She is a champion of maternal mental health who specializes in trauma and focuses on women’s mental health. Most importantly, she is the mother of a smart and beautiful four-year-old girl. While maintaining her role as a mental health professional, Jillian continues the extensive process of recovery from her episode o

As couples move into life with a new baby, many changes come with that new little arrival. Everyone has their expectations about what life will be like when the baby arrives, but how does the reality stack up? Life becomes a “new normal.” Whether expectations are realistic or not, adjusting to life with a new baby can be a time with many challenges, and communication with each other is vital. Join us to learn more! Catherine O’Brien is a licensed marriage and family therapist who lives and practices in Sacramento, California. She is the founder of Happy With Baby, which she created for new parents. She gives them the advice she wishes had been there for her as a new parent. Catherine’s new book, Happy With Baby, is a helpful resource for couples who are transitioning into parenthood. Show Highlights: What new parents are facing when a baby arrives, especially the strain on the relationship What surprises many new moms about how their partners adjust to parenthood How people can feel empowered and confident

Today we are digging into the topic of rage in motherhood, specifically, postpartum rage. We will discuss what it is, why it happens, what it feels like, and what you can do about it. Join us to learn more! Erica Djossa is a registered psychotherapist, sought-after maternal mental health specialist, and Happy As A Mother founder. She has been practicing for over ten years and is a regular media contributor. Erica helps women adjust and manage the load of motherhood with her popular Happy As A Mother podcast, Instagram platform, and online therapy services. She is passionate about supporting moms and helping them embrace their motherhood journey. She is a Toronto-based mother to three rambunctious boys, and she can often be found sharing insights through her Instagram stories. Show Highlights: How rage shows up in the context of motherhood How the “perfect mother” myths stifle a mom’s ability to express any anger Examples of what rage might feel like for a mom How we form our inward and outward boundaries

Today’s show features a dear friend and colleague as we discuss the mental health impacts on fertility and perinatal mental health. The mental health side of these issues is often overlooked in the process of treatment, and many parents are suffering. Join us as we take a closer look! Dr. Marissa Long is a sought-after expert in the field of reproductive psychology. As the owner and clinical director of ARC Counseling & Wellness, a private practice in southern California, Texas, and Louisiana, Dr. Long is dedicated to helping individuals and couples who are going through fertility treatment. She also works with women with high risk pregnancies and pregnancy loss to relieve the emotional distress associated with these challenges. She recently launched PsychEd Book Club, an innovative book club facilitated by therapists to support mental health, self-help, and social connection through conversation and education. Dr. Long is a lifelong dancer who performed in the halftime show at Super Bowl XXXII and the Sydney

Today’s focus comes from what has been on my mind and what I hear from many people. Families are feeling the squeeze right now with collective stress, burnout, and trying to cope in the middle of these COVID times. What we are all dealing with and the length of time we have endured this stress so far has many people hitting a wall with their mental health. Join me for this discussion! Show Highlights: Why many of us feel jaded because of all that COVID has messed up for us How anxiety, hypervigilance, and the pressure of decision-making have added to the constant stress of managing everyday life for expectant moms and those with new babies How COVID decisions have brought conflict and confusion between families and friends because of varying perspectives Why we aren’t built to withstand this kind of collective stress and trauma for extended periods of time How our bandwidth for stress has decreased since there is no good place for our frustrated feelings to go–and each new wave brings more uncertainty T

Today’s show gives us a unique perspective on pregnancy and the postpartum while managing a physical disability. Join us to hear our guest’s inspiring story. Rachel Brousseau is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Registered Drama Therapist, Drama Therapy Board Certified Trainer, and Perinatal Mental Health Certified Therapist. She has a private practice in Burbank, CA, where she specializes in helping highly sensitive mothers throughout their motherhood journey. She is the co-founder of the Creative Center for Motherhood, supporting moms through the use of group creative expression. Rachel has presented for Maternal Mental Health NOW, the North American Drama Therapy Association, USC School of Social Work, Cal State LA, and Heartbeat. She is also a Parent and Me class facilitator and teaches at the Drama Therapy Institute of Los Angeles. Through her personal experience, Rachel is driven to help mothers feel connected so that they never have to feel alone. Show Highlights: Rachel’s story of being diagn

Today’s show focuses on attachment and bonding. Some parents feel immediate love and connection with their new baby, but for many, they struggle to achieve a “normal” bond. The good news is that there are specific steps parents can take to understand the basics of attachment and bonding. Join us to learn more! Beth Warren is a psychotherapist in private practice in San Diego, California. She has a passion for reproductive mental health and has worked in this field for over 20 years. Beth is certified in EMDR therapy and Perinatal Mental Health, specializing in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, birth trauma, pregnancy loss, and infertility. She has worked in both hospital and outpatient psychiatric settings and has led postpartum support groups for new mothers. She is a current member and previously served as the President of the Board of the Postpartum Health Alliance, a nonprofit organization in San Diego dedicated to promoting awareness of Perinatal Mental Health. In addition to working as a therapist a

There are many misconceptions about postpartum depression, what it is, and how it manifests itself. This episode will clear up some of the myths and bring clarity, hope, and awareness to this topic. Join us to learn more! Kristina Deligiannidis, MD, received her medical degree from and completed her psychiatry residency and chief residency in psychopharmacology research at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. After residency, she completed a visiting fellowship and further training in multimodal neuroimaging at the Massachusetts General Hospital/Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging. Dr. Deligiannidis joined the faculty at Zucker Hillside Hospital, the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, and the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell in September 2016. She is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and currently serves as the director of women’s behavioral health at Zucker Hillside Hospital. As a reproductive psychiatrist, she has experti

Parents have experienced burnout for generations, but it’s only recently that parent burnout has been recognized as something that needs support. Today’s guest is making a difference in this space, helping parents and families with overall mental and physical wellness. Join us to learn more! Shelley Kemmerer PA-C is the founder of Run Tell Mom, LLC. She is a licensed physician assistant who is certified in parental burnout prevention by The Training Institute for Parental Burnout, the world’s leading training institute on parental burnout. She helps parents and caregivers with live-in children navigate transitions throughout their parenting journey. Shelley provides personalized, customizable resources through one-on-one consultations, collaborative workshops, and master classes with a goal to optimize the parenting experience while filling the space beyond clinical care. Show Highlights: Shelley’s path to the work she does today to help parents How Shelley saw the need for parental burnout resources after

Therapists are under unique pressure to “have it all together” when pregnancy and parenthood challenges come along. The truth is that no one is immune to these challenges, and therapists experience the same struggles as anyone else. Join us as today’s guest shares her experience in becoming a parent and adjusting to her role in motherhood. Veronica Eyo is a bilingual licensed clinical social worker. Her passion is to help all moms navigate the challenges of parenthood. She transitioned into her practice of working primarily with mothers after her first pregnancy, and her experiences led her to seek specialized training in working with moms of color. Supporting mamas through various walks of life is what grounds Veronica, and this passion influenced her dissertation as she researched student mothers’ success in institutions of higher learning.  Show Highlights: Veronica’s experience with her first pregnancy and not holding space for herself as she was for her clients How her daughter’s birth became a whirlwi

Today’s episode turns to pregnancy and infant loss as we acknowledge October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. We want to spend time honoring all parents who have experienced this unique type of loss. Everyone who experiences a pregnancy or infant loss goes through the grief in their own way and at their own pace, and there are specific ways that we can offer support. Let’s dive into this difficult subject together. Show Highlights: Why you owe no one an explanation about how you feel, why you feel it, or how long you feel it. Why people very often don’t know what to say for a number of possible reasons Why some people may choose not to share openly about their loss Why shame, blame, and trauma accompany this kind of overwhelming loss How we can help erase the stigma, silence, and isolation that many people feel after a loss How it’s common to experience worry and anxiety in trying to become pregnant again after a loss How grief is not a linear process that begins and ends but affects multi

We are talking about how partners are affected and transformed in their journey into parenthood. Fathers need support and education just like mothers do. Join us to learn more! Scott Mair lives with his wife and seven sons in the UK. He’s here to share how he started supporting new fathers through their journey to new parenthood. Scott is on a mission to set up parental mental health support for parents and promote awareness of paternal mental health. He’s a member of the Paternal Mental Health Alliance, mental health campaigner, trained peer-to-peer leader, team member of the perinatal training CIC, and qualified Beyond Birth mental wellbeing practitioner. In today’s episode, you’ll hear key informative points from Scott about how we can support fathers in the transition to parenthood, as well as how our outdated views of fathers negatively impact men in their transition into fatherhood. Show Highlights: How Scott got started in the field of paternal mental health through the traumatic birth of his seventh

Today’s show focuses on your relationship during pregnancy and the postpartum period. My guest shares her experience through postpartum depression and anxiety and the effects on her marriage. We are covering what you need to know--but no one has told you--about the entry into parenthood. Join us! Kara Hoppe is a psychotherapist, teacher, feminist, and mother. She has spent more than a decade as an inclusive therapist working with individuals and couples toward healing and growing toward becoming grounded, integrated people with better access to their own instincts, wisdom, and creativity. Kara offers workshops for parents and expectant couples based on her book, Baby Bomb: A Relationship Survival Guide for New Parents. She lives with her husband and son in Pioneertown, CA, and sees clients in private practice via telehealth. In today’s conversation, Kara helps us understand how new parents can navigate the unexpected changes in their relationship, including how to communicate, how to maintain intimacy, and ho

Today’s episode is an important one in the field of parental mental health. Unfortunately, fathers are often overlooked in many aspects of parenthood and family dynamics. To build strong families, we need to involve all parents in the path to parenthood and in providing family-supporting resources. Join us to learn more! Jane Honikman, M.S. co-founded Postpartum Education for Parents (PEP), co-founded the Postpartum Action Institute, and founded Postpartum Support International (PSI). Jane is the author of several parenting support books: Community Support for New Families; I’m Listening: A Guide to Supporting Postpartum Families; My Diary: A Postpartum Journey from Pain to Purpose; Postpartum Action Manual: How to Provide Comfort, Encouragement, and Guidance to New Families; and Parental Mental Health: Factoring in Fathers. She was born and raised in Palo Alto, California, and has lived in Santa Barbara since 1970. She and her husband have three adult married children, eight grandchildren, and a cat. Show Hi

Today’s guest shares her story of pregnancy losses and the resulting anxiety and depression that made the journey to parenthood very challenging. Join us to hear her inspiring story of healing and hope. Dorienna M. Alfred, Ph.D., PMH-C is a licensed psychologist and certified perinatal mental health professional. She is the owner of Works of Faith Wellness and Consultation, LLC, a private practice centered on perinatal mental health services in Columbus, Ohio. Through the practice, she provides individual therapy, workshops, and continuing education that promote health equity for those at the highest risk for complications during pregnancy and postpartum. Dr. Alfred is the author of the book, Pregnant with Promise: A Spiritual Journey of Pregnancy, Bed Rest, and Childbirth, which is a memoir of her journey with loss and pregnancy complications. She has been a guest blogger for Pregnancy After Loss Support and has been a guest on the Sisters in Loss Podcast. She is particularly interested in supporting parents