When was the last time you had a night out with friends? You know the night, the one where you find yourself laughing so hard that you forget, even for a moment, all the chaos of life. If you had to think a little too hard about this, you’re not alone. As a therapist who works with moms, I often hear that motherhood has pushed friendships to the back burner. It’s a reminder to moms that you deserve more fun outside the walls of your home and beyond your role as a parent. Because if there’s one thing that I have seen consistently transform the lives of my clients it’s mom friends.

October marks Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month—a time dedicated to honor the deep grief that accompanies the loss of a baby, whether through miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death. In this post, I want to explore what it means to grieve a baby you never had the chance to know, and how to navigate this unique and profound loss. Whether you are experiencing this yourself or supporting someone who is, it’s important to honor the grief and recognize that there are tangible ways to begin healing, even when it feels impossible.

Maternal mental overload is a unique and challenging experience that many mothers face, marked by the relentless cognitive labor and emotional demands of managing a household and caring for a family. Despite efforts to balance responsibilities, societal norms and ingrained gender roles often place the majority of this mental burden on women. This blog explores the concept of maternal mental overload, why it disproportionately affects women, and the signs that indicate you're experiencing it. It also delves into why sharing the load can be so difficult and offers practical steps to break the cycle, emphasizing the importance of community and self-compassion in navigating these challenges.

Hoda Kotb, a beloved anchor of the Today Show, made the announcement that she's stepping away from her high-profile position to dedicate more time to being with her family. As both a reproductive mental health therapist and a mother who struggled with my own family forming challenges, I find myself moved and inspired by Hoda's choice. Her journey resonates with my own experience and reminds us all that life's most precious moments often unfold in their own perfect timing.

We’ve all been there – juggling career, household responsibilities, and the emotional well-being of our families, which often peaks in intensity right after 5 PM. With school back in session and routines in full swing, most of us find ourselves facing this stretch of the day with dread. If you’re anything like me, the period between 5 PM and bedtime can feel like a marathon where everyone’s energy reserves are tapped, but there’s still so much to do. Dinner, homework, baths, books, and bedtime—plus, let’s not overlook solo time for yourself or spending quality time with your partner, if it even happens. This period in the day, is coupled with a common aspect of modern motherhood: the maternal mental load. Let’s break down why this time can be so overwhelming and, more importantly, what we can do about it.

After dropping my daughter off for her first day of kindergarten, I felt inspired to write about this emotional milestone that many parents face—sending their child off to kindergarten. Transitions are often filled with excitement and pride. However, these big milestones can also bring about feelings of grief and loss for parents. I want to normalize these emotions as an important part of the parenting journey. Read more here.

One of the most important lessons we can teach our children is how to stay safe in a world that can sometimes be unpredictable. Traditionally, we’ve done this through the concept of “stranger danger,” but this approach has its limitations. Sometimes the real risk comes from people children may already know, and not all strangers are dangerous. That’s why I recommend shifting the conversation from “stranger danger” to the idea of “tricky people."

I’ve seen firsthand how mom guilt can take a significant toll on a mother’s mental and emotional well-being. The constant self-criticism can lead to increased stress, anxiety, and even depression. It can erode self-esteem and create a sense of inadequacy. Over time, this guilt can strain relationships, lead to burnout, and rob mothers of the joy that should come with parenting. One of the most challenging aspects of mom guilt is that it often goes unspoken. As a mother, you may believe you are alone in feeling this way, which only deepens a sense of isolation and shame. But the truth is, mom guilt is incredibly common, and there are strategies to reduce guilt and increase coping.

When I recommend mindfulness meditation as a tool for managing stress and finding inner peace. I am met with pushback. And I get it… because I felt the same way. The idea of sitting still and quieting my mind felt impossible, especially in the chaos of my own daily life where I was balancing a career, a household, and the endless responsibilities of parenthood. Here’s my story and some practical tips for integrating meditation into a busy parent’s life.

Perfectionism, often celebrated in our achievement-oriented society, sets an unattainable standard that inevitably leads to stress, anxiety, inadequacy and burnout. This brings many to therapy. I see a version of myself in my clients, especially those who describe themselves as high-achieving, type A and perfectionistic. They sit across from me, their faces etched with the exhaustion of trying to meet impossible standards at work, in relationships and within parenting. For as long as I can remember, perfectionism had been an inherent part of who I was. Read more to find out how I recovered from my perfectionism.

Have you ever walked into a room and completely forgotten why you went in there in the first place? Has a word been on the tip of your tongue, but you have absolutely no recall? Or perhaps you've found yourself frantically searching for your phone, only to realize it's been in your hand the entire time? For many of us, especially new parents, experiencing moments of forgetfulness, absent-mindedness, and general cognitive fuzziness is all too familiar. But did you know there's a scientific explanation behind this phenomenon?

Everyone experiences stress. When children encounter stressors, their bodies activate the "fight, flight or freeze" response, triggering a cascade of physiological reactions, which prepares the body to confront or flee from the danger or shut down to protect itself. While this response is crucial for survival, prolonged activation of stress impacts children's physical health and cognitive development. In this blog, you will have a guide to understanding your child’s stress response and where and how stress responses develop.

Our inner dialogues shape our perception of the world and ourselves. Negative self-talk reinforces self-doubt and limitations, acting as a barrier to our full potential. Constant negative self-talk can lead to feelings of depression and anxiety, perpetuating a cycle of pessimism and self-doubt. It can also exacerbate stress, fuel perfectionism, and strain our ability to cope with challenges. In contrast, positive self-talk can uplift, motivate, and rewire our brain in empowering ways. This simple practice can yield profound benefits for your mental well-being and cognitive functioning. But how exactly does it work? This blog post dives into the science behind positive self-talk and its transformative effects on the brain.

May 1st marks World Maternal Mental Health Day, which draws attention and awareness to essential mental health concerns impacting mothers and their families. Without such acknowledgment there is a risk that these individuals struggles would go unnoticed beneath the surface of societal expectations and the inclination to remain silent.

As a reproductive mental health therapist, I have the honor and privilege of accompanying individuals and couples through the often turbulent waters of infertility. National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW) is a time to acknowledge the struggles, triumphs, and complex emotions that come with the journey to parenthood.

Picture this familiar scenario: your baby cries, and instantly, your heart wrenches with the desire to make everything better, to erase their discomfort and restore peace. But what if I told you that sometimes, the best way to meet your child’s needs is by creating a bit of emotional distance?

Indulging in self-care is more than just pampering oneself with spa days or long baths. Instead, it's about recognizing the importance of prioritizing personal needs and desires. In the realm of self-care, even seemingly small acts can have a significant impact on mental well-being. One such act that often gets overlooked is the simple act of taking the best piece of chicken during a meal.

The holiday season is meant to be a magical time, filled with joy, laughter, and cherished moments. However, for many parents, this time of year can quickly turn into a whirlwind of stress and burnout as they strive to create the perfect experience for their children. We’re calling it the holidaze – that chaotic period where the pursuit of holiday magic collides with the realities of parenting. In this blog post, we'll explore the common sources of stress during the festive season and provide practical solutions to help parents cope and truly enjoy the magic of the holidays.

With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) and its wide-ranging applications across industries like finance, transportation, manufacturing, and healthcare, there is great potential to revolutionize the way we think about mental health care. AI offers a promising pathway towards supporting the mental health needs of clients, through its ability to analyze vast amounts of data, personalize interventions, and provide accessible support. AI has emerged as a powerful tool in the field of maternal mental health, an area of healthcare often under-resourced and overlooked, by offering innovative solutions and transformative potential to support and enhance the well-being of mothers and their babies. What does this look like for therapists and the clients that we serve?

Whether you’ve been crushed by seeing the absence of two pink lines month after month or if you knew from the start that your family-forming journey would have its challenges, living with the highs and lows of infertility can take a toll.