TopPodcast.com
Menu
  • Home
  • Top Charts
  • Top Networks
  • Top Apps
  • Top Independents
  • Top Podfluencers
  • Top Picks
    • Top Business Podcasts
    • Top True Crime Podcasts
    • Top Finance Podcasts
    • Top Comedy Podcasts
    • Top Music Podcasts
    • Top Womens Podcasts
    • Top Kids Podcasts
    • Top Sports Podcasts
    • Top News Podcasts
    • Top Tech Podcasts
    • Top Crypto Podcasts
    • Top Entrepreneurial Podcasts
    • Top Fantasy Sports Podcasts
    • Top Political Podcasts
    • Top Science Podcasts
    • Top Self Help Podcasts
    • Top Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Top Stocks Podcasts
  • Podcast News
  • About Us
  • Podcast Advertising
  • Contact
Not in our directory?
Add Show Here
Podcast Equipment
Center

toppodcastlogoOur TOPPODCAST Picks

  • Comedy
  • Crypto
  • Sports
  • News
  • Politics
  • True Crime
  • Business
  • Finance

Follow Us

toppodcastlogoStay Connected

    View Top 200 Chart
    Back to Rankings Page
    Health & Fitness

    Mom and Mind | Pregnancy and Postpartum Depression & Anxiety

    Posptartum Depression is real. And it’s only part of the story. We dig in to ALL of the stuff that no one tells you about, but you NEED to know. Dr. Kat, Psychologist and specialist in perinatal mental health, interviews moms, dads, experts and advocates about how to cope, manage and recover from perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. We talk about postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety and SO MUCH MORE! We get real. We get honest. We put on our stigma crushing boots and address the realities of the transition to motherhood and parenthood. Learn about it before you find out about it the hard way! You don’t have to suffer! www.momandmind.com

    Advertise
    • Apple Podcasts
    • Google Play
    • Spotify

    Latest Episodes:
    Postpartum Preeclampsia: Healing from Birth Trauma (Ep. 436) Aug 18, 2025
    Show notes

    Today’s guest tells her story of birth trauma, postpartum preeclampsia, and how therapy helped her to process her emotions. I’m thrilled to have Courtney here to share her story and how she is helping other moms. Join us!

    Courtney Costello is a licensed master’s social worker with nearly 15 years of experience in the field. She worked predominantly with families and children before having her son in 2023, when she became personally and professionally passionate about maternal well-being and mental health. After going to therapy for her own postpartum challenges (birth trauma and PTSD), she was inspired to be more of a support for others in the perinatal period. Combining her education and lived experience, Courtney now works as a perinatal mental health counselor in Buffalo, NY. In addition, she runs an online maternal mental health training for other clinicians who are interested in learning more about supporting mothers. This year, Courtney is acting as a co-leader for Buffalo’s local Climb through Postpartum Support International.

    Show Highlights:

    • Courtney’s “normal” pregnancy and the labor/delivery that did NOT go according to plan

    • Labor/delivery expectations vs. reality

    • Feeling fear with a sense of not knowing what was happening

    • Finally, a healthy baby—and a blizzard rolls in to complicate everything and add stress

    • Uncertainty and conflicting restrictions about leaving the hospital with their newborn son

    • Driving home, getting stuck in a white-out, and finally making it to her brother’s house

    • A story of fear and multiple kindnesses from others

    • A few days postpartum: feeling “off” and seeing floaters in her vision

    • A diagnosis of postpartum preeclampsia and a hospital stay, but not much of an explanation from the nurses

    • Getting home and facing fear and anxiety about being separated from her family

    • Finding help with therapy with a therapist who was the perfect fit

    • Questioning her return to her job and finding where she fits best in working with the perinatal population

    • Finding healing and deciding to have a second child, which previously felt impossible

    Resources:

    Connect with Courtney Costello: Website, Instagram, and Psychology Today

    Call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA or visit cdph.ca.gov

    Please find resources in English and Spanish at Postpartum Support International, or by phone/text at 1-800-944-4773. There are many free resources, like online support groups, peer mentors, a specialist provider directory, and perinatal mental health training for therapists, physicians, nurses, doulas, and anyone who wants to be more supportive in offering services.

    You can also follow PSI on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and most other platforms.

    Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/ for information on the grief course.

    Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today!

    If you are a California resident looking for a therapist in perinatal mental health, email me about openings for private pay clients!


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices


    Receiving Devastating News: Providing Compassionate Care for Perinatal Parents (Ep. 435) Aug 11, 2025
    Show notes

    Today’s episode focuses on patients who receive devastating news during the perinatal period. Unfortunately, this scenario is all too common, and complexities are affecting both the patient and the medical provider, most notably the delicate balance of professionalism, compassion, and humanity. Our conversation explores the psychological impacts and ways of handling these situations.

    Dr. Christiane Manzella is a senior licensed psychologist at the Seleni Institute, a nonprofit organization providing comprehensive reproductive and maternal mental health services. She specializes in working with individuals navigating bereavement, trauma, fertility challenges, miscarriages, late-term loss, stillbirth, termination for medical reasons, child loss, and life transitions. Her purposeful and caring manner helps her patients recover and navigate these complex situations.

    Dr. Babalola (Femi) Jinadu is a board-certified OB-GYN with over a decade of experience in women’s health. He earned his medical degree from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency at Jersey City Medical Center. He currently practices medicine in northern New Jersey, specializing in comprehensive obstetric and gynecological care. He is affiliated with Holy Name Hospital in addition to the Hackensack Meridian Health and Atlantic Health networks. Dr. Jinadu has been featured on the Hot and Bothered Podcast, discussing the economic impact of women’s health issues. He serves on the boards of the New Jersey Partnership for Maternal Health and Seleni, a nonprofit focused on maternal mental healthcare and clinician education. His dedication to patient care and medical education highlights his commitment to advancing women’s health.

    Show Highlights:

    • Dr. Manzella’s perspective on giving patients the bad news that becomes a “flashbulb moment” in their lives, based on how they are cared for

    • Dr. Jinadu’s perspective on delivering the very best news—and the very worst news

    • Understanding that people connect with different doctors in different ways, especially when there has been a tragic loss

    • Establishing trust and rapport with compassion and understanding

    • A definite shift in medical care to emphasize the hospitality aspect of patient care, rather than simply delivering data and treatment options

    • Mental health IS healthcare.

    • The long-term effects of perinatal bad news and the loss of hopes and dreams

    • Reaching out with humanity as a physician in pivotal moments

    • Dr. Jinadu’s thoughts about the impact of loss on a partner

    • Dr. Manzella’s work with couples in grief and loss

    • A patient’s perspective on how they wish to be treated in grief and loss

    • The doctors’ perspectives on patients using AI, Google, and social media for medical care

    • Key takeaways from Dr. Manzella and Dr. Jinadu

    Resources:

    Connect with Seleni, Seleni Instagram, Dr. Jinadu Instagram, Dr. Jinadu Creative Tyde, and Dr. Jinadu LinkedIn

    Call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA or visit cdph.ca.gov

    Please find resources in English and Spanish at Postpartum Support International, or by phone/text at 1-800-944-4773. There are many free resources, like online support groups, peer mentors, a specialist provider directory, and perinatal mental health training for therapists, physicians, nurses, doulas, and anyone who wants to be more supportive in offering services.

    You can also follow PSI on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and most other platforms

    Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/ for information on the grief course.

    Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today!

    If you are a California resident looking for a therapist in perinatal mental health, email me about openings for private pay clients!


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices


    434: Behind The Sessions: Re Release - Breastfeeding, D-MER and Maternal Mental Health Aug 07, 2025
    Show notes

    You may think that postpartum depression covers all aspects of perinatal mental health issues that new mothers face. The fact is that there are other kinds of mood changes, some that are talked about and some that are relatively unknown and uncommon. Today’s show focuses on one specific problem that some mothers experience: it’s called D-Mer, which stands for Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex.

    Heidi Koss, MA, LMHC, is a psychotherapist in private practice in Redmond, WA. She specializes in perinatal (pregnancy and postpartum) mood disorders, birth trauma, sexual abuse, and parent adjustment issues. Heidi has been the WA State Coordinator for Postpartum Support International ⁠www.postpartum.net⁠, and has volunteered for over 20 years with Perinatal Support Washington ⁠www.perinatalsupport.org⁠. She served as past board member for PATTCh – the Prevention and Treatment of Traumatic Childbirth, ⁠www.pattch.org⁠. Heidi is active leading trainings for clinicians on appropriate assessment and treatment options for perinatal mood disorders and birth trauma. She leads monthly clinical consult groups mentoring mental health care providers to develop their competency and expertise in perinatal mental health issues.

    Heidi was a co-founder of the Northwest Association for Postpartum Support (NAPS, ⁠www.napsdoulas.com⁠) a postpartum doula organization as well as the recipient of the Doulas of North America (DONA) Penny Simkin Doula Spirit and Mentorship Award. Prior to her psychotherapy career, Heidi was a Postpartum Doula and Certified Lactation Educator for 12 years.

    Show Highlights:

    • Heidi’s work as a mother and perinatal mental health therapist and lactation educator: ”Helping moms with mind, body, and breast”
    • Why D-Mer is not often talked about and often misunderstood
    • What D-Mer is: Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex. It occurs when milk onset/letdown happens and lasts a few seconds or minutes
    • D-Mer is a strange emotional phenomenon with negative emotions of sadness, dread, despair, nervousness, anxiety, and irritability
    • D-Mer can be severe, with fleeting suicidal thoughts and urges for self-harm
    • The biochemical connection is with two hormones, dopamine and oxytocin, in which they “go rogue,” misfire, or become overactive
    • No studies have shown who is more predisposed to experience D-Mer
    • For some women, D-Mer symptoms ease as the baby ages, but some have no change until weaning
    • D-Mer symptoms might be harder to treat and control in women who already have a diagnosed anxiety or depression disorder
    • What D-Mer is NOT: nausea, postpartum depression, anxiety, breastfeeding aversion---”It’s NOT the mom’s fault.”
    • The best treatment is to educate women about D-Mer
    • How some women can “talk themselves through” D-Mer episodes
    • Ideas for easing symptoms include rewiring the stress hormones, making positive associations with breastfeeding, and positive touch (massage)
    • General good habits for life will ease D-Mer symptoms, like mindfulness, meditation, good sleep and self-care, reduced stress, and managing blood sugar fluctuations
    • To target dopamine, nursing locations should be aesthetically pleasing to make a pleasant mental and physical experience for the mother
    • Some women find D-Mer intolerable and decide to wean, while some can deal with the symptoms and continue to breastfeed
    • Wellbutrin works for some women to ease the symptoms
    • How to find support: Find a lactation consultant and pursue therapy with a perinatal mental health therapist

    Resources:

    ⁠www.d-mer.org⁠

    ⁠www.heidikoss.com⁠

    Email Heidi: ⁠heidi@heidikoss.com

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices


    433: Then Comes Baby: An Honest Conversation About Birth, Postpartum, and the Complex Transition to Parenthood with Dr. Jessica Vernon, OB/GYN Aug 04, 2025
    Show notes

    Today’s guest returns to the podcast with her passion for perinatal mental health, and I’m honored to share our conversation with you about her work and her new book, which offers holistic and realistic support for new parents. We cover topics related to birth and postpartum with her real and honest perspective as an Ob/Gyn. Join us!

    Dr. Jessica Vernon, PMH-C, is a board-certified OB/GYN who has cared for and supported thousands of people throughout their reproductive journeys during the past 15 years. She is the Associate Medical Director and the Director of Mental Health at Oula, a midwifery-based women’s health startup in New York City. As a mom of two, she brings her lived experience in the transition to parenthood to her work, along with a deep passion for providing holistic, people-centered, culturally humble care. Dr. Jessica has developed programs to increase access to perinatal mental health care and improve health equity. She has received professional recognition and been quoted in the media for her work and expertise in the field, as well as for her openness in sharing her story. She serves on the board of directors for Postpartum Support International and is the author of Then Comes Baby: An Honest Conversation About Birth, Postpartum, and the Complex Transition to Parenthood.

    Show Highlights:

    • An integration of a passion for perinatal mental health, motherhood, and her practice as an OB/GYN

    • The OB/GYN’s role in treating “uncomplicated” postpartum anxiety and depression

    • Dr. Jessica’s current role in collaboration with midwives

    • The decision to write Then Comes Baby

    • The biggest postpartum struggles for new parents

    • Learning to use language with patients that allows them to accept their new feelings and emotions

    • The art of communication and sitting with people–when it’s not taught in medical school

    • Meeting diverse people where they are and with the understanding they need, not with ONE strict protocol for everyone

    • Overcoming cultural factors in transitioning to parenthood and accepting help

    • Matrescence: the changes and shifts in the transition into motherhood

    • An overview of the topics and structure of Dr. Jessica’s book, Then Comes Baby

    • In postpartum, it’s essential to take a pause until your body is ready to resume normal activities.

    • Dr. Jessica’s hopes for those who read her book

    Resources:

    Connect with Dr. Jessica Vernon: Website, Instagram, and Then Comes Baby: An Honest Conversation About Birth, Postpartum, and the Complex Transition to Parenthood.

    Call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA or visit cdph.ca.gov

    Please find resources in English and Spanish at Postpartum Support International, or by phone/text at 1-800-944-4773. There are many free resources, like online support groups, peer mentors, a specialist provider directory, and perinatal mental health training for therapists, physicians, nurses, doulas, and anyone who wants to be more supportive in offering services.

    You can also follow PSI on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and most other platforms

    Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/ for information on the grief course.

    Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today!

    If you are a California resident looking for a therapist in perinatal mental health, email me about openings for private pay clients!


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices


    432: From Pain to Purpose: Building Resources for Perinatal Mental Health After Birth Trauma with Beth Partain, LCSW Jul 28, 2025
    Show notes

    Today’s guest is sharing her story as a survivor of postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and birth trauma caused by random placental abruption. She is also a NICU mama who learned to balance parenting with the start of her psychotherapy practice to bring therapy to a rural area. Her story has multi-faceted, beautiful parts, and we are honored to have her here.

    Beth Partain is a licensed clinical social worker and the mother of three beautiful children. She founded Flourish Counseling and Consulting in 2020 to empower women and bring specialized perinatal expertise to an area where it was previously inaccessible. Her passion stemmed from her experience with the local hospital as she struggled through PPD, PPA, and birth/NICU trauma. Beth is the first mental health provider in Owensboro, KY, and the western Kentucky area to have a perinatal mental health certification. She serves on the new Maternal Health Council at her hospital and is a Blue Dot Ambassador, working in advocacy with the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance. She has led two PSI Climbs in Owensboro. Beth works hard to help train local healthcare workers and therapists to identify PMADs from a trauma-informed care focus.

    Show Highlights:

    • Beth’s story: Her first pregnancy was normal until a random placental abruption at 34 weeks forced an emergency C-section, a three-week NICU stay, and almost zero mental health support.

    • Placental abruption: what it is, how it is detected, and the results

    • Beth’s shock and surprise at how quickly things changed and progressed to an unexpected birth, and navigating a NICU stay for her baby

    • Looking back at the mental health struggles for Beth and her husband, with no support

    • Beth’s realization that she had postpartum depression and anxiety, but did not have access to help

    • Finding help and starting therapy (as a therapist)

    • Making the difficult decision to have another child and grow their family further

    • Beth’s commitment to bringing perinatal care to her rural area and training more providers in the care that she wished she could have had

    • Making connections and partnering with PSI

    • Great strides of progress and encouraging outcomes in changing the PNMH climate in Beth’s area of Kentucky

    Resources:

    Flourish Counseling and Consulting

    Connect with Beth Partain: Facebook

    Call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA or visit cdph.ca.gov

    Please find resources in English and Spanish at Postpartum Support International, or by phone/text at 1-800-944-4773. There are many free resources, like online support groups, peer mentors, a specialist provider directory, and perinatal mental health training for therapists, physicians, nurses, doulas, and anyone who wants to be more supportive in offering services.

    You can also follow PSI on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and most other platforms

    Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/ for information on the grief course.

    Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today!

    If you are a California resident looking for a therapist in perinatal mental health, email me about openings for private pay clients!


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices


    431: Behind the Sessions: Letting go of Guilt About Not Being Present in Postpartum Jul 24, 2025
    Show notes

    Today’s episode explores a crucial topic that warrants our attention. We are discussing the after-effects of postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and perinatal mental health conditions. The lingering sense of guilt, sadness, regret, grief, anger, and frustration comes as a result of feeling that you weren’t present during the postpartum time. How much time does it take to “make up” for that time that you felt disconnected and anything but joyful about motherhood? Do you feel that you missed important milestones in your baby’s life? All of these are important questions that many mothers wrestle with in a constant mental battle. Let’s take a closer look.

    Show Highlights:

    • Where does the unreasonable pressure come from?

    • Are you punishing yourself?

    • The truth: You WERE there in all the ways you could manage at the time.

    • You do acts of love and caring, even if you don’t feel like doing them.

    • What you need now is what you needed then: compassion, support, and loving thoughts.

    • Self-compassion brings gentleness into the picture.

    • Healing needs to happen (and that means allowing yourself to grieve).

    • Dr. Kat leads a healing exercise to try on your own. (Try it!)

    • Your healing is valid and worthwhile, even if you can’t see it yourself.

    Resources:

    Call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA or visit cdph.ca.gov

    Please find resources in English and Spanish at Postpartum Support International, or by phone/text at 1-800-944-4773. There are many free resources, like online support groups, peer mentors, a specialist provider directory, and perinatal mental health training for therapists, physicians, nurses, doulas, and anyone who wants to be more supportive in offering services.

    You can also follow PSI on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and most other platforms.

    Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/ for information on the grief course.

    Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today!

    If you are a California resident looking for a therapist in perinatal mental health, email me about openings for private pay clients!

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices


    430: When Suffering is Minimized: The Journey Through Undiagnosed Pregnancy and Postpartum Mood Disorders with Alyssa Verge Jul 21, 2025
    Show notes

    We are hearing Alyssa’s story in today’s episode. She shares her experience with postpartum anxiety, depression, and OCD, as well as her lifelong battle for mental health. We’ve discussed many times on the podcast that a history of mental health issues is a significant risk factor for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Because Alyssa did not get the help she needed when she needed it most, she has become a passionate advocate and supporter of other moms and families facing these issues.

    Alyssa Verge is a 31-year-old mom of a two-year-old and the stepmom of an eight-year-old. After her child was born, she was diagnosed with postpartum depression and anxiety and eventually with postpartum OCD. She’s passionate about mental health and healing generational trauma.

    Show Highlights:

    • The birth story of Alyssa’s son, when she felt the “baby blues” immediately after his birth

    • Being told everything she was feeling was “normal,” even though she was sincere and open about her experience

    • Alyssa’s husband finally found a therapist for her because he knew this couldn’t be normal.

    • Alyssa’s relief when she found out her feelings weren’t normal, and she was diagnosed with postpartum depression and anxiety

    • The prevalence of OCD, which wasn’t identified for several months

    • Unnatural fears about leaving the house and getting sick

    • OCD was manifested in her body’s refusal to take medication, even though it was what she wanted to do to get better.

    • Therapy tools that didn’t help for Alyssa: exposure therapy, scripts, positive brain talk

    • Feeling guilty for being a burden and not being able to get better

    • Finding balance in looking for support, with boundaries

    • Alyssa’s advice to others about accepting “normal,” having patience, and finding help

    Resources:

    Connect with Alyssa Verge: Instagram

    Call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA or visit cdph.ca.gov

    Please find resources in English and Spanish at Postpartum Support International, or by phone/text at 1-800-944-4773. There are many free resources, like online support groups, peer mentors, a specialist provider directory, and perinatal mental health training for therapists, physicians, nurses, doulas, and anyone who wants to be more supportive in offering services.

    You can also follow PSI on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and most other platforms

    Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/ for information on the grief course.

    Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today!

    If you are a California resident seeking a therapist in perinatal mental health, please email me about openings for private pay clients.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices


    429: “Mothershift: Reclaiming Motherhood as a Rite of Passage” with Jessie Harrold, Author, Coach, and Doula Jul 14, 2025
    Show notes

    Today’s topic is all things matrescence as we look at the book, Mothershift: Reclaiming Motherhood as a Rite of Passage. We will discuss the process of matrescence and the developmental steps that many people do not understand. Join us to learn more!

    Jessie Harrold is a coach and doula who has been supporting women through radical life transformations and other rites of passage for over 15 years. She works one-on-one with women and mothers to facilitate mentorship programs, women’s circles, rituals, retreats, and nature-based experiences. Jessie is the author of Mothershift: Reclaiming Motherhood as a Rite of Passageand Project Body Love: my quest to love my body and the surprising truth I found instead. She also hosts The Becoming Podcast. Jessie lives on the east coast of Canada, where she raises her two children, writes, and tends the land.

    Show Highlights:

    • What is matrescence?

    • Comparisons between matrescence and adolescence (both transitions are processes that take time)

    • Jessie’s model of matrescence: The Four Elements of Radical Transformation:

      • Earth – Orient yourself to what’s true, and name the change.

      • Water – (Think tears.) Grief over the self you were before this transformation is a normal part of transitioning to motherhood.

      • Air – The liminal space of the “in-between” when you haven’t fully integrated into the identity of being a mother.

      • Fire – An igniting of the ember within you as you integrate into the identity of motherhood.

    • This motherhood transition is an opportunity to let go of other things that aren’t serving us well.

    • Systemic factors that force women into “losing themselves in motherhood”

    • The challenges we face in motherhood are part of the development into matrescence, but we still need the tools and resources to navigate them.

    • “The Mother Powers”- the things that help us get through matrescence

    • Matrescence is a beautiful process.

    • A glimpse into Jessie’s next book project

    Resources:

    Connect with Jessie Harrold: Website, Instagram, Email, Mothershift: Reclaiming Motherhood as a Rite of Passage, Project Body Love: my quest to love my body and the surprising truth I found instead, and The Becoming Podcast.

    Call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA or visit cdph.ca.gov

    Please find resources in English and Spanish at Postpartum Support International, or by phone/text at 1-800-944-4773. There are many free resources, like online support groups, peer mentors, a specialist provider directory, and perinatal mental health training for therapists, physicians, nurses, doulas, and anyone who wants to be more supportive in offering services.

    You can also follow PSI on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and most other platforms

    Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/ for information on the grief course.

    Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today!

    If you are a California resident looking for a therapist in perinatal mental health, email me about openings for private pay clients.


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices


    428: Behind the Sessions: The Weight of the Mental Load Jul 10, 2025
    Show notes

    The end of the school year and the transition to summer bring different types of mental load for parents. There is a shift in schedule, priorities, and what you’re thinking about each day, and there can be more to manage, especially for the default parent who usually takes care of everything. It’s a different type of stress, but it is stress nonetheless. There can be a wide variance in the load you carry, depending on your partner and other supports you have in place. We must acknowledge that the mental load is an invisible load yet a significant burden; it’s a labor of thinking, remembering, organizing, and planning that keeps the family and household running smoothly. It can all be overwhelming! Join me in today’s episode for a closer look.

    Show Highlights:

    • The constant hum in your mind of all that needs to be done

    • The potential for contention between parents in remembering ALL the details (along with anxiety, depression, and disconnection)

    • Remember that two things can be true at the same time!

    • Partnership is essential in co-parenting and co-managing the household.

    • Examples of how a partner can step in to help in meaningful ways: taking over specific tasks, being emotionally present, and having a weekly time for an honest check-in with each other

    • Advice to moms and dads for communicating and validating each other

    • Setting boundaries, saying NO, letting go of some tasks, and asking for help

    • The importance of finding community, connection, and support groups

    • Key takeaways from Dr. Kat: “Acknowledge your feelings, state them aloud, and share them. Only then can you start to change.”

    Resources:

    Call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA or visit cdph.ca.gov

    Please find resources in English and Spanish at Postpartum Support International, or by phone/text at 1-800-944-4773. There are many free resources, like online support groups, peer mentors, a specialist provider directory, and perinatal mental health training for therapists, physicians, nurses, doulas, and anyone who wants to be more supportive in offering services.

    You can also follow PSI on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and most other platforms

    Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/ for information on the grief course.

    Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today!

    If you are a California resident looking for a therapist in perinatal mental health, email me about openings for private pay clients!


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices


    427: Breaking Down the Supermom Fallacy with Stacy McCann, LCSW Jul 07, 2025
    Show notes

    Have you felt the pressure to be a “supermom”? We are examining the supermom fallacy, which often accompanies thoughts like, “I’m a failure, I can’t keep up with this, and I’m a bad mom.” The problem with trying to be a supermom is the impact on mental health. This theme commonly comes up in therapy, and the idea that we have to do everything and do it well is too much pressure! Join us as we explore this topic, which will resonate with many people.

    Stacy McCann is a licensed mental health therapist and the owner of Present Moment Counseling Services, specializing in motherhood, postpartum, and beyond. She works with mothers to help them cope with the challenges of motherhood, including burnout, overwhelm, overstimulation, self-advocacy, and an equitable mental and physical load at home. Stacy launched the Supermom Dropout Club, a virtual community for moms who want to take up space, use their voice, and leave their supermom capes behind. She is the mom of a sweet and spicy 5-year-old and lives in the St. Louis area, where she enjoys gardening, cooking, and traveling.

    Show Highlights:

    • Stacy’s path through social work, parent education, and her motherhood specialty today

    • Common characteristics of maternal burnout: overwhelm, loss of identity, feeling invisible, and giving everything they have to others

    • Trying to live up to the “ideal motherhood experience” is impossible!

    • Solutions for moms: Prioritize your own needs and use the right words to talk about it

    • Dealing with the workload at home from a logistics standpoint (How to handle this task with your partner through open communication about standards of care)

    • We still need a shift to support working parents and postpartum mothers.

    • Thoughts on men’s roles in the home, offering emotional support, and bonding more with their babies in the postpartum period

    • The need for help in shifting societal expectations about what makes a good dad: What does it mean to lead and support your family?

    • The influence of social media on parenting

    • Stacy’s virtual community, The Supermom Dropout Club, and the support it offers

    Resources:

    Connect with Stacy McCann: Website and Instagram

    Call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA or visit cdph.ca.gov

    Please find resources in English and Spanish at Postpartum Support International, or by phone/text at 1-800-944-4773. There are many free resources, like online support groups, peer mentors, a specialist provider directory, and perinatal mental health training for therapists, physicians, nurses, doulas, and anyone who wants to be more supportive in offering services.

    You can also follow PSI on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and most other platforms

    Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/ for information on the grief course.

    Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today!

    If you are a California resident looking for a therapist in perinatal mental health, email me about openings for private pay clients!


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices


    Previous 1 4 5 6 7 8 49 Next

    Related Podcasts

    Fresh Air

    1

    Fresh Air Arts
    Twenty Thousand Hertz

    2

    Twenty Thousand Hertz Arts
    The Black Tapes

    3

    The Black Tapes Arts
    Snap Judgment

    4

    Snap Judgment Arts
    Here’s The Thing with Alec Baldwin

    5

    Here’s The Thing with Alec Baldwin Arts
    The NoSleep Podcast – Creative Reason Media Inc.

    6

    The NoSleep Podcast – Creative Reason Media Inc. Arts
    footer-logo

    Contact Us

    Toll Free: 844-670-7747

    Links

    • Home
    • Top Charts
    • Networks
    • Apps
    • Independents Podcasts
    • Podcast Advertising
    • Podcast News
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Analytics & Insights

    Stay Connected

      Privacy, Terms of Use & Our Code of Ethics Protecting Content Creators Copyrights