As I sit here on my couch in June 2020, writing my first blog on my professional website for my private practice, I am baffled at where I am right now. Not literally, of course...I've actually been on the couch a lot lately as we near our fifth month in the midst of a global pandemic known as CoronaVirus or COVID-19. Most everyone is sitting at home, trying the best they can to care for themselves, their children, and their daily responsibilities while shouldering the weight of the scary world day in and day out. The irony is that this time last year, I was SURE that 2020 would be the year that nothing big happened. The last 5 years have been filled with marriage, pregnancy, professional licensure, (another pregancy, another baby...), etc. Last June, I was ready to birth my second, and likely final, baby. Who knew that this June I would be preparing to birth my professional baby: this practice!
After being laid off from my Management job in the mental health arena due to COVID-19 financial cutbacks, I was forced to take a hard look at myself and ask the question "Who am I?". Turns out, I am a lot of things. Most importantly a mother, a wife, a therapist. A person of color. A daughter, a sister, a friend. But I am also a survivor of Postpartum Depression and Anxiety. With two babies in 2.5 years and my oldest child being only 3 now, you can reasonably guess that it actually wasn't too long ago that these struggles were very real for me. So as I found myself unemployed and like so many others, looking the stress and overwhelm of "24/7 parenting" square in the face, I realized that it was time to funnel my energies and passion into helping others. For me, that means providing therapy to pregnant and postpartum moms who are also staring down the barrel of postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, or other Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs).
So while you may have thought this post might be about my professional accomplishments or resume, I thought it more important to discuss why it is I'm here. Who I REALLY am. Because behind every good therapist is a real person. A story. A human being called to the work through their own life journey. So Who Am I? I'm a wife to a wonderful human who supports me through my life goals and reminds me that this is the work I love and should be doing. I am a mother to a smart, creative, head-strong 3-year old son who keeps me on my toes and taught me how to become a mother, and a 9-month old sweet baby girl who reminds me why it is so important to find a life balance in these challenging times. I am a therapist who has been in this field of work since 2007 and feels honored to be in the profession of helping others along their path to self-betterment. So there you have it: I'm a REAL mom, a real person, and hope to share some professional insight, resources, personal stories, but most importantly, REALNESS. So Welcome! I hope you can join me on this new endeavor I like to call Postpartum Realness.
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