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Latest episodes from Resilient Birth

When Women Gather Together

Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2025 35:35


On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence and is currently working towards a Masters in Counselling. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's trainings: https://www.resilientbirth.com/workshops Keywords women's voices, motherhood, feminism, postpartum experience, postpartum support, mom's groups, parenthood, maternal health, women's rights, childbirth, Takeaways Justine reflects on the importance of women's voices. The postpartum experience is often isolating. Support groups for mothers were vital for Justine's mental health. Society often dismisses the struggles of motherhood. Cultural narratives can silence women's experiences. Women are often taught their worth is tied to their bodies. Feminism has not fully addressed the needs of mothers. There is a societal fear of women gathering and sharing their stories. Financial assistance for becoming a parent is inadequate. True support for parents goes beyond financial aid. Community and healthcare access are critical for new parents. The isolation of modern families impacts parenting experiences. Support services for parents are often lacking in the U.S. In this conversation, Justine and Sarah explore the importance of mothers' voices, and the cultural perceptions surrounding women's experiences. They discuss the isolation many mothers feel, the need for support, and how societal narratives often diminish the value of women's experiences. The conversation highlights the power of collective voices and the ongoing challenges women face in being heard and respected in their journeys through motherhood and beyond. In this conversation, Justine Leach and Sarah Adelmann discuss the societal implications of parenthood, the inadequacy of financial support for new parents, and the systemic failures in maternal healthcare. They emphasize the need for community support and the importance of collective voices in advocating for better maternal rights and services. The dialogue highlights the limitations of monetary assistance and calls for a more comprehensive approach to supporting families, particularly in the context of the current political climate. Sound Bites "We should be revered for what we do." "There's no monetary value on parenthood" "We live in very isolated societies" "When women gather, there's power in that" Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflections 03:44 The Importance of Women's Voices 12:11 Cultural Perceptions of Motherhood 20:09 The Visibility of Women's Experiences 21:28 Choices and Freedom in Womanhood 22:45 The Value of Parenthood in Society 24:05 Financial Support vs. Real Needs 28:17 The Limitations of Monetary Assistance 33:37 Systemic Failures in Maternal Support 39:32 The Power of Collective Voices

Hope and Choice in Healing

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 33:54


On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence and is currently working towards a Masters in Counselling. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's trainings: https://www.resilientbirth.com/workshops In this episode of the Resilient Birth Podcast, Justine Leach and Sarah Adelmann discuss trauma, healing, and the power of choice as reflected in Dr. Edith Eager's book, The Choice. They explore how trauma impacts self-worth, the importance of relationships in healing, and the small choices we can make to reclaim our lives. The conversation emphasizes the need for support and connection when we feel our choices in childbirth have been taken away, (for example, when a cesarean becomes necessary for medical reasons) , highlighting that while we cannot change what might be happening, we have some control over how we respond. As an example of this, Sarah shares her story of leaning in to her midwife's belief in her during her emergency C-section with her first child. Keywords: trauma, healing, choice, self-worth, childbirth, cesarean, C-section birth, birth story, birth support planning. Takeaways Trauma can distort our self-perception. Healing is a journey that often requires support from others. Small moments of hope can lead to significant changes in our lives. Relationships play a crucial role in our healing process. It's important to recognize the choices we have, even in difficult circumstances. Practicing positive thinking can lead to positive actions and outcomes. Believing in others' potential can empower them on their healing journey. Sound Bites "The truth is we will all have unpleasant experiences." "We have a choice to reclaim our lives." "You're going to be 50 anyhow." "We need each other to escape the prisons of our minds." "I believe my clients have the ability to heal." "I can be there as a champion and a support." "I just recommend this book to anyone." Chapters 00:0 0Introduction and Book Reflection 02:04 The Impact of Trauma on Self-Worth 06:21 The Power of Choice in Healing 10:21 Understanding Responsibility and Control 12:25 Finding Hope in Small Moments 16:41 The Role of Relationships in Healing 20:53 Exploring Choices in Birth Experiences 24:20 The Journey of Acceptance and Reframing 28:09 The Importance of Support in Healing 32:07 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

(Rerun) I Just Want to Hold Your Hand

Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 41:06


In this return episode from Season 1, Sarah shares a quote from James Arthur's song "Finally" that connects to her grief as a parent who has also lost a parent. On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence and is currently working towards a Masters in Counselling. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's trainings: https://www.resilientbirth.com/workshops

Navigating Intimacy After Parenthood

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2025 34:26


On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence and is currently working towards a Masters in Counselling. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's trainings: https://www.resilientbirth.com/workshops Keywords: intimacy, motherhood, postpartum relationships, postpartum sex, perimenopause, postpartum body image, emotional connection, parenting, In this episode of the Resilient Birth Podcast, hosts Sarah Adelmann and Justine Leach explore the complexities of intimacy after becoming parents. They discuss the societal expectations surrounding postpartum sex at six weeks, physical touch on relationships, and the challenges of reclaiming one's body and identity after having a baby. The conversation also delves into the fears and trust issues that can arise in intimate relationships, particularly after childbirth, and the myths surrounding postpartum recovery. Thay also discuss the changes that come with aging and perimenopause, emphasizing the importance of creating space for emotional connection with self and other, as well as, understanding the evolving nature of desire. Takeaways Intimacy changes after becoming a parent. Societal expectations can create pressure for postpartum intimacy too quickly. Physical touch from children can make adult intimacy challenging. Reclaiming one's body is a journey that takes time. Non-sexual touch is crucial for emotional connection. Motherhood often places a burden on intimacy. Changing bodies can affect sex and confidence. Perimenopause is a significant life transition that is often overlooked. Desire for intimacy can fluctuate throughout life. Sound Bites "I didn't feel like my body was mine for so long." "Those moments of not being touched feel precious." "Intimacy is a dance that changes with time." "Our bodies change, and so do our identities." "Perimenopause is as intense as puberty." Chapters 00:00 Navigating Intimacy After Parenthood 02:57 Expectations vs. Reality of Postpartum Intimacy 05:59 The Impact of Touch on Relationships 09:04 Reclaiming Your Body and Identity 11:58 The Complexity of Sexual Intimacy 15:00 The Burden of Motherhood on Intimacy 18:04 Coping with Changing Bodies 21:02 Fear and Trust in Intimacy 23:58 The Myths of Postpartum Recovery 27:02 Understanding Perimenopause 29:58 The Journey of Aging and Intimacy 33:09 Cultural Perceptions of Aging Women 36:04 Creating Space for Closeness 38:59 Embracing Change in Desire 41:54 Conclusion and Reflections

Journey to Self: Sarah's Experience of Psilocybin

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 44:15


Keywords: psychedelics, mental health, therapy, self-discovery, anxiety, healing, research, consciousness, addiction, trauma, psilocybin In this episode of the Resilient at Birth podcast, Sarah shares her personal experience of a journey with psilocybin in the State of Oregon, where it is legal. Sarah speaks from her personal experience and beliefs. Nothing Sarah or Justine says should be taken as medical advice. Additionally, Sarah and Justine encourage all listeners to follow the laws of their country. Sarah's experience led her to profound self-discovery and healing from anxiety. The conversation explores Sarah's experience and its impact on her mental health, the scientific research behind psychedelics, their therapeutic applications, and the cultural shifts surrounding their use. Sarah emphasizes the importance of guided experiences and the need for access to psychedelic therapy, while also addressing the fears and misinformation that often accompany discussions about these substances. In this conversation, Justine shares her concerns as someone who knows little about the topic and who lives in a country where these substances are illegal. They explore the importance of guided experiences, Sarah's understanding of the legal landscape in the U.S., and whether psychedelics can become an accepted form of healing. Sarah emphasizes the right of individuals to knowledge and her belief that people should have access these treatments for their mental health. takeaways Sarah speaks about how psychedelics can lead to profound self-discovery. Psychedelics have shown promise in treating anxiety and depression. Cultural perceptions of psychedelics are shifting positively. Research indicates psychedelics can facilitate rapid healing from trauma and other mental health conditions. Personal experiences with psychedelics can vary widely. Sarah and Justine are not advocating listeners take psychedelics illegally. Misinformation about psychedelics can create unnecessary fear. Psychedelics are not addictive and have unique healing properties. Cultural perceptions of psychedelics have been shaped by historical stigma. Research supports the therapeutic use of psychedelics for mental health issues. Guided experiences can help manage potential negative emotions during psychedelic journeys. Legal status of psychedelics varies by state in the U.S. and is illegal in the UK Education and awareness are crucial for changing public perception of psychedelics. Psychedelics can be part of holistic healing practices in various cultures. The conversation around psychedelics needs to be informed and open-minded. Sound Bites "I got to meet my true self." "I was really nervous” "I just knew I had made true healing with my anxiety." "I don't want that weight. Like that's your work." "Psychedelics are not addictive like other drugs." "Our numbers of anxiety and depression are exploding." "People should have access to this type of healing." Chapters 00:00 Exploring Psychedelics and Mental Health 03:03 The Journey of Self-Discovery 05:56 The Therapeutic Experience 08:49 The Impact of Psychedelics on Anxiety 12:07 The Science Behind Psychedelics 15:01 Cultural Perspectives on Psychedelics 18:01 Navigating Fear and Misinformation 32:06 The Promise of Psilocybin: A New Perspective 34:50 Cultural Attitudes Towards Psychedelics 36:45 The Healing Potential of Psychedelics 39:05 Bad Trips and Emotional Processing 42:18 The Importance of Guided Experiences 45:18 Legal Landscape of Psychedelics in the U.S. 47:43 The Need for Informed Conversations on Psychedelics On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence and is currently working towards a Masters in Counselling. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's trainings: https://www.resilientbirth.com/workshops

Stars in the Darkness: A Birth Story with Ashley Herrera

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2025 44:26


Keywords: childbirth, prenatal yoga, birth story, pregnancy complications, birth stories, parenting, postpartum, holistic health, labor support, postpartum experience, midwifery care, birth trauma, motherhood In this episode of the Resilient Birth podcast, hosts Justine Leach and Sarah Adelmann welcome Ashley Herrera, a certified yoga teacher specializing in prenatal and postnatal yoga. The conversation explores the complexities of childbirth, acknowledging that while the physiological process can be simple, it is not always so; moreover, the emotional and mental aspects are often not easy either. They discuss the duality of birth experiences, the impact of complications during pregnancy, and the importance of support systems. Ashley shares her personal journey through IVF and birth trauma, and the challenges she faced during her pregnancies, highlighting the need for empowerment and advocacy in the birthing process. In this conversation, Ashley Herrera shares her profound birth story, highlighting the critical role of support during labor and postpartum when her daughter was diagnosed with an issue with her heart necessitating a change of birth plan. She discusses the challenges faced in switching from a birth center to hospital environment, the importance of having a supportive team, and how these experiences shaped her transition into motherhood. The conversation also delves into the emotional and physical aspects of labor, the significance of connection to baby, and the lasting impact of trauma. Takeaways: Childbirth is a simple physiological process but can be physically and emotionally complex. Support systems are crucial during pregnancy and childbirth. It's important to honor both the simplicity and the challenges of birth. The connection between parent and child can remain unwavering despite complications. Finding moments of joy can help navigate fear and uncertainty. Empowerment comes from reclaiming choices during the birthing process. Emotional preparation is as important as physical preparation for childbirth. Every birth story is unique and valid, regardless of complications. The journey of parenthood involves continuous self-growth and learning. It's okay to feel a range of emotions during the birthing experience. Asking for what you need in labor is essential. The hospital environment can feel alien and restrictive. Practicing through movement and sound can help prepare for labor. Postpartum experiences can be affected by birth trauma. Midwifery care provided comfort and reassurance after birth. Advocating for your needs is important for both mother and baby. Sound Bites "The body knows how to birth." "One moment can thieve your hope." "It's okay to feel all the feelings." "We flipped the narrative on it." "We got our power back." "I had to ask for everything" "I could conquer the world" Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Resilient Birth Podcast 00:58 The Complexity of Childbirth 04:11 The Duality of Birth Experiences 06:53 Navigating Complications in Pregnancy 13:58 Finding Beauty Amidst Fear 16:57 Empowerment Through Support 24:07 The Journey of Induction and Advocacy 25:11 Navigating Labor: The Role of Support 28:06 The Birth Experience: Challenges and Triumphs 32:17 The Power of Support in Birth 37:01 Creating Connection in Prenatal Classes 42:04 Postpartum Journey: Trauma and Healing On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence and is currently working towards a Masters in Counselling. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's trainings: https://www.resilientbirth.com/workshops Ashley Herrera is a certified yoga teacher, specializing in prenatal and postnatal yoga, a mother of two, and a passionate advocate for empowering parents on their unique pregnancy and birth journeys. Inspired by her own transformative experiences, Ashley dove deeper into her work to support expectant parents through both in-person offerings in Calgary, AB, Canada, and online programs like the Confident Labor Prep Program and From Bump to Birth prenatal yoga series. Currently training as a Birthing from Within childbirth educator and doula, Ashley will also complete the Spinning Babies® Certified Parent Educator Training this Spring, further enhancing her ability to guide parents toward confident, connected births.

(Rerun) Navigating Miscarriage and IVF with Marissa Hathaway

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2025 43:58


In this episode, Justine and Sarah are joined by Marissa Hathaway, a certified birth and postpartum doula. They discuss the harmful impact of 'at least' statements and how they can be invalidating to individuals who have experienced trauma or infertility. Marissa shares her personal journey of going through IVF and the challenges she faced as a doula supporting families while navigating her own miscarriage and infertility journey. They also discuss the importance of recognizing and honoring each person's unique story and the need for more support and understanding in the perinatal field. Keywords birth, postpartum, doula, trauma, infertility, IVF, ‘at least' statements, miscarriage reproductive health Takeaways The harmful impact of 'at least' statements and how they can be invalidating The challenges faced by individuals who have experienced trauma or infertility while supporting others in the perinatal field The importance of recognizing and honoring each person's unique story Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 03:30 The Harmful Impact of 'At Least' Statements 11:17 Supporting Others While Navigating Personal Trauma 15:01 Navigating Reproductive Health Challenges as a Doula 26:45 Recognizing and Honoring Each Person's Unique Story 34:56 Conclusion and Takeaways On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals Marissa Hathaway is a full spectrum doula (certified in birth and postpartum), Childbirth Educator, and photographer. She came to doula through starting her career in global maternal health, human rights, and reproductive justice. She is dedicated to reducing maternal health inequities via intersectional collaboration and cultural humility. After studying Public Health & International Relations at Boston University, she attended the University of Haifa, in Israel, for her Masters in Public Health. Marissa has experience in rape crisis counseling, family planning/contraception counseling, and refugee health. Marissa's approach to supporting families is centered around: embodied consent and informed decision-making; support for partners; and mental health and wellbeing

Grief Has No Timeline with Jennifer Jamieson

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2025 36:10


In this episode of the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine Leach and Sarah Adelmann welcome Jennifer Jamieson, a bereaved mother and advocate for families who have experienced pregnancy and infant loss. Jennifer begins with a quote from Glennon Doyle's Untamed: “Every world changer's work begins with a broken heart.” She shares her personal journey grieving the children she lost through miscarriage and stillbirth, the importance of community support, and the transformative power of sharing stories in group settings. The conversation emphasizes the uniqueness of each person's grief experience, the significance of rituals in mourning, and the necessity of giving oneself permission to grieve. Jeniffer share how in peer support groups grieving parents can find their own experiences reflected in those of others and discover they are not alone. Keywords: grief, loss, support groups, bereaved parents, healing, community, stillbirth, miscarriage, peer support, pregnancy loss takeaways Every world changer's work begins with a broken heart. Grief has no timeline; it is a lifelong journey. Loss is a loss and grief is grief, regardless of circumstances. Community support can provide validation and understanding. Rituals for mourning are essential for honoring lost loved ones. It's never too late to acknowledge and process grief. Grief work is akin to building a muscle; it requires effort. We can carry our grief with us rather than trying to move on. Sharing stories in a group can lead to transformative moments. Authenticity in grief allows for deeper connections and healing. Sound Bites "Grief has no timeline." "Loss is a loss and grief is grief." "We're sure glad that we have this community." "Grief work is like building a muscle." "It's a myth that we move on from our lost loved ones." "We create coping mechanisms that build strength." "Your story has a place to be." "It's never too late to acknowledge your grief." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Grief and Healing 01:01 The Impact of Personal Loss 08:25 The Power of Group Support 11:41 Navigating Grief: Individual vs. Group Support 18:07 Resonating Stories and Shared Experiences 21:22 Transformative Moments in Grief 26:37 Creating Rituals for Mourning 30:50Community Events and Collective Healing 37:34 Permission to Grieve 42:18 The Uniqueness of Grief in Community On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence and is currently working towards a Masters in Counselling. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's trainings: https://www.resilientbirth.com/workshops Jennifer Jamieson is a bereaved mother and advocate for families who have also suffered the loss of a baby. She volunteers as a grief group peer facilitator in person for various types of pregnancy and infant losses, and as well as provides phone and online support to parents who have experienced miscarriage or stillbirth. Alongside other volunteers in her community, Jennifer co-hosts events such as remembrance walks in honour of these babies and holds a Wave of Light each year on October 15th, International Pregnancy And Infant Loss Awareness Day.

Vulnerability, Love and Loss with Anna Pfundstein

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2025 38:10


In this episode of the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine Leach and Sarah Adelmann engage in a heartfelt conversation with Anna Pfundstein, a birth doula, about the profound themes of vulnerability and love in the context of motherhood, loss and birth. Anna shares her personal experience of being a doula, mother and someone who has lost four babies through miscarriage. She shares how she found strength and connection being vulnerable with loved ones, emphasizing that vulnerability is not just about seeking peace but also about embracing the complexities of life, including the pain and risk that can come with vulnerability. The discussion explores how vulnerability can lead to deeper connections and the beauty that can emerge from difficult experiences, ultimately highlighting the intersection of love and loss in the journey of parenthood. Keywords: vulnerability, love, birth, grief, loss, miscarriage, motherhood, doula, personal stories, home birth transfer Takeaways Vulnerability is essential for deep connections. Sharing experiences of loss can foster community and support. We can allow ourselves to feel both joy and sorrow. Vulnerability does not guarantee peace but is still worth pursuing. Being open about one's journey can help others feel less alone. The beauty of birth is intertwined with the risks of vulnerability. Navigating personal loss requires time and self-compassion. It's okay to not be ready to be vulnerable at all times. Sound Bites "To love at all is to be vulnerable." "Vulnerability is a really scary thing." "I think vulnerability is worth the risk." "There's so much beauty in vulnerability." "We were made to love, we were made to be loved." "It's okay to say I'm not ready for that right now." "Letting both things be true helps me a lot." Chapters: 00:00 The Power of Vulnerability 12:54 Navigating Personal Loss and Grief 25:07 The Intersection of Love and Vulnerability 38:55 Finding Joy Amidst Pain On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence and is currently working towards a Masters in Counselling. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's trainings: https://www.resilientbirth.com/workshops Anna Pfundstein lives in Northern Illinois with her husband, Teddy, her son, Charlie, and she has a little girl on the way! Anna is a Birth Doula who is passionate about physiological birth and supporting families as they welcome their little ones. She loves being creative and granny hobbies; you can frequently find her crocheting or embroidering something and she loves to paint or draw when she gets some kid free time :)

Does Healing Mean Taking Responsibility For Our Role in Suffering? With Alex Schoenberger

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2025 39:06


In this episode, hosts Justine Leach and Sarah Adelmann welcome Alex Schoenberger, a certified birth and postpartum doula, to discuss whether healing means taking responsibility for one's own part in ongoing suffering. We are not all on the same page on this one and the conversation leads us to a rich discussion on how sentiments such as this land differently with different people – these kinds of sayings can feel empowering to some, but can also add to the trauma of others. The conversation explores the importance of seeking help, the role of support systems, and the need for validation in maternal care. Alex shares her personal journey through postpartum challenges especially after her baby needed resuscitation after birth and spent time in the NICU. She emphasizes the significance of self-awareness and understanding in the doula's role. Keywords: birth trauma, NICU story, postpartum support, maternal health, doula, perinatal mental health, childbirth education, self-responsibility, seeking help, emotional support, Takeaways Postpartum experiences can deeply impact mental health. Empowerment in motherhood is subjective and personal. Seeking help is crucial for healing and support. Validation of experiences is vital in maternal care. Doulas play a unique role in providing emotional support. Proactive planning can mitigate postpartum challenges. The importance of active listening in support roles. Recognizing the diverse experiences of motherhood is key. Sound Bites "I was deep in suffering." "I just needed someone to witness how deeply I was drowning." "We need to prepare for parenthood." "I didn't want help because I didn't know if I could trust." "It takes a very strong person to be willing to switch OBs." "There's truth in all of our experiences." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Resilient Birth Podcast 01:28 The Impact of This Language Around Healing and Responsibility 06:31 Navigating Postpartum Challenges 12:40 The Role of Support in Healing 19:34 Trust and Seeking Help in Maternal Care 25:07 The Importance of Validating Experiences 32:43 The Doula's Role in Maternal Support 39:23 Tension Between Support and Advocacy 45:31 Takeaways and Reflections On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence and is currently doing a Masters in Counselling. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's trainings: https://www.resilientbirth.com/workshops Alex Schoenberger is a Canadian mother to two boys, a certified birth and postpartum doula and childbirth educator. While newer to this field of work, she is passionate about helping other families to dive into their fears around pregnancy, birth and postpartum and set up supports to help them feel empowered and fearless. This passion stems from her own story of acute birth trauma.

When "Fit To Practice" Feels Unsafe

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 27:40


In this episode of the Resilient Birth Podcast, Justine and Sarah delve into the complex issues surrounding patient safety, particularly in the context of a gynecologist who has faced serious allegations of misconduct and admitted to 24 allegations of harm. Nonetheless, a tribunal has recently decided that he is “fit to practice.” They discuss the implications of these allegations on trust in healthcare, the importance of psychological safety for patients, and question of who gets to decide what safety looks like and what safeguarding measures might be important. The conversation highlights the voices of victims, the disconnect between healthcare providers and patients, and the broader systemic issues that contribute to ongoing harm in medical settings. Quotes are from these news resources: https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2025-02-14/doctor-who-removed-ovaries-without-consent-ruled-fit-to-practise https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2025-02-18/women-under-care-of-ovary-removal-surgeon-demand-change-of-doctor After recording Sarah remembered the podcast she refers to in the episode about another doctor who had harmed patients called "Exposed: Cover-Up at Columbia University" Keywords: patient safety, healthcare trust, medical ethics, gynecological care, psychological safety, medical misconduct, patient rights, healthcare system, trauma, women's health Takeaways: Patient safety encompasses both physical and psychological aspects. Allegations against healthcare providers can severely impact patient trust. The tribunal process may not adequately address victim concerns. Psychological safety is crucial in medical settings, especially for vulnerable patients. The voices of victims should be central in discussions about healthcare safety and safeguarding. There is often a disconnect between healthcare providers and the experiences of patients. Doctors can and do cause harm, despite their oath to do no harm. The system often prioritizes the protection of healthcare providers over patient safety. Women often bear the burden of navigating unsafe medical environments. The need for systemic change in how allegations against doctors are handled. Sound Bites "You don't harm people's bodies." "Where's the safety in that?" "The power and the bravery of the women who spoke up." "We're focusing on the wrong thing." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Patient Safety Concerns 05:44 The Impact of Allegations on Trust in Healthcare 10:07 Psychological Safety in Medical Practice 15:10 The Role of Tribunals and Safeguards 20:57 The Voices of Victims and Their Experiences 25:59 The Dichotomy of Harm in Healthcare 30:20 The Disconnect Between Patients and Healthcare Providers On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence and is currently doing a Masters in Counselling. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's trainings: https://www.resilientbirth.com/workshops

Honoring Maila: A Mother's Story with Helena Morais

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2025 36:29


Keywords: grief, Black maternal health, pregnancy loss, preeclampsia, stillbirth In this episode of the Resilient to Birth podcast, hosts Justine Leach and Sarah Adelmann welcome Helena Morais, who shares her profound journey of loss after the stillbirth of her daughter, Maila. The conversation explores the sacredness of relationships that transcend death, the challenges of navigating grief, and the importance of information and advocacy in maternal health, particularly for Black women. Helena emphasizes the need for awareness around pregnancy risks, particularly for marginalized communities, and the significance of honoring lost children. The episode concludes with reflections on the loneliness of grief and the importance of community support. Helena Morais a mother of two: one earth side and one ether side baby. Her firstborn baby girl Maila Angela Viana Morais was stillborn at 36 weeks and 5 days on the 29th December 2022. Giving birth and becoming a first time mum with no baby to bring home changes you in indescribable ways. The only way she has found to survive with this grief, pain, rage and longing has been to talk. She survives by unapologetically continuing to share her story and finding alternative ways of continuing to parent her child. She would have had to dedicate her life to caring for her daughter had she been born alive, to Helena this does not change just because she is gone. She will be dedicating the rest of her life to continuing her legacy. In turn she hopes to encourage and hold space with other mothers choosing to do the same. Takeaways The relationship with those who have passed remains sacred. Awareness of pregnancy risks is crucial for all parents. Advocating for oneself in healthcare is essential. Honoring lost children is a vital part of the healing process. The experience of loss can feel incredibly isolating. Information about maternal health should be accessible to all. Cultural disparities in maternal health must be addressed. Sound Bites "The relationship does not end." "Grief is an awful, painful thing." "I didn't want to be a statistic." "I'd rather be scared and safe than sorry." "You know your body better than anyone else." "Grief is a very lonely experience." Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 01:05 The Sacredness of Relationships Beyond Death 05:31 Helena's Journey: The Loss of Myla 11:42 The Birth Experience and Its Challenges 18:55 Honoring Myla: The Importance of Connection 24:32 The Need for Information and Awareness 32:51 Advocating for Yourself in Maternal Health 39:18 Conclusion: The Loneliness of Grief On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence and is currently doing a Masters in Counselling. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals

My body will not forget this

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2025 29:14


Welcome to Season 3 of the Resilient Birth podcast. In this episode, Sarah shares her personal reaction to the current political climate in which women's voices seem increasingly devalued and men who have been accused of sexual misconduct are allowed into the heart of government. This is a raw and vulnerable sharing in which a sense of loss and helplessness is held alongside the hope that listeners, who perhaps also feel that their body will not forget this, will feel less alone. Justine and Sarah reflect on the emotional weight of motherhood and trauma in the current political climate, particularly regarding women's rights, voices, and the implications for future generations. Through personal anecdotes and a discussion of a quote from an op-ed by Damielle Campoarmor, https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/pete-hegseth-confirmed-defense-secretary-assault-allegations-rcna189168, they emphasize the importance of speaking up even when it feels scary and the ongoing importance of your voice and the story your have to tell. On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence and is currently doing a Masters in Counselling. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals Keywords: politics, motherhood, trauma, women's rights, cultural backlash, future generations, collective grief, speaking up, freedom of speech, accusations of sexual misconduct, confirmation hearings. Takeaways: Cultural backlash against women's rights is palpable. The future for children feels uncertain amidst political turmoil. Speaking out is scary and important. The importance of community and shared experiences. Voices of women must be amplified in political discourse. The journey of motherhood is political. Sound Bites "My body will not forget this." "I can feel the intensity of your rawness." "Where do we go from here?" "We can only turn a blind eye for so long." "Freedom of speech feels scary to speak." "How do you rise up in the darkness?" Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Season Three 00:24 Reflections on Political Climate and Motherhood 04:06 The Impact of Trauma on Women 10:27 Cultural Backlash and Women's Voices 12:11 Imagining the Future for Our Children 17:11 Collective Trauma and Personal Grief 24:25 Finding Hope Amidst Darkness 27:25 The Importance of Speaking Up Even When it is Scary 33:25 Concluding Thoughts on Collective Voices

(Rerun) Breastfeeding After Birth Trauma with Erin Northrup

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025 45:48


We are recording Season 3 of the Resilient Birth podcast. Meanwhile we have selected our favorite episodes for you. In this episode of the Resilient Birth Podcast, Justine and Sarah welcome Erin Northrup, an international board certified lactation consultant, to discuss the profound impact of birth trauma on breastfeeding and maternal mental health. Erin shares her personal experiences with birth trauma after a cesarean under general anesthesia and separation from her baby who was taken to the NICU, emphasizing the interconnectedness of physical, emotional, and psychological aspects of childbirth. The reason for her cesarean turned out, on further investigation after the birth, to be based on a misdiagnosis, confirming the suspicion she highlights in the episode. The conversation explores the importance of recognizing and addressing the emotional needs of mothers during and after birth, as well as the long-term effects of trauma on families. Erin advocates for better support systems and policies that honor the maternal bond and emotional wellbeing of birthing individuals. This conversation delves into the profound impact of birth trauma on breastfeeding experiences, particularly focusing on the emotional and psychological challenges faced by mothers. The speakers discuss the importance of listening to mothers' voices, the interconnectedness of birth experiences and breastfeeding, and the need for advocacy in healthcare. Erin shares her research findings, highlighting the overwhelming response from participants and the emotional weight of their stories of breastfeeding after birth trauma. The discussion emphasizes the necessity of recognizing the complexities of maternal health and the importance of support systems for new parents. Keywords: birth trauma, breastfeeding, maternal health, postpartum care, lactation consultant, hospital policies, trauma recovery, maternal bonding, cesarean birth story, NICU birth story. Takeaways The physical and emotional aspects of childbirth are inseparable. Many women feel dismissed when expressing emotional distress post-birth. Hospital policies can hinder maternal-infant bonding immediately after birth. The experience of separation from the baby can be traumatic. Maternal mental health is as important as physical health post-birth. Trauma can ripple through families and affect future generations. Trust in healthcare can be fractured by lack of listening. Mothers are experts in their own experiences. Birth trauma can echo in breastfeeding experiences. Hospital policies can hinder maternal care and support. Breastfeeding can serve as a reclamation of control. Research reveals the depth of shared trauma among mothers. Emotional pain from birth can resurface during breastfeeding. Sound Bites "I need to feed my baby..." "I was absolutely panicked..." "Why is nobody listening?" "I was very determined to breastfeed." "Everything is connected." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Birth Trauma and Support 02:57 The Interconnectedness of Birth Experiences 05:55 Personal Story of Birth Trauma 08:54 The Impact of Hospital Policies on Birth Experiences 12:04 The Emotional Aftermath of Birth Trauma 15:08 The Long-Term Effects of Birth Trauma 17:47 Finding Strength Through Adversity 21:01 The Importance of Maternal Bonding 23:54 Reflection on Healing 25:58 The Fracture of Trust in Healthcare 28:48 The Impact of Birth Trauma on Maternal Experience 32:58 Research Insights on Birth Trauma and Breastfeeding 38:56 Navigating Personal Trauma Through Research 44:00 The Interconnectedness of Experience and Healing On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Erin Northrup is an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant dedicated to educating andsupporting families who wish to breastfeed after experiencing birth trauma. She has a BA in Psychologyand a Masters in Applied Health Services Research (MAHSR) from the University of New Brunswickwhere she conducted a qualitative study on the lived experience of breastfeeding after birth trauma.Erin's own journey with birth trauma began in 2009, when she experienced a traumatic birth with thebirth of her first child. Since then, she has been a vocal advocate for maternal infant health and acompassionate supporter of parents through pregnancy, breastfeeding, and beyond. One of Erin's key goals is to educate perinatal professionals about the impacts of birth trauma and theimportance of respectful, ethical lactation care. She believes that by raising awareness and sharingevidence-based information, we can enhance the quality of care for families who have faced thesechallenges. A mother of five wonderful children and a long time La Leche League Leader, Erin is a firmbeliever in the necessity of trauma-informed care throughout the perinatal period, from preconceptionto weaning. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals

(Rerun) Finding Our Way Home

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2025 33:21


We are recording Season 3 of the Resilient Birth podcast. Meanwhile we have selected our favorite episodes for you. In this episode Sarah shares her experience of coming home to safety and strength within her body through returning to something she loves. On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma in the perinatal period. Through an inspirational quote that drives the weekly content, Justine and Sarah explore various trauma areas with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Learn more about our course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals

(Rerun) Defining Birth Trauma

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2025 39:58


We are recording Season 3 of the Resilient Birth podcast. Meanwhile we have selected our favorite episodes for you. In this episode, Justine and Sarah debate definitions of birth trauma. Is birth trauma really just any experience of distress in childbirth? Does it occur because we had unrealistic expectations? And what is the impact of other people in the birthing space on the extent to which we experience birth trauma? On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma in the perinatal period. Through an inspirational quote that drives the weekly content, Justine and Sarah explore various trauma areas with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Learn more about our course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals

(Rerun) Creating Stories in the Sand: Healing Perinatal Trauma with Lacey Castilleja Fisher

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2025 43:22


We are recording Season 3 of the Resilient Birth podcast. Meanwhile we have selected our favorite episodes for you. In this episode, Justine and Sarah interview Lacey Castilleja Fisher, a licensed professional counselor and registered play therapist. Lacey specializes in working with parents and parents-to-be who have experienced sexual trauma, as well as individuals dealing with a range of mental health issues. Lacey shares two quotes that resonate with her work: one by Natasha Trethewey about the importance of telling a story to heal from trauma, and another by Resmaa Menakem about the discomfort of healing. The conversation explores the power of storytelling, the use of sandtray therapy and expressive arts in therapy, and the personal experiences that led Lacey to her work. In this conversation, Lacey discusses how she creates safety in the sandtray experience. She emphasizes the importance of selecting diverse materials and figures, and speaking to the activating potential of the miniatures. Lacey also explains how she incorporates EMDR into sandtray therapy and adapts the practice for the perinatal population. She shares insights on finding and collecting miniatures, as well as the importance of open curiosity and not assuming the meaning behind a client's tray. The conversation highlights the power of storytelling and the versatility of expressive art therapy. Keywords: therapy, trauma, storytelling, sandtray therapy, expressive arts, perinatal trauma, birth trauma, EMDR, perinatal mental health, storytelling, expressive art therapy Takeaways Telling a story is an important part of healing from trauma. It allows individuals to process and integrate their experiences. But telling a story does not have to be verbal. Sandtray therapy and expressive arts can be powerful tools in therapy, providing a nonverbal and creative way for clients to explore and express their emotions and experiences. The journey of parenthood can bring up feelings of uncertainty and self-doubt, especially for individuals with their own trauma history. EMDR can be incorporated into sandtray therapy. Adapting sandtray therapy for the perinatal population involves gaining expertise in perinatal mental health and being thoughtful about the miniatures that represent the different feelings and experiences during the perinatal period. Open curiosity and not assuming the meaning behind a client's tray are important aspects of facilitating the therapy. Storytelling in sand tray therapy goes beyond verbal expression and includes the selection and creation of scenes in the tray. Sound Bites "No words are off limits. No stories are off limits." "The expressive arts and sandtray therapy allow different parts that are closed off to open up." Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 01:24 The Power of Storytelling and Quotes 06:21Using Sandtray Therapy and Expressive Arts 10:00 Introduction to Sandtray Therapy 12:09 Working with Non-Verbal Parts and Sensations 17:01 The Process of Building and Creating in Therapy 21:47 Personal Experience and Trauma-Informed Work 27:28 Creating Safety in the Sandtray Experience 30:05 Incorporating EMDR into Sandtray Therapy 33:28 Adapting Sandtray Therapy for the Perinatal Population 36:28 Finding and Collecting Miniatures 39:36 Facilitating Open Curiosity 42:46 The Power of Storytelling in Sandtray Therapy On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals Lacey Castilleja Fisher, LPC-S, RPT-S, PMH-C, is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor and a Certified Mental Health Professional with a mental health private practice in southwest Austin. Lacey has worked in a variety of settings including in a Children's Advocacy Center to provide counseling to children that experienced sexual abuse and their families, and she decided to take the experience she had there and apply it to private practice. She built her practice around supporting children and adults that had experienced sexual abuse/assault and found a passion working with parents and parents to be when their sexual trauma was activated in the perinatal period. This led to Lacey learning as much as she could about perinatal trauma, pregnancy and infant loss, NICU trauma and fertility struggles. Lacey finds that the parents she works with respond well to EMDR, IFS and sandtray therapy at her counseling practice. Lacey has served as the Clinical Director for the Pregnancy and Postpartum Health Alliance of Texas and now serves on their advisory board. Lacey has shared this article with us about sand tray therapy (https://wjstp-ojs-txstate.tdl.org/wjstp/article/view/25), as well as an upcoming workshop she is hosting called "Storytelling in the Sand: Using Sandtray Therapy to Cope with Perinatal Trauma and Loss: http://www.openheartcounselingatx.com/store/p2/storytellinginthesand.html.

(Rerun) Holding Space for Trauma with Kristi Field

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2025 48:15


We are recording Season 3 of the Resilient Birth podcast. Meanwhile we have selected our favorite episodes for you. In this episode Sarah and Justine talk with Kristi Field about how her work as a birth and postpartum doula is grounded in Polyvagal Theory and how trauma can be stored within the nervous system. Join us as we explore how this understanding of trauma impacts people's birthing and postpartum experiences and what it means to truly hold space throughout the whole perinatal journey. Here is a link to the Postpartum Resource Guide Kristi mentions: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KZUNrZni1ntWZ3rriDOWewFljLlaGCgz/view?usp=sharing On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma in the perinatal period. Through an inspirational quote that drives the weekly content, Justine and Sarah explore various trauma areas with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Kristi Field is a mom of two, certified birth and postpartum doula and a Registered Social Worker from the beautiful Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, Canada (the unceded traditional territory of the Syilx Okanagan people). She has worked with youth and families in the area of addiction, mental health and trauma counselling for the past ten years, and launched her own business as a doula after the birth of her second son. She became interested in the areas of trauma after losing her own brother at the age of 20, and experiencing first hand how trauma can impact the overall human experience and can be stored within the nervous system. As a doula, she is passionate about creating a space where families can feel empowered in creating the birth they envision while prioritizing mental wellness in all stages from pre-conception through to postpartum. She focuses on supporting all families, especially those who have experienced trauma or mental health concerns previously, and who are looking for a space where they can process and heal elements of their trauma experience. Learn more about our course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals

(Rerun) The Warmth of Being: Introducing Max

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2025 29:00


We are recording Season 3 of the Resilient Birth podcast. Meanwhile we have selected our favorite episodes for you. This week Sarah introduces us to Max, who has brought so much joy and comfort to her life over the last few months. Using a quote from Dog Medicine by Julie Barton, Sarah brings insight into the healing power of animals, particularly dogs, who can offer such unconditional loving support and shares her own experience with Max, who came into her life a few months ago and nourishes her as a person and mother.Throughout the episode, Justine and Sarah explore the profound impact that pets, particularly dogs, have on emotional well-being and the importance of unconditional acceptance in relationships. They discuss how animals provide a safe space for expressing emotions, the challenges of navigating uncomfortable feelings, and the role of pets in parenting. Justine and Sarah discuss the challenges humans seem to face in offering the same kind of nonjudgmental acceptance and warmth that pets such as dogs can provide. We talk about how pregnant, birthing and postpartum individuals often feel that the people from whom they are seeking support and care, such as family members, partners, doulas, midwives, Obs, lactation consultants and other perinatal professionals, are often uncomfortable with uncomfortable conversations. It is understandable that, in our discomfort, we try to fix the problem rather than listen, but this means that parents and parents-to-be do not feel understood by us. Justine and Sarah talk about what we can learn from animals like dogs for whom it is so intuitive to meet people where they are and how we can show up for our clients who are navigating challenges in the journey to motherhood and parenting as a witness who walks into darkness alongside them. We end by exploring the power of 'just being', both of us grasping for words that take us beyond being the idea of 'being myself' to a more grounded concept of what it might mean to 'be with another.' The conversation emphasizes the need for self-care, the significance of being present with others, and the art of just being without the pressure to perform. Ultimately, they highlight the magic that can happen when individuals connect authentically with themselves and others, fostering a sense of community and support. Keywords: unconditional acceptance, nonjudgmental support, perinatal providers, Dog Medicine, being, pets, emotional safety, unconditional love, parenting, self-care, vulnerability, presence, connection, mental health, animal therapy Takeaways Having a pet can provide emotional grounding and safety. Unconditional acceptance is rare in human relationships. Navigating uncomfortable emotions is a challenge for many. Pets can play a crucial role in parenting and emotional support. Nature can enhance self-care practices. Being present with clients is essential for effective support. Creating safe spaces for vulnerability is vital in therapeutic settings. The art of just being can lead to deeper connections. Animals can teach us about authentic presence and connection. Finding authenticity in connection is key to emotional healing. Sound Bites "I needed a companion who had no judgment." "That unconditional acceptance is so very freeing." "Animals just know how to journey along with us." Chapters 00:00 The Healing Power of Pets 02:52 Unconditional Acceptance and Emotional Safety 05:51 Navigating Uncomfortable Emotions 08:50 The Role of Animals in Parenting 12:09 Nature and Self-Care 15:05 The Importance of Being Present 18:12 Creating Safe Spaces for Vulnerability 20:54 The Art of Just Being 26:52 Finding Authenticity in Connection On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals

(Rerun) Failure to Thrive Feels Like Failure to Parent

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2024 42:50


We are recording Season 3 of the Resilient Birth podcast. Meanwhile we have selected our favorite episodes for you. In this episode Justine and Sarah explore the complexities of breastfeeding journeys. How do we support people navigating challenging emotional experiences while feeding their baby? Listen as Justine shares her story of breastfeeding challenges and what it was like to hear the words "Failure to Thrive." On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma in the perinatal period. Through an inspirational quote that drives the weekly content, Justine and Sarah explore various trauma areas with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Learn more about our course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals

(Rerun) You're a Different Parent After You've Seen the Inside of a NICU with Mara Tesler Stein

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2024 42:18


We are recording Season 3 of the Resilient Birth podcast. Meanwhile we have selected our favorite episodes for you. In this episode, Justine and Sarah are joined by Mara Tesler-Stein, a clinical psychologist and founder of the Touchstone Institute for Psychotherapy and Training. We talk about EMDR for the perinatal population, the impact on Mara's own perinatal journey as the parent of preemie twins on her professional career, and the experience of having a baby in the NICU. Summary Mara begins by sharing the Talmudic quote: “Someone who saves a single life is considered as if they have saved an entire world.” The conversation then delves into the topic of EMDR therapy and its benefits for the perinatal population. Mara explains that EMDR is a trauma-focused therapy that helps individuals process and integrate traumatic experiences. Mara shares her story including her perinatal journey of preterm labor, extended hospital stay and preemie twins. We explore what it is like for parents who have had to navigate life with a baby in the NICU and the emotional aftermath of that. The conversation explores the three core tasks that parents face in and after a perinatal crisis: developing parental identity for the baby, managing emotions, and managing relationships. Mara share that he loss of innocence and loss of peer group are significant challenges that parents face in the aftermath of a perinatal crisis, but also reassures that with window for attachment stretches well beyond the hour or hours after birth. Keywords EMDR therapy, perinatal mental health, birth trauma, NICU, early development, attachment, perinatal crisis, parental identity, healthcare providers, Takeaways EMDR therapy is a trauma-focused therapy that helps individuals process and integrate traumatic experiences. Trauma in the perinatal period, including the trauma of a NICU experience, can have long-term impacts on individuals and their families. Parents face three core tasks in and after a perinatal crisis: developing parental identity, managing emotions, and managing relationships. Perinatal crises are transformative and can lead to a shift in identity and perspective for parents. The loss of innocence and loss of peer group are significant challenges that parents face in the aftermath of a perinatal crisis. Healthcare providers can understand their role as both the hosts of and guests within families in their care, making space for parents to fulfill their role as parents. Sound Bites "Someone who saves a single life is considered as if they have saved an entire world." "The healing is already there. My job as the therapist is to help that internal healing mobilize." "The brain's very efficient when it's not being blocked." "Perinatal crises are transformative " "Parents of preemies are different parents" Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Quote 03:02 Understanding EMDR Therapy 06:01 The Power of Healing and Growth 10:06 The Impact of Trauma in the Perinatal Period 14:01 Navigating Medical Settings After NICU Trauma 15:40 Mara Shares Her Personal and Professional Story 24:56 The Three Core Tasks in a Perinatal Crisis 27:54 Challenges of Loss of Innocence and Peer Group 29:42 Navigating Relationships in a Perinatal Crisis 36:01 The Role of Healthcare Providers in Supporting Parents 40:03 The Importance of Acknowledging Parents' Input and Desires On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals Mara Tesler Stein, Psy.D., PMH-C is a clinical psychologist and EMDR consultant and trainer in Chicago and Jerusalem. She is the founder and director of The Touchstone Institute for PerinatalTraining where she offers both foundational and advanced EMDR trainings which take deepdives into the intersections and applications of EMDR and perinatal mental health.Dr. Stein is a staunch advocate for trauma-focused care and is trained and certified in a range ofintegrative trauma therapies. Dr. Stein is also certified in Emotion-Focused Family and CoupleTherapy, Brainspotting, is a Gottman Certified Therapist, and continues to deepen her training inClinical Hypnosis, Yoga-Informed treatment, Advanced applications of EMDR, and Ego-Statetherapies. She is the co-author (with Deborah Davis, Ph.D.) of Parenting Your Premature Baby and Child:The Emotional Journey (Fulcrum, 2004) and Intensive Parenting: Surviving the JourneyThrough the NICU (Fulcrum, 2013). She has also contributed book chapters in the areas ofperinatal loss, EMDR treatment, and trauma focused psychological care for NICU families.Her trauma work is grounded in her personal perinatal journey, which began 28 years ago takingher through infertility, twin pregnancy, prolonged hospital bedrest, the NICU, and years ofraising NICU graduates. You can find her at www.touchstoneinstitute.org and at mara@touchstoneinstitute.org.

(Rerun) Babies are the Royalty of Humanity with Kate White

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2024 44:51


We are recording Season 3 of the Resilient Birth podcast. Meanwhile we have selected our favorite episodes for you. In this episode, we are joined by Kate White, who talks intimately about integrating implicit memories and her experience supporting mothers and babies through trauma-informed somatic healing approaches. She starts our conversation, which explores what healing from perinatal trauma can look like when we take into account the baby's experience of birth and what is happening in the relationship between parent and infant, by quoting her mentors John and Anna Chitty. On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma in the perinatal period. Through an inspirational quote that drives the weekly content, Justine and Sarah explore various trauma areas with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Kate White is an award-winning educator and an advanced bodyworker. She is trained in somatic therapies, prenatal and perinatal somatic health, lactation, brain development, infant mental health, and has specialized in parent-baby dyad care using somatic prevention and trauma healing approaches for nearly 25 years. She is a mother of two children, holds a BA and MA in Communication, is a Registered Craniosacral Therapist in the Biodynamic Craniosacral method and a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner. Her work combines somatic trauma healing, energetic therapies, bodywork, pediatric therapies and education about the nervous system to help give families with babies and small children the best possible start. She is Founding Director of Education for the Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health where from 2013 – 2019 she created and ran the Prenatal and Perinatal Educator Certificate program, a large online educational program for professionals. She went on to found Prenatal and Perinatal Healing Online and the Prenatal and Perinatal Somatics Institute. She teaches classes online and in person, and offers a professional training called Integrated Prenatal and Perinatal Dynamics. She has a private practice in Charlottesville, VA called Belvedere Integrated Healing Arts (belvederearts.com) and offers her own seminars through the Center for Prenatal and Perinatal Programs, ppncenter.com Learn more about Sarah and Justine's course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals

(Rerun) Dissociation Reframed with Morning Alexander

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2024 38:49


We are recording Season 3 of the Resilient Birth podcast. Meanwhile we have selected our favorite episodes for you. We hope you'll enjoy this rerun of Dissociation Reframed With Morning Alexander. In this episode Sarah and Justine's guest, Morning Alexander, a birth and postpartum doula and soon to be labor and delivery nurse, surprises us with a quote from Justine that she wrote on the Resilient Birth social media. She shares how Justine helped reframe dissociation for her, shifting the shame she her felt about experiencing dissociation during a traumatic birth experience. Here are links to Justine's words about dissociation as a gift that helped her survive the unbearable and which starts our conversation today. On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/8kAecEYzfxjiki3p/?mibextid=WC7FNe On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CIga0x-ACQS/?igsh=MWhjYXdlcGRtcWE5ZA== On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma in the perinatal period. Through an inspirational quote that drives the weekly content, Justine and Sarah explore various trauma areas with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Morning Alexander has been supporting women in the perinatal period for over a decade and have been certified as a birth and postpartum doula for nearly 5 years. She has worked as a nurse tech in the Medical ICU for the past 4 years and is graduating this summer with my BSN and will be working as a labor and delivery nurse, with the ultimate goal of becoming a certified nurse midwife. Morning has a history of childhood trauma that was largely undealt with until after the births of her children. She had a very traumatic birth with her firstborn but it wasn't until years later, as she was diving deeper into birth and trauma training that she came to understand her own experiences. Through her continuing education and years of therapy, she has found not only healing and wholeness but a deep passion for being trauma-informed as a provider and supporting other women in finding healing and empowerment in their births. Learn more about our course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals

What If You're Feeling Empty During the Holidays?

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2024 35:40


Keywords: miscarriage, grief, loss, holidays, grieving rituals, perinatal trauma. How do we cope with the profound pain of miscarriage and loss during a season often associated with joy and togetherness? Why does the holiday season intensify our grief, and how can we navigate cultural expectations that demand we put on a brave face? In this heartfelt episode, Justine Leach and Sarah Adelmann delve into the deeply personal and often unspoken experience of miscarriage, loss, and trauma, especially as they intersect with the holiday season. Justine opens the conversation with a poignant quote by Zeynep Gurtin, "A moment that changed me: My miscarriages were devastating – but an orca gave me comfort and hope", setting the tone for an in-depth discussion on the unique challenges of grieving during a time traditionally filled with celebration. They explore why grief feels particularly acute during the holidays and the societal pressures to appear cheerful despite personal sorrow. The discussion highlights the importance of acknowledging and honoring one's loss, the role of rituals in the grieving process, and the often-overlooked grief for the loss of an imagined future. By addressing losses that are not always recognized by society, Justine and Sarah emphasize the need for supportive spaces where individuals can authentically express their grief. This episode underscores the significance of allowing oneself to fully experience and process grief and the critical role of community and support during such times. At the end Sarah mentions the book Healing Your Grieving Heart After Miscarriage: 100 Practical Ideas for Parents and Families by Alan Wolfelt. We are hosting a FREE training on Trauma and the Perinatal Journey on Dec 2 at 9am EST live on Zoom. The training will be recorded so he hope you will still sign up even if the time does not work for you: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/pl/2148550678 Takeaways Recognition of Miscarriage: Miscarriage is often not acknowledged as a significant loss by society, leaving those affected feeling isolated and unsupported. Cultural Expectations: Societal norms and expectations during the holiday season can place additional stress on those who are grieving, making it harder for them to cope. The Role of Rituals: Rituals can serve as a powerful means to honor loss and facilitate the healing process, providing a sense of structure and solace. Varied Manifestations of Grief: Grief is not limited to the loss of life; it also encompasses lost futures and unfulfilled dreams, which can be equally painful and deserving of recognition. Importance of Support: Support from friends, family, and the community is crucial for those experiencing loss. However, it is often insufficient, highlighting the need for more compassionate and consistent support systems. Challenges of the Holiday Season: Acknowledging the emotional toll of trying to "show up" and participate in holiday festivities while grieving is important for understanding the full impact of loss during this time. Self-Reflection for Better Support: Engaging in self-reflection to understand one's own feelings about loss and grief is vital. This awareness can enhance the ability to provide meaningful support to others, including clients. On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence.

Moral Injury and Consequences of Maternity Care Advocacy for Nurses with Melissa Anne Dubois

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2024 42:59


We are hosting a FREE training on Trauma and the Perinatal Journey on Dec 2 at 9am EST live on Zoom. The training will be recorded so he hope you will still sign up even if the time does not work for you: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/pl/2148550678 Keywords: obstetric violence, labor and delivery nurse, healthcare, moral injury, patient advocacy, maternity care, trauma-informed care, healthcare hierarchy, nursing ethics, healthcare ethics, obstetric care, mistreatment, nursing advocacy. In this episode of the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah welcome Melissa Anne Dubois, an experienced perinatal nurse and childbirth educator. The conversation explores the themes of leadership in nursing, the importance of advocacy for patients, and the challenges faced by nurses in a hierarchical healthcare system. Melissa shares her insights on obstetric violence, moral injury, and the emotional toll of advocating for patient-centered care in a system that causes significant challenges for nurses who want to speak up on behalf of the patients and provide trauma-informed care. The discussion highlights the importance of supporting labor and delivery nurses in their roles as advocates for birthing people. In this conversation, Melissa Anne discusses the ethical responsibilities of healthcare providers and the importance of acknowledging obstetric violence and mistreatment in maternity care. She emphasizes the importance of being a leader among nurses and advocating for patients wants and desires, evidence based care, and trauma-informed care, while also acknowledging the very real professional consequences of doing so. Takeaways There is significant injustice in maternity care. Advocating for patients can lead to professional consequences. Nurses often feel powerless in the hierarchical system of obstetrics. Moral injury affects nurses in maternity care as a result of obstetric violence. Guilt and shame occur when nurses experience moral injury. The term 'obstetric violence' has to be named for the problem to be understood. The narrative of 'a few bad apples' hinders systemic change. Acknowledging mistreatment is crucial for patient care. Advocacy can lead to personal and professional consequences. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Resilient Birth Podcast 08:49 Understanding Obstetric Violence 18:19 Moral Injury in Nursing 26:15 The Ethics of Healthcare Practice 32:32 Acknowledging Mistreatment in Healthcare 37:49 Navigating the Tension in Nursing Advocacy 46:50 Connecting to Community in Nursing On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Melissa Anne is an experienced perinatal nurse living in Central Massachusetts with her husband and three children. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Massachusetts Amherst School of Nursing in 2006 and has worked in a variety of perinatal settings since 2007 including: in-patient labor and delivery, high-risk obstetrics, outpatient OB-GYN, homebirth, and postpartum home health. Melissa Anne became a childbirth educator in 2011 and a lactation counselor in 2014. She currently teaches childbirth classes for babiesincommon.com while she pursues her PhD in nursing. Her research interests include obstetric violence and moral injury in perinatal nurses and she plans to work as a nurse researcher and professor after defending her dissertation. A useful article of Moral Injury in Maternity Care Providers: Kendall-Tackett K and Beck CT (2022) Secondary Traumatic Stress and Moral Injury in Maternity Care Providers: A Narrative and Exploratory Review. Front. Glob. Womens Health 3:835811. doi: 10.3389/fgwh.2022.835811 Here are some of the resources Melissa Mentions during the episode Mandy Irby: https://mandyirby.com/ Birth Monopoly: https://birthmonopoly.com/ Evidence Based Birth: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/

Breastfeeding After Birth Trauma with Erin Northrup

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2024 45:48


Keywords: birth trauma, breastfeeding, maternal health, postpartum care, lactation consultant, hospital policies, trauma recovery, maternal bonding, cesarean birth story, NICU birth story. In this episode of the Resilient Birth Podcast, Justine and Sarah welcome Erin Northrup, an international board certified lactation consultant, to discuss the profound impact of birth trauma on breastfeeding and maternal mental health. Erin shares her personal experiences with birth trauma after a cesarean under general anesthesia and separation from her baby who was taken to the NICU, emphasizing the interconnectedness of physical, emotional, and psychological aspects of childbirth. The conversation highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing the emotional needs of mothers during and after birth, as well as the long-term effects of trauma on families. Erin advocates for better support systems and policies that honor the maternal bond and emotional wellbeing of birthing individuals. This conversation delves into the profound impact of birth trauma on breastfeeding experiences, particularly focusing on the emotional and psychological challenges faced by mothers. The speakers discuss the importance of listening to mothers' voices, the interconnectedness of birth experiences and breastfeeding, and the need for advocacy in healthcare. Erin shares her research findings, highlighting the overwhelming response from participants and the emotional weight of their stories of breastfeeding after birth trauma. The discussion emphasizes the necessity of recognizing the complexities of maternal health and the importance of support systems for new parents. Takeaways The physical and emotional aspects of childbirth are inseparable. Many women feel dismissed when expressing emotional distress post-birth. Hospital policies can hinder maternal-infant bonding immediately after birth. The experience of separation from the baby can be traumatic. Maternal mental health is as important as physical health post-birth. Trauma can ripple through families and affect future generations. Trust in healthcare can be fractured by lack of listening. Mothers are experts in their own experiences. Birth trauma can echo in breastfeeding experiences. Hospital policies can hinder maternal care and support. Breastfeeding can serve as a reclamation of control. Research reveals the depth of shared trauma among mothers. Emotional pain from birth can resurface during breastfeeding. Sound Bites "I need to feed my baby..." "I was absolutely panicked..." "Why is nobody listening?" "I was very determined to breastfeed." "Everything is connected." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Birth Trauma and Support 02:57 The Interconnectedness of Birth Experiences 05:55 Personal Story of Birth Trauma 08:54 The Impact of Hospital Policies on Birth Experiences 12:04 The Emotional Aftermath of Birth Trauma 15:08 The Long-Term Effects of Birth Trauma 17:47 Finding Strength Through Adversity 21:01 The Importance of Maternal Bonding 23:54 Reflection on Healing 25:58 The Fracture of Trust in Healthcare 28:48 The Impact of Birth Trauma on Maternal Experience 32:58 Research Insights on Birth Trauma and Breastfeeding 38:56 Navigating Personal Trauma Through Research 44:00 The Interconnectedness of Experience and Healing On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Erin Northrup is an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant dedicated to educating andsupporting families who wish to breastfeed after experiencing birth trauma. She has a BA in Psychologyand a Masters in Applied Health Services Research (MAHSR) from the University of New Brunswickwhere she conducted a qualitative study on the lived experience of breastfeeding after birth trauma.Erin's own journey with birth trauma began in 2009, when she experienced a traumatic birth with thebirth of her first child. Since then, she has been a vocal advocate for maternal infant health and acompassionate supporter of parents through pregnancy, breastfeeding, and beyond. One of Erin's key goals is to educate perinatal professionals about the impacts of birth trauma and theimportance of respectful, ethical lactation care. She believes that by raising awareness and sharingevidence-based information, we can enhance the quality of care for families who have faced thesechallenges. A mother of five wonderful children and a long time La Leche League Leader, Erin is a firmbeliever in the necessity of trauma-informed care throughout the perinatal period, from preconceptionto weaning. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals

Emergency Podcast: Honoring Life Through Abortion Care

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2024 30:11


Keywords: abortion, perinatal care, women's rights, personal choice, government intervention, healthcare access, miscarriage, reproductive rights, trauma, maternal death Justine and Sarah recorded this episode of the Resilient Birth podcast on abortion access and abortion care the day before the election in the US. At the time of recording, we thought we'd be releasing it after the results were known, but the topic felt so vital to this current moment, that we decided to release it on the day of recording as our first emergency podcast. We hope that our conversation today opens your hearts to the experiences of women who need access to medical care, whether that is to save their lives or to make the choices that are right for themselves and their babies. Sarah begins our conversation by sharing a quote by John Legend who lost his son Jack when his wife needed an abortion to save her life, and who has spoken up against the government being the ones to decide women are "sufficiently dying" before they are given life saving care. In this episode, Sarah also explores the powerful stories from the On Point podcast episode called “The Truth About Perinatal Hospice Care”. This podcast lifts the veil on perinatal hospice care and reveals the truth about the loving decisions families are making to honor their babies and their brief lives. The conversation emphasizes the need for compassion, understanding, and the recognition of women's rights in making personal health decisions. They also highlight the emotional weight of these decisions and the dangerous implications of restricting access to abortion care which has already resulted in maternal deaths in the United States. Takeaways Access to abortion care is essential for women's health and safety. Government intervention can strip families of their rights. Perinatal hospice care provides compassionate support to families and often provides them with precious time with their babies. Abortion access is a matter of safety and choice. Misconceptions about abortion care need to be addressed. The current election can significantly impact reproductive rights. The voices of those affected must be uplifted. Compassion and empathy are vital in these discussions. Sound Bites "Abortion saves people's lives." "This is causing perinatal trauma." "What is sufficiently dying?" "We need to listen to each other." "I am here to walk with you." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Abortion Access 06:02 The Importance of Abortion Access 08:54 Perinatal Hospice Care: A Compassionate Approach 12:11 The Emotional Weight of Decision-Making 15:04 Misconceptions About Abortion Care 18:05 The Role of the Election in Abortion Rights 21:07 The Broader Implications of Abortion Access 23:57 Personal Stories and Their Impact 26:54 The Deadly Consequences of Delayed Medical Care 30:03 The Need for Comprehensive Understanding 33:11 Closing Thoughts and Call to Action On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals

Rethinking Birth Plans: Communication and the Failure to Understand

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2024 38:57


Keywords: birth plans, informed consent, birth preferences, healthcare communication, obstetric care, birth experience, birth trauma, obstetrics, patient care, unconditional positive regard, healthcare relationships In this conversation, Justine Leach, Ph.D. and Sarah Adelmann, L.M.H.C., discuss birth plans, emphasizing the need for a more holistic approach that incorporates the emotional and relational aspects of the birthing experience. Justine begins by sharing the findings of a recent article that asks whether the topics given to women on birth plan templates in Spain include what really matters to them. Justine and Sarah then critique the traditional focus on medical procedures and interventions, advocating for a shift towards understanding the feelings and emotional needs of birthing individuals. The discussion highlights the importance of informed consent, continuity of care, and the need for healthcare providers to foster a deeper connection with their patients to enhance the overall birthing experience. The conversation gets heated when Justine shares another article she read in preparation for the episode in which an obstetrician advocates for more flexibility from birth givers through creating birth preferences rather than birth plans. Justine and Sarah express their frustration with this obsterician's point of view and share their belief that his interpretation of the cause of challenging communication with patients and birth trauma is misplaced. The discussion highlights the significance of unconditional positive regard in healthcare and the necessity not only of creating better communication tools for birth givers to express their needs and concerns effectively, but also of providers understanding their role and responsibility in support birth givers in feeling seen, heard, and in control during birth. Artieta-Pinedo, I., Paz-Pascual, C., Garcia-Alvarez, A. et al. Does the birth plan match what is relevant to women? Preferences of Spanish women when giving birth. BMC Women's Health 24, 42 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-023-02856-5 Mohan, R., Abdalla, M. A reflective practice on difficult communication: an obstetrician's perspective on birth plan versus birth preferences. Discov Health Systems 3, 77 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44250-024-00129-y Takeaways Birth plans often overlook emotional and psychosocial aspects. Informed consent should be a standard practice in obstetric care. The structure of birth plans typically does not leave space for communicating emotional needs. There is a need for curiosity from providers about patients' preferences. It is not the responsibility of women and birthing people to be more flexible. Communication about fears and values is crucial in birth planning. The current system often fails to address the relational needs of patients. A shift in mindset is needed regarding the purpose of birth plans. Healthcare providers should prioritize understanding patients' emotional needs. Many patients have experienced trauma related to birth. Saying no to interventions does not indicate a difficult client. The perception of normal birth can vary greatly between providers and clients. Unconditional positive regard is a political stance in healthcare relationships. Clients often feel powerless in the healthcare system. Effective communication is key to improving birth experiences. Sound Bites "We should be communicating beyond just interventions." "What do I want to communicate with my team?" "The way we think about birth plans is missing a piece." "Our clients want to be seen, heard, and in control." "Having a client say no does not make them difficult." "There's nothing normal about birth." Chapters 00:00 Understanding Birth Plans: A Critical Examination 09:44 The Emotional Landscape of Birth Plans 20:14 Rethinking Birth Plans: From Procedures to Feelings 29:14 Understanding Birth Experiences and Communication 36:03 The Role of Providers in Birth Decisions 43:01 Unconditional Positive Regard in Care 47:47 Creating Better Communication Tools for Birth Givers On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals

Connection and Possibility in Perinatal Care

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2024 30:13


In this conversation, Justine Leach, Ph.D. and Sarah Adelmann, L.M.H.C., explore the themes of connection, vulnerability, and trust within the context of perinatal healthcare, particularly in pregnancy and birth. Sarah begins with a quote by President Barack Obama from his book A Promised Land. They discuss the importance of deep listening from OBs and midwives, and the challenges of building trust in a hospital system that often feels disconnected. The conversation emphasizes the need for healthcare providers to recognize the weight of the questions they ask and the vulnerability being demanded of their clients and patients, advocating for a more compassionate and present approach to care. Keywords: connection, vulnerability, healthcare, trust, birth, trauma, listening, trauma-informed care, maternity care, prenatal care. Takeaways Connection is vital for emotional well-being. Trust is built through deep listening and presence. Vulnerability requires an invitation from the provider. Healthcare providers must recognize the weight of their questions. Patients often feel they have no choice but to comply. The presence of the provider can create a safe space for vulnerability. Healing can begins with believing in another's ability to heal. Providers should honor the weight of stories behind patient's answers to their questions. It's essential to meet clients where they are emotionally. Sound Bites "There's a physical feeling, a current of emotion." "We are all connected and our voices matter." "I didn't know I could use my voice." Chapters 00:00 The Power of Connection 05:40 Building Trust in Healthcare 11:12 Vulnerability and Invitation 16:11 The Weight of Disclosure 21:45 Recognizing Vulnerability in Questions 27:01 The Role of Presence in Care 30:31 Possibilities Through Connection On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals

My Therapist Dismissed My Story: When Birth Mirrors Sexual Violence

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2024 36:33


In this episode of the Resilient Birth Podcast, Justine Leach and Sarah Adelmann delve into the complex interplay between trauma, birth experiences, and the importance of consent and validation in therapeutic settings. Justine shares her personal journey of navigating her traumatic birth experience as a survivor of sexual assault, highlighting the disconnect between what she wanted for her birth and the reality of her experience. Justine shares how a lack of consent during her birth mirrored her experience of rape through stripping her of her sense of autonomy and control and how this aspect of her birth trauma was not recognized by her therapist at the time. The conversation emphasizes the need for therapists and medical providers to listen deeply, validate experiences, and honor the autonomy of individuals during birth. Keywords: birth trauma, sexual assault, rape, consent, listening, validation, therapy, counseling. Takeaways The importance of consent in birth experiences cannot be overstated. Listening and validation are crucial for those sharing their trauma. Prior trauma can significantly impact the experience of childbirth. Grief is a natural response to a birth experience that didn't go as planned. Therapists and providers must recognize the vulnerability of their clients. Medical interventions without consent can strip away a person's sense of control. Reclaiming power in birth can be healing. Chapters 00:00 Connecting Sexual Violence to Birth Trauma and the Failure to Listen 03:07 The Role of Consent in Birth 06:12 The Importance of Listening and Validation 12:12 A Fantasy of Reclaiming Power in Birth 15:00 The Impact of Medical Interventions Without Consent 20:59 Grief and the Birth Experience 24:00 The Power of Vulnerable Sharing 26:57 Understanding the Complexity of Birth Stories On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals

The Warmth of Being: Introducing Max

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2024 29:00


This week Sarah introduces us to Max, who has brought so much joy and comfort to her life over the last few months. Using a quote from Dog Medicine by Julie Barton, Sarah brings insight into the healing power of animals, particularly dogs, who can offer such unconditional loving support and shares her own experience with Max, who came into her life a few months ago and nourishes her as a person and mother.Throughout the episode, Justine and Sarah explore the profound impact that pets, particularly dogs, have on emotional well-being and the importance of unconditional acceptance in relationships. They discuss how animals provide a safe space for expressing emotions, the challenges of navigating uncomfortable feelings, and the role of pets in parenting. Justine and Sarah discuss the challenges humans seem to face in offering the same kind of nonjudgmental acceptance and warmth that pets such as dogs can provide. We talk about how pregnant, birthing and postpartum individuals often feel that the people from whom they are seeking support and care, such as family members, partners, doulas, midwives, Obs, lactation consultants and other perinatal professionals, are often uncomfortable with uncomfortable conversations. It is understandable that, in our discomfort, we try to fix the problem rather than listen, but this means that parents and parents-to-be do not feel understood by us. Justine and Sarah talk about what we can learn from animals like dogs for whom it is so intuitive to meet people where they are and how we can show up for our clients who are navigating challenges in the journey to motherhood and parenting as a witness who walks into darkness alongside them. We end by exploring the power of 'just being', both of us grasping for words that take us beyond being the idea of 'being myself' to a more grounded concept of what it might mean to 'be with another.' The conversation emphasizes the need for self-care, the significance of being present with others, and the art of just being without the pressure to perform. Ultimately, they highlight the magic that can happen when individuals connect authentically with themselves and others, fostering a sense of community and support. Keywords: unconditional acceptance, nonjudgmental support, perinatal providers, Dog Medicine, being, pets, emotional safety, unconditional love, parenting, self-care, vulnerability, presence, connection, mental health, animal therapy Takeaways Having a pet can provide emotional grounding and safety. Unconditional acceptance is rare in human relationships. Navigating uncomfortable emotions is a challenge for many. Pets can play a crucial role in parenting and emotional support. Nature can enhance self-care practices. Being present with clients is essential for effective support. Creating safe spaces for vulnerability is vital in therapeutic settings. The art of just being can lead to deeper connections. Animals can teach us about authentic presence and connection. Finding authenticity in connection is key to emotional healing. Sound Bites "I needed a companion who had no judgment." "That unconditional acceptance is so very freeing." "Animals just know how to journey along with us." Chapters 00:00 The Healing Power of Pets 02:52 Unconditional Acceptance and Emotional Safety 05:51 Navigating Uncomfortable Emotions 08:50 The Role of Animals in Parenting 12:09 Nature and Self-Care 15:05 The Importance of Being Present 18:12 Creating Safe Spaces for Vulnerability 20:54 The Art of Just Being 26:52 Finding Authenticity in Connection On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals

Creating Stories in the Sand: Healing Perinatal Trauma with Lacey Castilleja Fisher

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2024 43:22


In this episode, Justine and Sarah interview Lacey Castilleja Fisher, a licensed professional counselor and registered play therapist. Lacey specializes in working with parents and parents-to-be who have experienced sexual trauma, as well as individuals dealing with a range of mental health issues. Lacey shares two quotes that resonate with her work: one by Natasha Trethewey about the importance of telling a story to heal from trauma, and another by Resmaa Menakem about the discomfort of healing. The conversation explores the power of storytelling, the use of sandtray therapy and expressive arts in therapy, and the personal experiences that led Lacey to her work. In this conversation, Lacey discusses how she creates safety in the sandtray experience. She emphasizes the importance of selecting diverse materials and figures, and speaking to the activating potential of the miniatures. Lacey also explains how she incorporates EMDR into sandtray therapy and adapts the practice for the perinatal population. She shares insights on finding and collecting miniatures, as well as the importance of open curiosity and not assuming the meaning behind a client's tray. The conversation highlights the power of storytelling and the versatility of expressive art therapy. Keywords: therapy, trauma, storytelling, sandtray therapy, expressive arts, perinatal trauma, birth trauma, EMDR, perinatal mental health, storytelling, expressive art therapy Takeaways Telling a story is an important part of healing from trauma. It allows individuals to process and integrate their experiences. But telling a story does not have to be verbal. Sandtray therapy and expressive arts can be powerful tools in therapy, providing a nonverbal and creative way for clients to explore and express their emotions and experiences. The journey of parenthood can bring up feelings of uncertainty and self-doubt, especially for individuals with their own trauma history. EMDR can be incorporated into sandtray therapy. Adapting sandtray therapy for the perinatal population involves gaining expertise in perinatal mental health and being thoughtful about the miniatures that represent the different feelings and experiences during the perinatal period. Open curiosity and not assuming the meaning behind a client's tray are important aspects of facilitating the therapy. Storytelling in sand tray therapy goes beyond verbal expression and includes the selection and creation of scenes in the tray. Sound Bites "No words are off limits. No stories are off limits." "The expressive arts and sandtray therapy allow different parts that are closed off to open up." Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 01:24 The Power of Storytelling and Quotes 06:21Using Sandtray Therapy and Expressive Arts 10:00 Introduction to Sandtray Therapy 12:09 Working with Non-Verbal Parts and Sensations 17:01 The Process of Building and Creating in Therapy 21:47 Personal Experience and Trauma-Informed Work 27:28 Creating Safety in the Sandtray Experience 30:05 Incorporating EMDR into Sandtray Therapy 33:28 Adapting Sandtray Therapy for the Perinatal Population 36:28 Finding and Collecting Miniatures 39:36 Facilitating Open Curiosity 42:46 The Power of Storytelling in Sandtray Therapy On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals Lacey Castilleja Fisher, LPC-S, RPT-S, PMH-C, is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor and a Certified Mental Health Professional with a mental health private practice in southwest Austin. Lacey has worked in a variety of settings including in a Children's Advocacy Center to provide counseling to children that experienced sexual abuse and their families, and she decided to take the experience she had there and apply it to private practice. She built her practice around supporting children and adults that had experienced sexual abuse/assault and found a passion working with parents and parents to be when their sexual trauma was activated in the perinatal period. This led to Lacey learning as much as she could about perinatal trauma, pregnancy and infant loss, NICU trauma and fertility struggles. Lacey finds that the parents she works with respond well to EMDR, IFS and sandtray therapy at her counseling practice. Lacey has served as the Clinical Director for the Pregnancy and Postpartum Health Alliance of Texas and now serves on their advisory board. Lacey has shared this article with us about sand tray therapy (https://wjstp-ojs-txstate.tdl.org/wjstp/article/view/25), as well as an upcoming workshop she is hosting called "Storytelling in the Sand: Using Sandtray Therapy to Cope with Perinatal Trauma and Loss: http://www.openheartcounselingatx.com/store/p2/storytellinginthesand.html.

Embracing a Lifespan Perspective in Birth and Healing with Helena Vissing

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2024 45:26


In this episode, Justine and Sarah are joined by Helena Vissing, PsyD, SEP, PMH-C, a licensed psychologist practicing trauma-informed somatic psychotherapy. They discuss the quote by Rosemary Balsam that highlights the relationship between a woman and embodied events, such as birth, across her entire lifetime. They explore the significance of birth as a prism that captures the past and future, the need for relational care in the prevention and healing from birth trauma, and the limitations of a purely medical approach to birth. Helena emphasizes the importance of holding a lifespan perspective and integrating somatic and psychodynamic approaches in supporting clients. Keywords birth trauma, female body, relational care, healing, lifespan perspective, somatic psychotherapy, psychodynamic approach Takeaways Birth is a transformative event that holds meaning for the individual both before and after it occurs. Relational care is essential in the prevention and healing from birth trauma. Relational care provides support, understanding, and validation that is not available technology alone. A purely medical approach to birth overlooks the importance of the relationship between the birthing person and their body, emotions, and experiences. A lifespan perspective is crucial in understanding the impact of birth trauma and the ongoing journey of healing and transformation. Integrating somatic and psychodynamic approaches can support clients in reconnecting with their bodies and navigating the complexities of the perinatal transition. Sound Bites "Birth is never just that one moment. It captures so much of what has gone before in your whole life." "We cannot bypass the need for relational care that humans have. It's a defining feature of being human." Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 01:43 Quote by Rosemary Balsam 08:28 The Importance of Relational Care in Birth 17:51 Challenging the Medical Approach to Birth 28:22 The Dilemma of Western Medicine 38:06 Healing and Reconnecting with the Body 50:17 The Prism of Healing and Transformation On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals Helena Vissing, PsyD, SEP, PMH-C, is a licensed psychologist practicing trauma-informed somatic psychotherapy in North California. She is certified in Perinatal Mental Health and specializes in working with expecting and new parents. She is Associate Professor in the somatic program at the California Institute of Integral Studies. Before joining CIIS, Helena taught at several graduate institutions, including Reiss-Davis Graduate School, Antioch University, and The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Her areas of specialization include developmental psychology, perinatal mental health, and integrating psychodynamic and somatic modalities in trauma treatment. Helena also has extensive experience providing advanced level training of providers in perinatal mental health. She has published book chapters and articles on the topic of the psychology of mothering and its somatic aspects and is the author of Somatic Maternal Healing. Psychodynamic and Somatic Trauma Treatment for Perinatal Mental Health; a biopsychosocial framework for integrating and adapting a somatic approach to make perinatal mental health not only trauma informed, but also trauma responsive. She is one of the hosts of the podcast channel New Books in Psychoanalysis and is on the editorial board of the International Body Psychotherapy Journal.

Trauma Destroys Time: A Conversation After Being Triggered

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2024 34:19


In this conversation, Sarah and Justine discuss the impact of trauma on our sense of time and how the past can erupt into the present or shift our perception of what is about to happen in the future. Justine shares a quote from the book Trauma and Human Existence by Robert D. Storolow. She was reminded of this quote, in particular his words, “Trauma destroys time,” after a recent personal experience of reacting unexpectedly and dramatically to a trigger resulting from an experience with her baby she did not originally categorize as a trauma. Sarah and Justine emphasize the importance of seeking support and understanding in navigating the effects of trauma particularly when parenting. The conversation highlights the power of trusted relationships and creating safe spaces for healing so that we can be present with ourselves and our children. Keywords Trauma and temporality, unexpected triggers, fragmentation along time, healing, creating safe spaces Takeaways Trauma can disrupt our sense of time and bring past experiences into the present moment. Triggers can unexpectedly bring us back to traumatic events, even if we don't categorize them as traumas. Seeking support and understanding is crucial in navigating the effects of trauma. Creating safe spaces and trusted relationships can help in healing and bringing fragmented parts of ourselves back together. Sound Bites "Trauma destroys time." "The world feels more tender and vulnerable when you're a parent." "Our body can sometimes feel like it's never in that calm state." Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Quote 08:02 The Impact of Trauma on Our Sense of Time 15:27 Triggers: Unexpectedly Reliving Traumatic Experiences 25:21 The Importance of Seeking Support in Navigating Trauma 27:15 Creating Safe Spaces for Healing and Integration 38:27 Conclusion and Takeaways On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals

Supporting Others While Navigating Miscarriage and IVF with Marissa Hathaway

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2024 43:58


In this episode, Justine and Sarah are joined by Marissa Hathaway, a certified birth and postpartum doula. They discuss the harmful impact of 'at least' statements and how they can be invalidating to individuals who have experienced trauma or infertility. Marissa shares her personal journey of going through IVF and the challenges she faced as a doula supporting families while navigating her own miscarriage and infertility journey. They also discuss the importance of recognizing and honoring each person's unique story and the need for more support and understanding in the perinatal field. Keywords birth, postpartum, doula, trauma, infertility, IVF, ‘at least' statements, miscarriage reproductive health Takeaways The harmful impact of 'at least' statements and how they can be invalidating The challenges faced by individuals who have experienced trauma or infertility while supporting others in the perinatal field The importance of recognizing and honoring each person's unique story Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 03:30 The Harmful Impact of 'At Least' Statements 11:17 Supporting Others While Navigating Personal Trauma 15:01 Navigating Reproductive Health Challenges as a Doula 26:45 Recognizing and Honoring Each Person's Unique Story 34:56 Conclusion and Takeaways On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals Marissa Hathaway is a full spectrum doula (certified in birth and postpartum), Childbirth Educator, and photographer. She came to doula through starting her career in global maternal health, human rights, and reproductive justice. She is dedicated to reducing maternal health inequities via intersectional collaboration and cultural humility. After studying Public Health & International Relations at Boston University, she attended the University of Haifa, in Israel, for her Masters in Public Health. Marissa has experience in rape crisis counseling, family planning/contraception counseling, and refugee health. Marissa's approach to supporting families is centered around: embodied consent and informed decision-making; support for partners; and mental health and wellbeing

You're a Different Parent After You've Seen the Inside of a NICU with Mara Tesler Stein

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2024 42:18


In this episode, Justine and Sarah are joined by Mara Tesler-Stein, a clinical psychologist and founder of the Touchstone Institute for Psychotherapy and Training. We talk about EMDR for the perinatal population, the impact on Mara's own perinatal journey as the parent of preemie twins on her professional career, and the experience of having a baby in the NICU. Summary Mara begins by sharing the Talmudic quote: “Someone who saves a single life is considered as if they have saved an entire world.” The conversation then delves into the topic of EMDR therapy and its benefits for the perinatal population. Mara explains that EMDR is a trauma-focused therapy that helps individuals process and integrate traumatic experiences. Mara shares her story including her perinatal journey of preterm labor, extended hospital stay and preemie twins. We explore what it is like for parents who have had to navigate life with a baby in the NICU and the emotional aftermath of that. The conversation explores the three core tasks that parents face in and after a perinatal crisis: developing parental identity for the baby, managing emotions, and managing relationships. Mara share that he loss of innocence and loss of peer group are significant challenges that parents face in the aftermath of a perinatal crisis, but also reassures that with window for attachment stretches well beyond the hour or hours after birth. Keywords EMDR therapy, perinatal mental health, birth trauma, NICU, early development, attachment, perinatal crisis, parental identity, healthcare providers, Takeaways EMDR therapy is a trauma-focused therapy that helps individuals process and integrate traumatic experiences. Trauma in the perinatal period, including the trauma of a NICU experience, can have long-term impacts on individuals and their families. Parents face three core tasks in and after a perinatal crisis: developing parental identity, managing emotions, and managing relationships. Perinatal crises are transformative and can lead to a shift in identity and perspective for parents. The loss of innocence and loss of peer group are significant challenges that parents face in the aftermath of a perinatal crisis. Healthcare providers can understand their role as both the hosts of and guests within families in their care, making space for parents to fulfill their role as parents. Sound Bites "Someone who saves a single life is considered as if they have saved an entire world." "The healing is already there. My job as the therapist is to help that internal healing mobilize." "The brain's very efficient when it's not being blocked." "Perinatal crises are transformative " "Parents of preemies are different parents" Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Quote 03:02 Understanding EMDR Therapy 06:01 The Power of Healing and Growth 10:06 The Impact of Trauma in the Perinatal Period 14:01 Navigating Medical Settings After NICU Trauma 15:40 Mara Shares Her Personal and Professional Story 24:56 The Three Core Tasks in a Perinatal Crisis 27:54 Challenges of Loss of Innocence and Peer Group 29:42 Navigating Relationships in a Perinatal Crisis 36:01 The Role of Healthcare Providers in Supporting Parents 40:03 The Importance of Acknowledging Parents' Input and Desires On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals Mara Tesler Stein, Psy.D., PMH-C is a clinical psychologist and EMDR consultant and trainer in Chicago and Jerusalem. She is the founder and director of The Touchstone Institute for PerinatalTraining where she offers both foundational and advanced EMDR trainings which take deepdives into the intersections and applications of EMDR and perinatal mental health.Dr. Stein is a staunch advocate for trauma-focused care and is trained and certified in a range ofintegrative trauma therapies. Dr. Stein is also certified in Emotion-Focused Family and CoupleTherapy, Brainspotting, is a Gottman Certified Therapist, and continues to deepen her training inClinical Hypnosis, Yoga-Informed treatment, Advanced applications of EMDR, and Ego-Statetherapies. She is the co-author (with Deborah Davis, Ph.D.) of Parenting Your Premature Baby and Child:The Emotional Journey (Fulcrum, 2004) and Intensive Parenting: Surviving the JourneyThrough the NICU (Fulcrum, 2013). She has also contributed book chapters in the areas ofperinatal loss, EMDR treatment, and trauma focused psychological care for NICU families.Her trauma work is grounded in her personal perinatal journey, which began 28 years ago takingher through infertility, twin pregnancy, prolonged hospital bedrest, the NICU, and years ofraising NICU graduates. You can find her at www.touchstoneinstitute.org and at mara@touchstoneinstitute.org.

Client Driven Therapy and Brainspotting with Jana Glass

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2024 51:39


We welcome Jana Glass, a Licensed Professional Counselor certified in Brainspotting, Addictions, and Perinatal Mental health, to the podcast this week. In this conversation we explore what it means for therapy to be truly client led and how can therapists support parents who have experienced perinatal trauma to find and trust in their brain's own capacity to heal. Summary Jana begins our conversation by sharing a quote that embodies her approach to therapy, which focuses on empowering clients to heal and be present in the moment. She discusses the importance of centering the client as the expert in their own experience and using brainspotting to process trauma. Jana also addresses the challenges of working within systems and offers advice for clinicians on navigating boundaries and providing client-centered care. In this conversation, Jana emphasizes the importance of not making assumptions and allowing clients to lead their own healing journey. She shares a powerful example of a client who chose her as a therapist because she didn't assume the meaning of her pregnancy. Jana highlights the significance of creating a safe space for clients to express their thoughts and feelings without judgment. She discusses the power of asking questions and letting clients find their own answers, as well as the importance of therapists doing their own therapeutic work. Jana believes that healing is achievable for anyone and that therapists should support clients in finding their own path to healing. Keywords: Jana Glass, brainspotting, perinatal mental health, trauma therapy, client-centered care, assumptions, client-led healing, safe space, asking questions, therapeutic work, healing journey Takeaways Clients are the experts on themselves and have everything they need inside of them to heal and be present in the moment. Trauma therapy involves helping clients access and process unprocessed material in their subcortical brain, allowing them to integrate past experiences and feel more grounded in the present. Clinicians can navigate the challenges of working within systems by maintaining a duality, following ethical guidelines while also prioritizing client-centered care. Brainspotting is a powerful brain and body-based approach that uses fixed eye positions to access and process trauma. The role of the therapist is to provide a safe and compassionate space for clients to explore their experiences and guide them in their healing journey. Don't make assumptions about what events mean to clients, especially in a professional setting. Allow clients to lead their own healing journey and support them in finding their own answers. Create a safe space for clients to express their thoughts and feelings without judgment. Therapists should do their own therapeutic work to be present, grounded, and attuned with their clients. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background of Jana Glass 02:35 Empowering Clients to Heal and Be Present 06:16 Recognizing Unmet Needs and Providing Support 11:25 Accessing and Processing Trauma with Brain Spotting 19:54 Navigating Boundaries and Providing Client-Centered Care 25:46 Working Within Systems and Prioritizing Client Needs 28:09 The Power of Not Making Assumptions 34:14 Creating a Safe Space for Authentic Expression 45:02 Therapists Doing Their Own Therapeutic Work 46:53 Healing is Achievable for Anyone On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals Jana Glass is a Licensed Professional Counselor certified in Brainspotting, Addictions, Perinatal Mental health, and Telemental health. She works with a wide spectrum of clients and her special interests include healing trauma, supporting people with substance use challenges, and prioritizing perinatal mental health and trauma. Jana is in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia and individuals and Families find relief and feel better. She provides individual and group consultation as a certified brainspotting consultant and trainer. Jana educates professionals in a variety of topics including neurobiological approaches to trauma, Brainspotting Phase one and Phase two, Supporting Birthgivers with substance use during the perinatal period, and Connecting the rainbow: Healing perinatal trauma. Jana is passionate about helping to foster hope when faced with situations that appear hopeless. Connect with Jana at www.supportivesolutionsga.com or facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SupportiveSolutionsGA, or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rainbowconnector3?igsh=cmgzcWR0eG10bDIx&utm_source=qr, and professionals interested in Perinatal Mental Health and Trauma can join the Brainspotting and Perinatal Mental Health Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/1SLgKtfGfeyoDXwZ/?mibextid=K35XfP

The Power of Words: A Birth Story with Liz Gray

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2024 48:47


This week, Liz Gray, LCSW, RPT, shares her birth story in which she explores the complex feelings she has about the OB at her birth, who provided physically good medical care but whose language and attitude was extremely harmful. Her story includes navigating a lack of trauma-informed care during infertility treatment, a birth center to hospital birth transfer, an unplanned a cesarean birth, and a misdiagnosis of "failure to thrive" for her baby by her first pediatrician. A thread that weaves throughout her story is the impact of our words and how not being trauma-informed can add layers of trauma to what are already challenging prenatal, childbirth, and postpartum experiences, especially for survivors of trauma. To start our conversation, Liz shares the words of Kayleigh Summers, LCSW, PMH-C, from her Instagram (@thebirthtrauma_mama), who is also host of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast. On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma in the perinatal period. Through an inspirational quote that drives the weekly content, Justine and Sarah explore various trauma areas with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals Liz Gray, LCSW, RPT is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Registered Play Therapist, and certified EMDR therapist in Illinois. She is a Highly Sensitive Person, wife, human & goldendoodle momma, organizer, forever learner, quiet leader, social introvert, think-outside-the-box creator, trauma survivor, and infertility warrier. Liz is the proud co-founder of the Trauma-Informed Maternal Health Directory, an online directory that connects women in all phases of trying to conceive, infertility, pregnancy, birth & early parenthood to trauma-informed health and mental health providers.

Simone Biles: The Power of Choosing Yourself Over the Noise

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2024 41:02


In this episode, Sarah brings in a quote from Simone Biles in her documentary "Rising." Join us as we find deep connections between Simone's words and the weight of expectations around the identity of motherhood and the narratives that bear down upon women's bodies. We find inspiration in Simone's story and how she said refused to perform for others when that would not be safe for herself. On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma in the perinatal period. Through an inspirational quote that drives the weekly content, Justine and Sarah explore various trauma areas with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Learn more about Sarah and Justine's course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals

Babies are the Royalty of Humanity with Kate White

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2024 44:51


In this episode, we are joined by Kate White, who talks intimately about integrating implicit memories and her experience supporting mothers and babies through trauma-informed somatic healing approaches. She starts our conversation, which explores what healing from perinatal trauma can look like when we take into account the baby's experience of birth and what is happening in the relationship between parent and infant, by quoting her mentors John and Anna Chitty. On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma in the perinatal period. Through an inspirational quote that drives the weekly content, Justine and Sarah explore various trauma areas with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Kate White is an award-winning educator and an advanced bodyworker. She is trained in somatic therapies, prenatal and perinatal somatic health, lactation, brain development, infant mental health, and has specialized in parent-baby dyad care using somatic prevention and trauma healing approaches for nearly 25 years. She is a mother of two children, holds a BA and MA in Communication, is a Registered Craniosacral Therapist in the Biodynamic Craniosacral method and a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner. Her work combines somatic trauma healing, energetic therapies, bodywork, pediatric therapies and education about the nervous system to help give families with babies and small children the best possible start. She is Founding Director of Education for the Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health where from 2013 – 2019 she created and ran the Prenatal and Perinatal Educator Certificate program, a large online educational program for professionals. She went on to found Prenatal and Perinatal Healing Online and the Prenatal and Perinatal Somatics Institute. She teaches classes online and in person, and offers a professional training called Integrated Prenatal and Perinatal Dynamics. She has a private practice in Charlottesville, VA called Belvedere Integrated Healing Arts (belvederearts.com) and offers her own seminars through the Center for Prenatal and Perinatal Programs, ppncenter.com Learn more about Sarah and Justine's course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals

Dissociation Reframed with Morning Alexander

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2024 38:49


In this episode Sarah and Justine's guest, Morning Alexander, a birth and postpartum doula and soon to be labor and delivery nurse, surprises us with a quote from Justine that she wrote on the Resilient Birth social media. She shares how Justine helped reframe dissociation for her, shifting the shame she her felt about experiencing dissociation during a traumatic birth experience. Here are links to Justine's words about dissociation as a gift that helped her survive the unbearable and which starts our conversation today. On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/8kAecEYzfxjiki3p/?mibextid=WC7FNe On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CIga0x-ACQS/?igsh=MWhjYXdlcGRtcWE5ZA== On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma in the perinatal period. Through an inspirational quote that drives the weekly content, Justine and Sarah explore various trauma areas with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Morning Alexander has been supporting women in the perinatal period for over a decade and have been certified as a birth and postpartum doula for nearly 5 years. She has worked as a nurse tech in the Medical ICU for the past 4 years and is graduating this summer with my BSN and will be working as a labor and delivery nurse, with the ultimate goal of becoming a certified nurse midwife. Morning has a history of childhood trauma that was largely undealt with until after the births of her children. She had a very traumatic birth with her firstborn but it wasn't until years later, as she was diving deeper into birth and trauma training that she came to understand her own experiences. Through her continuing education and years of therapy, she has found not only healing and wholeness but a deep passion for being trauma-informed as a provider and supporting other women in finding healing and empowerment in their births. Learn more about our course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals

Holding Space for Trauma with Kristi Field

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2024 48:15


In this episode Sarah and Justine talk with Kristi Field about how her work as a birth and postpartum doula is grounded in Polyvagal Theory and how trauma can be stored within the nervous system. Join us as we explore how this understanding of trauma impacts people's birthing and postpartum experiences and what it means to truly hold space throughout the whole perinatal journey. On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma in the perinatal period. Through an inspirational quote that drives the weekly content, Justine and Sarah explore various trauma areas with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Kristi Field is a mom of two, certified birth and postpartum doula and a Registered Social Worker from the beautiful Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, Canada (the unceded traditional territory of the Syilx Okanagan people). She has worked with youth and families in the area of addiction, mental health and trauma counselling for the past ten years, and launched her own business as a doula after the birth of her second son. She became interested in the areas of trauma after losing her own brother at the age of 20, and experiencing first hand how trauma can impact the overall human experience and can be stored within the nervous system. As a doula, she is passionate about creating a space where families can feel empowered in creating the birth they envision while prioritizing mental wellness in all stages from pre-conception through to postpartum. She focuses on supporting all families, especially those who have experienced trauma or mental health concerns previously, and who are looking for a space where they can process and heal elements of their trauma experience. Learn more about our course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals

Defining Birth Trauma

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2024 39:58


In this episode, Justine and Sarah debate definitions of birth trauma. Is birth trauma really just any experience of distress in childbirth? Does it occur because we had unrealistic expectations? And what is the impact of other people in the birthing space on the extent to which we experience birth trauma? On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma in the perinatal period. Through an inspirational quote that drives the weekly content, Justine and Sarah explore various trauma areas with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Learn more about our course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals

What If You Can?

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2024 19:10


In this episode, Sarah and Justine explore the value of shifting your mindset in the perinatal period as Sarah was inspired this week by words from a competitive cyclist that helped reconnect her to her power. Justine had some audio issues at the end of the episode, but Sarah managed to bring the recording to a close with such wisdom and grace we did not want you to miss it. On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma in the perinatal period. Through an inspirational quote that drives the weekly content, Justine and Sarah explore various trauma areas with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Learn more about our course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals

We're Not Meant To Do This Alone

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2024 46:49


This is our second episode of Season 2 and today we are talking to Erin Ronder Neves, a birth and postpartum doula, about her experiences with Postpartum Depression and OCD. In this episode, Erin shares candidly about the intrusive thoughts she experienced and the support she sought to help her through this frightening experience. We wanted to link to this helpful article to help you understand how intrusive thoughts and OCD work and how they are different to postpartum psychosis: https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/difference-between-postpartum-anxiety-ocd-psychosis.html Unlike postpartum OCD, postpartum psychosis is a medical emergency and visiting your nearest emergency room is the appropriate response. On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma in the perinatal period. Through an inspirational quote that drives the weekly content, Justine and Sarah explore various trauma areas with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Erin Ronder Neves started birth work after the birth of her second daughter, but it was the birth and postpartum experience of her first daughter that initially opened her eyes to all the empowering opportunities that birthing people are not made aware of on their journey. Erin is a certified Birth Doula who has supported over 275 births. She is also a postpartum doula and has worked with just as many families during the postpartum period, as she believes that support should continue once someone gives birth instead of well wishes and one follow-up visit which is usually 6 weeks after birth. Throughout the years, Erin has tacked on a few additional letters after her name to become a Certified Childbirth Educator through BACE, A Certified Lactation Counselor, and a Spinning Babies Parent Educator. And of course, Erin is a proud graduate of Resilient Birth's Trauma Informed Training. Erin started her doula and education business, ERN Doula, back in 2020, and is currently about to launch a brand new brick and mortar location on the North Shore of MA in Beverly, MA, called Beyond Birthing. Doors will open in mid June! Beyond Birthing is the first of its kind, all-inclusive prenatal and postpartum support center. Under one roof families will be able to have access to FULL TIME chiropractic services, lactation consultant, perinatal mental health clinicians, maternal nutritionist, massage therapy, caregiver education groups and so, so many support groups. The mission of Beyond Birthing is focused on the caregivers! Beyond Birthing will allow caregivers to prioritize their own mental health and physical wellbeing, and is dedicated to making it easier to do so. Feel free to check out her website: www.beyondbirthingvillage.com Learn more about our course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals

Birth Injuries

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2024 36:19


We are excited to announce the first episode of Season 2 of the Resilient Birth Podcast! In this episode Justine speaks about her own experience of suffering a third degree tear with her first child after reading the recent report by the all-party parliamentary group on birth trauma. Link here to a copy of the report: https://www.theo-clarke.org.uk/sites/www.theo-clarke.org.uk/files/2024-05/Birth%20Trauma%20Inquiry%20Report%20for%20Publication_May13_2024.pdf On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma in the perinatal period. Through an inspirational quote that drives the weekly content, Justine and Sarah explore various trauma areas with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals. Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Learn more about our course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals

Why Care about Trauma-Informed Care?

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2024 17:37


In today's Resilient Birth Short why you should care about trauma-informed care and we introduce our training Trauma Informed Fundamentals, which provides a really great introduction to trauma and trauma-informed care. Learn more about our course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals While we record Season 2 of the podcast we will be sharing some of our weekly conversations from our Facebook group the Trauma-Informed Perinatal Professionals. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence.

Bearing Witness After the Birth

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2024 14:52


In today's Resilient Birth Short we discuss debriefing a birth with your client. We discuss how your client may be looking for more than just person to listen to the story of the birth. So often our clients want to be witnessed and have their experience of birth and what has come after validated. They want to feel seen and heard. While we record Season 2 of the podcast we will be sharing some of our weekly conversations from our Facebook group the Trauma-Informed Perinatal Professionals. This episode was recorded back in the winter as you will hear in the introductory comments. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Learn more about our course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals

Intake Questions

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2024 15:46


In today's Resilient Birth Short we discuss what we need to be mindful of when thinking about our intake questions and asking about prior trauma during that first meeting. While we record Season 2 of the podcast we will be sharing some of our weekly conversations from our Facebook group the Trauma-Informed Perinatal Professionals. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Learn more about our course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals

Thinking Flexibly About Birth

Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2024 12:19


While we record Season 2 of the podcast we will be sharing some of our weekly conversations from our Facebook group the Trauma-Informed Perinatal Professionals. In today's Resilient Birth Short we discuss how thinking flexibly about how we give birth can reduce anxiety and what are some the questions we might ask clients to help them still feel how they want to feel even if birth plans have to shift. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Learn more about our course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals

How to Read Birth Plan

Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2024 9:30


While we record Season 2 of the podcast we will be sharing some of our weekly conversations from our Facebook group the Trauma-Informed Perinatal Professionals. In today's Resilient Birth Short we discuss how to read a birth plan. Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience. Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence. Learn more about our course called Trauma Informed Fundamentals here: https://resilient-birth.mykajabi.com/traumainformedfundamentals

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