The Sad Moms Club: Recent Episodes
Joni
The goal of this podcast is to connect Utah women, especially those who are pregnant and postpartum, to the local maternal mental health resources available. I interview providers around Utah to help bring therapy tips and coping skills conveniently to your ear-holes.
In this episode of The Sad Moms Club, we are joined by Des Ferrin, a maternal near miss survivor and birth trauma patient advocate for the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. Des shares her personal story of postpartum complications and resultant birth trauma. We explore her efforts to bridge the gap between birth trauma and maternal mental health in Utah, including her work with the Utah Women’s Newborn Quality Collaborative. We discuss the importance of a supportive environment for mothers, effective communication in healthcare, and innovative approaches to improving maternal mental health care.
02:47 Desiree's Birth Trauma Story Begins
05:02 Complications After Delivery
08:00 The Hemorrhage and Emergency Response
14:28 Facing a Hysterectomy
32:40 Miraculous Survival and Recovery
34:12 Mental Health Challenges and Seeking Help
40:47 Finding the Right Therapist
46:27 The Importance of Connection and Support
52:57 Advocating for Better Maternal Health Care
01:04:05 Final Thoughts and Hope for the Future
If you have had a traumatic birth while living in Utah, feel free to email Des to discuss setting up a 45 minute interview to share your story and ideas of what would have helped. Her email is dferrin@utah.gov.
If you need help finding a therapist in Utah, go to this website (be sure to filter by your insurance!). Always feel free to reach out and ask for help finding a therapist through my DMs.
Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
Hey y'all! In this episode of the Sad Moms Club I talk to Jennie Houtz, an LCSW specializing in perinatal mental health, sex therapy, trauma, and anxiety. We discuss setting all kinds of postpartum boundaries that can be helpful to set prior to birth. Jennie shares practical tips and a detailed worksheet to help new moms navigate these conversations. They also discuss the significance of self-care and maintaining one's identity after becoming a mother. Listen for helpful advice on how to set empowering boundaries and emotionally support both birthing and non-birthing partners.
00:00: Introduction to Jennie Houtz
00:43 Postpartum Boundaries: A Crucial Conversation
04:00 Navigating Childcare and Career as a Working Mom
05:51 The Mental Load and Resentment in Parenting
13:35 Setting Boundaries: Tips and Strategies
36:28 Health Considerations for Visitors
37:31 Setting Boundaries for Help and Support
39:16 Child and Pet Care Planning
40:25 Personal Space and Privacy
42:20 Handling Parenting Advice
46:12 Social Media Boundaries
49:51 Communication and Sensitive Topics
01:23 Emotional Support and Partner Relationship
01:00:57 Work, Career, and Self-Care
01:08:11 Conclusion and Resources
Resources
- Postpartum Boundaries Worksheet downloadable PDF
- Contact Jennie Houtz. Serving all of Utah via teletherapy.
- Paternal Mental Health Training. PSI-UTAH is proud to announce that we will hosting the Paternal Mental Health Training on September 12-13, 2024 at the Sheraton Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah. We are excited to see you there!
Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
In this episode of the Sad Moms Club, we talk to Amanda from Measure the Placenta, who shares the emotional story of her daughter Junie, a full-term stillbirth. She shares the details of the pregnancy and the birth of her daughter. Since losing Junie, Amanda has become an advocate for various practices that can prevent stillbirth including placental measurement, monitoring fetal movements, and advocating for yourself.
00:00 Introduction to Amanda
03:10 Amanda's Personal Journey and Family
04:16 The Missteps in Junie's Pregnancy Care
12:01 The Day Junie Passed Away
17:26 Coping with Loss and Finding Support
21:32 The Birth and Aftermath
32:08 Reflecting on Grief and Celebration
34:21 Navigating Social Reactions and Support
34:58 The Role of Instagram in Grieving
36:12 The Significance of Orange
39:06 Helpful and Unhelpful Gestures
47:07 The Ongoing Impact of Loss
49:52 Stillbirth Prevention and Advocacy
54:21 The Importance of Measuring the Placenta
59:07 Advocating for Change in Medical Practices
01:06:02 Final Thoughts and Resources
Resources:
- Measure the Placenta Instagram and Website
- Push Pregnancy
- Count The Kicks Instagram and Website
- Healthy Birthday
- The Importance of Placenta Measurements in Prenatal Care: Here's the Research
- Merwin’s EPV calculator App
- How to measure EPV
- Amanda's Instagram @orangeafmama
Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
In this episode, Dr. Dan Johnson, a physical therapist specializing in pelvic floor therapy, discusses his journey into this specialized field and the founding of Keystone Physical Therapy located in Kaysville and Millcreek, Utah. Originally driven by personal experiences with pelvic pain and his wife's postpartum challenges, Dan emphasizes the importance of addressing pelvic floor dysfunctions in both men and women. He explains common concerns such as pain, bowel and bladder issues, and intimacy problems, outlining various treatments including manual therapy, dry needling, and radio wave therapy. Dr. Johnson also highlights the need for early intervention and continuous care during pregnancy and postpartum periods, advocating for a more integrated and supportive approach to pelvic health.
If you're interested in working with Dr. Dan Johnson, you can contact him through the website or through texting or calling their business phone number 801-204-9204.
Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
Today we speak with Josie White and Allie McGee from South Valley Services, a nonprofit specializing in domestic violence support. They talk about the prevalence of abuse, different types of abuse, warning signs, and available resources for those in abusive relationships. They emphasize the importance of creating a safety plan and seeking help from local and national hotlines. The episode also provides guidance for friends and family on how to support loved ones experiencing abuse.
Resources:
- Utah Domestic Violence Coalition
- 24-Hour Utah LINK-line: 1-800-897-LINK (5465)
- National Domestic Violence Hotline
- South Valley Services
- The Climb in Salt Lake City
Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
Rachel Garret is a licensed foster parent, certified Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), Associate Program Director for Trauma Informed Utah, a former high school teacher and Hope Squad Advisor, and a founder and Executive Director of a non-profit. She shares various facets of life, including her journey to becoming a CASA and a foster parent, the challenges and transformations within the foster care system, and Rachel's own journey through motherhood, professional development, and self-discovery.
Resources:
- Common Thread
- Trauma-Informed Utah
- What Happened to You? book by Oprah and Dr. Bruce Perry
- The Deepest Well by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris
- Dr. Lisa Damour’s work
- Imperfectly Good: Navigating Religious and Moral Anxiety to Release Fear and Find Peace by Annabella Hagen
- Rachel’s Instagram: @rachgarrett
- Common Thread's Instagram: @commonthread_community
Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
This episode features a discussion with care coordinators Carrie Martinez-Wolf and Eric Christensen from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. The conversation illuminates the role of care coordinators in connecting Utah families with children, especially those ages zero to eight and those with special needs, to a plethora of resources.
These resources range from developmental supports to basic needs like food and housing, all offered free of charge and accessible to anyone in need, without regard to immigration status or location within Utah. The care coordinators emphasize the importance of making these resources known to families and providers, highlighting their role in facilitating connections to services such as early intervention, home visiting programs, SNAP, and TANF, among others.
The episode aims to spread awareness about the available support and underline the message that families are not alone in addressing their challenges.
If you would like to connect with Care Coordinators, start by contacting them through one of three ways:
Email: Care.coordination@utah.gov
Call their number: 801-273-2804
Fill out this survey.
01:34 Introducing the Care Coordinators: Eric and Carrie's Stories
05:24 The Heart of Care Coordination: Connecting Families to Resources
07:17 Personal Motivations: Why Eric and Carrie Do What They Do
12:24 Exploring the Scope of Care Coordination Services
16:01 Deep Dive into Zero to Eight Care Coordination
21:36 Making Connections: How Families Access Services
22:27 Navigating Support for Children with Special Healthcare Needs
22:40 Understanding Disability Determination and Support Programs
23:51 The Role of Care Coordinators in Simplifying Processes
25:07 Exploring Waiver Programs and Their Benefits
26:28 Assistance Beyond Healthcare: Housing, TANF, and SNAP
28:12 Integrating Support Systems for Families
28:46 Spotlight on the Utah Parent Center
31:53 The Children's Center: Focused Support for Young Children
35:11 Expanding Access to Care Coordination Services
38:56 Closing Thoughts: The Impact of Community Support
Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
Postpartum doulas offer physical and emotional support after the birth of your baby through the first year postpartum.
Two best friends, McKayla Broadhurst and Tiara Monson, started Bountiful Doulas after learning about the profession during their personal postpartum experiences and realizing they could have used that help.
Bountiful Doulas is comprised of a team of experienced postpartum doulas, newborn care specialists, sleep coaches, and perinatal nutrition experts. They serve families across Utah and are dedicated to helping your transition into early parenthood. They provide personalized day and overnight support in Weber, Davis, Salt Lake, and Summit counties.
Resources:
- Bountiful Doulas Website
- @bountifuldoulas on Instagram
- Be Her Village, you can include postpartum doula support on your gift registry
- Carrot Fertility, some insurances offer postpartum doula coverage
Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
This episode of the Sad Moms Club features a conversation with Brook Archibald, who shares her harrowing journey through birth trauma, miscarriage, postpartum depression, and her struggle with medical professionals to be heard and adequately treated. Brooke's story starts with her first pregnancy, detailing the negligence she faced from healthcare providers, the severe pain and complications during and after delivery, and the psychological aftermath.
Her narrative emphasizes the importance of self-advocacy, finding the right healthcare providers, and the transformative power of therapy and support systems. Brooke also discusses how her experiences impacted her subsequent pregnancies and her eventual healing process. Through sharing, she hopes to encourage other women to stand up for their healthcare needs and find solace in the shared experiences of others.
00:00 Welcome to the Sad Moms Club: A Story of Birth Trauma
02:11 Brook's Harrowing Pregnancy and Birth Story
15:54 Postpartum Struggles and Seeking Help
22:03 The Turning Point: Finding a New Doctor and An Unexpected Discovery
25:44 Navigating Health and Legal Challenges
28:06 Finding Strength and Advocacy
30:09 The Journey Through Infertility and Mental Health
36:32 Learning to Cope with Anxiety and PTSD
39:33 Embracing Therapy and Finding Peace
46:01 Sharing Experiences and Supporting Others
47:44 Reflecting on Growth and Self-Advocacy
Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
If you’re an anxious person, you’re going to love learning from Morgan Slade, LCSW. We discuss perinatal anxiety and OCD, all kinds of intrusive thoughts, sneaky compulsions we do that intrusive thoughts feed on, and the treatment that has an 85% success rate.
Resources
- Serenity's Website
- Connect with them on Instagram @serenityrecoverywellness.
- Lyndsey Proctor’s episode (owner of Serenity)
- Jenna Overbaugh's episode
- If you want to learn more about OCD resources go to iocdf.org
- PSI's free virtual group for perinatal OCD
Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
Welcome to the second episode of the NCRPxOB PMADs Podcast! In this episode Lauren Gimbel, MD and Joni Lybbert, PMHNP discuss perinatal anxiety. This podcast series was created in collaboration with the National Curriculum of Reproductive Psychiatry. If you would like to learn more from their trainings (you do), go to their website at ncrptraining.org.
Resources listed in the episode:
- Suicide Hotline: 988
- International OCD Foundation Therapist Locator
- Textbook of Women’s Reproductive Mental Health
- State Perinatal Psychiatry Access Lines
- PSI National Perinatal Psychiatric Consult Line
- PSI Directory
- PSI Phone Number for Patients
- Utah’s Perinatal Directory
- Psychology Today
- American Psychological Association
- PSI's Free Support Groups:
- MONA (Reproductive Psychiatrist Locator Coming in 2024)
- ACOG Clinical Practice Guideline: Screening and Diagnosis of Mental Health Conditions During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- ACOG Clinical Practice Guideline: Treatment and Management of Mental Health Conditions During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- NCRP Education
- MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health Education
- MCPAP for Moms
- Lifeline for Moms
- The Council on Patient Safety in Women’s Healthcare
- LactMed
- Reprotox
- MotherToBaby Fact Sheets
- HHS 24/7 Maternal Health Hotline: 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262)
If you have questions, feedback, or would like to connect, email us at sadmomsclubpodcast@gmail.com.
Welcome to the NCRPxOB PMADs Podcast! In this first episode, Lauren Gimbel, MD and Joni Lybbert, PMHNP discuss perinatal depression. This podcast series was created in collaboration with the National Curriculum of Reproductive Psychiatry. If you would like to learn more from their trainings (you do), go to their website at ncrptraining.org.
Resources listed in the episode:
- Suicide Hotline: 988
- Textbook of Women’s Reproductive Mental Health
- State Perinatal Psychiatry Access Lines
- PSI National Perinatal Psychiatric Consult Line
- PSI Directory
- PSI Phone Number for Patients
- Utah’s Perinatal Directory
- Psychology Today
- American Psychological Association
- PSI's Free Support Groups:
- MONA (Reproductive Psychiatrist Locator Coming in 2024)
- ACOG Clinical Practice Guideline: Screening and Diagnosis of Mental Health Conditions During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- ACOG Clinical Practice Guideline: Treatment and Management of Mental Health Conditions During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- NCRP Education
- MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health Education
- MCPAP for Moms
- Lifeline for Moms
- The Council on Patient Safety in Women’s Healthcare
- LactMed
- Reprotox
- MotherToBaby Fact Sheets
- HHS 24/7 Maternal Health Hotline: 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262)
If you have questions, feedback, or would like to connect, email us at sadmomsclubpodcast@gmail.com.
Welcome to the second episode of the NCRPxOB PMADs Podcast! In this episode Lauren Gimbel, MD and Joni Lybbert, PMHNP discuss perinatal anxiety. This podcast series was created in collaboration with the National Curriculum of Reproductive Psychiatry. If you would like to learn more from their trainings (you do), go to their website at ncrptraining.org.
Resources listed in the episode:
- Suicide Hotline: 988
- International OCD Foundation Therapist Locator
- Textbook of Women’s Reproductive Mental Health
- State Perinatal Psychiatry Access Lines
- PSI National Perinatal Psychiatric Consult Line
- PSI Directory
- PSI Phone Number for Patients
- Utah’s Perinatal Directory
- Psychology Today
- American Psychological Association
- PSI's Free Support Groups:
- MONA (Reproductive Psychiatrist Locator Coming in 2024)
- ACOG Clinical Practice Guideline: Screening and Diagnosis of Mental Health Conditions During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- ACOG Clinical Practice Guideline: Treatment and Management of Mental Health Conditions During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- NCRP Education
- MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health Education
- MCPAP for Moms
- Lifeline for Moms
- The Council on Patient Safety in Women’s Healthcare
- LactMed
- Reprotox
- MotherToBaby Fact Sheets
- HHS 24/7 Maternal Health Hotline: 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262)
If you have questions, feedback, or would like to connect, email us at sadmomsclubpodcast@gmail.com.
Today I talk with educator, birthworker, and owner of Birthsmarter, Ashley Brichter. Birthsmarter started as a result of Ashley’s own births not going as planned, and her noticing the gap between birth education and the reality of giving birth.
We discuss the value of birth classes (whether it is your first child or third child), how physiological birth works, the history of birth in the US, and birth preferences vs birth plans.
If you would like to attend one of their birthing or postpartum classes go to their website to find 1) pre-recorded, on-demand classes, 2) classes over Zoom, and 3), in-person classes in a few select states.
- Birthsmarter Website
- info@birthsmarter.com
- ashley@birthsmarter.com
- Instagram: @birthsmarter
Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
Rosie Card is a local Utah mother, activist, and business owner. She talks with us about her experience of becoming a mother. It starts with her freezing her own eggs as a single woman, trying to conceive with endometriosis, how she felt during her pregnancy, starting on an antidepressant, the birth, and how life has changed since having her son. We discuss how things have changed for her since she had her son: personally, professionally, and relationally. Thank you to Rosie Card for spending time sharing her story.
- Rosie Card’s Instagram: @rosiecard
- Card Wear Instagram: @card.wear.co
- Card Wear Clothing Website: https://www.cardwear.co/
Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
Holly Hill teaches us the biology of lactation, tips for latch and positioning your baby, and the correct flange size when pumping. She is a wealth of knowledge, and if you are new to breastfeeding or you're having trouble figuring it out, listen to this episode for guidance and to learn the value of an IBCLC. Holly works as part of the Breezy Babies Team, but you can connect with her directly via her Instagram @light_up_lactation or her email holly@breezybabies.com.
Resources:
- Breezy Babies is the company Holly works with and is one way to find out more information.
- La Leche League helps breastfeeding mothers & parents worldwide with support, education, and encouragement.
- The Lactation Network to see if your insurance will cover lactation consultants.
- Holly Hill’s Instagram: @light_up_lactation
- Breezy Babies Instagram: @breezy__babies
Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
TRIGGER WARNING We discuss pregnancy and infant loss throughout this episode.
Baylee Demars, the current Mrs. Utah America for 2023, shares her personal experience with pregnancy loss and how entering her first-ever pageant led to advocacy work and volunteer work with the non-profit organization Share Parents of Utah.
Resources:
- Share is a national organization with over 75 Chapters in 29 states. If you don't see a Chapter in your state, there are other helpful organizations listed.
- Share Parents of Utah
- Volunteer with Share Parents of Utah
- The Butterfly Broadcast, Baylee Demars' podcast, on Apple and Spotify
- If you want to reach out to Baylee directly, here is her Instagram
- @mrsutahamerica if you're interested in connecting with pageants
Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
I know this is a click-bait episode title, but there is a reason for it. My hope is that you Snoopy Sarah's and Nosy Natalie's (no judgment, I am also Ms. Snoopy) will be curious enough to give the episode a listen. And either feel validated if you're going through something similar or learn how to support a loved one.
Resources:
- Link to Nicole Carino's Fiverr page who created the new intro song. Thank you, Nicole!
- The Retrievals Podcast
- Natalie Crawford, MD: Education by a reproductive endocrinologist and how I educated myself throughout this whole infertility process.
- As a Woman Podcast by Dr. Natalie Crawford
- What is IVF? The video by Dr. Natalie Crawford I have sent to friends and family to help them understand the process.
- Utah Infertility Resource Center: local Utah support groups for those who go through infertility
- Fertility Challenges Support Group by PSI
- Lucky Transfer Socks on Amazon (not affiliate link)
Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
Hannah Sawitsky is a therapist and a doula who has a private practice up in Logan, UT called Nova Therapy and Doula Services. We talk with her about emotions and embodying those emotions, specifically feeling mad. Hannah found that she started working with a lot of 40-something mothers who were feeling unsatisfied with their life, even though from the outside they felt like they had a great life. We draw parallels between newly postpartum women and women who are 15-20 years out from the postpartum experience. Much of their frustration stems from not getting their needs met. If you’re someone who has a difficult time feeling emotions, this will be an excellent episode for you. Let’s get started.
Get to know Hannah on her instagram @thrivewithnova
Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
We are so lucky to learn from Amy-Rose White today. She is an LCSW who has worked in the perinatal community for decades, and started PSI Utah. Amy-Rose shares some of her personal experience with birth trauma and then teaches us about what birth trauma is, symptoms you may experience, and some treatment options. She also shares some of how the medical system could change to prevent birth trauma. If you are feeling anxious, her voice alone will help you feel more calm.
Resources:
- Amy-Rose White's contact information
- ACES Screening
- Postpartum Support International
- When Survivors Give Birth: Understanding and Healing the Effects of Early Sexual Abuse on Childbearing Women
- The Body Keeps the Score
- EPDS Screening Tool
- Birthsmarter
Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
Kim Perry is an LCSW and co-owner of Utah Adoption Specialists. If you are already in the throes of adoption, this episode may be less informative for you, but if you are considering looking into adoption this is a great place to start. Additionally, if you have a loved one who is going through the adoption process it may be supportive to learn a little bit about your loved ones’ potential experience.
We talk about the difference between private adoption and agency adoption, the cost of private adoption, and the logistical and emotional process people go through in the adoption process. Additionally, Kim tells us about why Utah Adoption Specialists require their adoptive families to go through education prior to adoption and some of what makes adoption ethical or unethical. Kim generously shares some personal experiences of why open adoptions can be empowering for adoptive children.
I learned SO MUCH from this episode, and I know you will too. Please check out their website to learn more or if you know an expectant parent who may be looking into adoption.
Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
Dr. Allyce Jones is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who specializes in reproductive psychiatry. She started her own private practice called Felicity Women’s Center which I have joined as of August. I have worked with her for the past couple of months and have learned so much from her.
Today we discuss postpartum planning: making plans while pregnant for a more successful postpartum period. We touch on topics such as sleep, nutrition, feeding support, support with house and family, self-care, and therapeutic support.
Links:
- Postpartum Planning PDF
- Postpartum Planning Group through PSI
- PSI support groups
- Postpartum Frontloading by Thoughts on Thoughts
Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
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Dr. Betty DeLass is a passionate pelvic floor physical therapist and business owner in Utah. She owns Reborn Pelvic Health & Wellness and talks with us about why women should prioritize pelvic floor treatment, symptoms PT can improve, and treatments for different conditions. We talk about pain with sex, sciatica, symphysis pubis dysfunction, and peeing and farting when you don't mean to. She talks about what to expect at a first appointment and the importance of consent along the treatment journey. Reborn specializes in working with pregnant and postpartum clients. To contact them go to their website for their phone number or follow them on Instagram @rebornpelvichealthandwellness.
Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
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Olivia talks about her perinatal anxiety she encountered as a first time mom. She shares that working as a paramedic prior to becoming pregnant set her up for a more anxious pregnancy and postpartum experience. She specifically wanted other healthcare workers to know they are not alone if their second-hand trauma impacts them when they become pregnant. She also shares how she found help and offers some excellent tips on advocating for yourself! She references the Mom Group hosted by Ripple Effect Counseling if you are looking for a way to make some new friends!
Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
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Today we speak with the three hosts of the Thoughts on Thoughts podcast: Jessica, Taylor, and KJ. They are three therapists who want to bring the therapy office to you.
We talk about attachment styles including secure attachment, anxious attachment, and avoidant attachment styles. Learning this concept helped me immensely as a human being who has relationships with other human beings.
If you are also a human being who has relationships (or wants them), I 10/10 recommend listening and learning from them.
Resources:
- Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find - and Keep - Love
- Thoughts on Thoughts Courses
- Thoughts on Thoughts Podcast
- @thoughts.podcast
Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
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Monica Ashton, a licensed clinical social worker and certified sex therapist who teaches us all about sex therapy: reasons you may consider starting sex therapy, topics you may discuss, topics you are allowed to discuss (hint: everything is on the table), and resources she suggests. Monica Ashton is part of the executive team and a clinician at The Healing Group in Salt Lake City.
Resources:
- The Healing Group
- Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski
- American Association of Sexuality, Educatiors, Counselors and Therapists
Upcoming Events:
- Girls Night with Ripple Effect Counseling
- Candle Making Activity Sign-Up
Welcome back! This is the first episode of season 2 of The Sad Moms Club podcast.
Today I talk to Erin Shepard, owner and clinician and Yarrow Therapy & Counseling Services. She and I talk about something she calls sustainable wellness which is "the idea that a balanced life doesn't necessarily mean a balanced day." She also talks about how to get out of anxiety and depression spirals, do not harm days, and self-soothing.
Something about Erin is very comforting and validating. I needed this episode when we recorded it in the spring, and I needed to hear it again as I edited the episode in the fall. You'll love learning from Erin!
Resources
- Instagram: @ yarrowtherapy or call 801-791-5001
- PSI Helpline
- PSI Support Groups
- Utah-Specific Maternal Mental Health Website
Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
Welcome back! This is the first episode of season 2 of The Sad Moms Club podcast.
This episode I talk to Erin Shepard, owner and clinican and Yarrow Therapy & Counseling Services. She and I talk about something she calls sustainable wellness which is "the idea that a balanced life doesn't necessarily mean a balanced day." She also talks about how to get out of anxiety and depression spirals, do not harm days, and self-soothing.
Something about Erin is very comforting and validating. I needed this episode when we recorded it in the spring, and I needed to hear it again as I edited the episode in the fall. You'll love learning from Erin!
Resources
- Instagram: @ yarrowtherapy or call 801-791-5001
- PSI Helpline
- PSI Support Groups
- Utah-Specific Maternal Mental Health Website
Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
Today we get to talk to Jenna Overbaugh, a licensed professional counselor, educator, and host of All the Hard Things. During the episode, she shares her story, normalizes intrusive thoughts, teaches us about the OCD/anxiety cycle, and explains basic concepts of exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy. Though she doesn't work in Utah, she offers several classes, her free podcast, and a ton of evidence-based information on her Instagram.
Resources
- Jenna's Website
- Jenna's Masterclasses
- Jenna's podcast All the Hard Things
- Jenna's Instagram: @jenna.overbaugh
- International OCD Foundation
- Find a Provider through the International OCD Foundation
- Postpartum Support International
- Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts by Karen Kleinman
- Dropping the Baby and Other Scary Thoughts by Karen Kleinman
- What No One Tells You by Dr. Alexandra Sachs
- The OCD Stories podcast
- Dr. Reid Wilson's Website
Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
Today we have Anj Lineback who is an LCSW, she has a private practice called Ripple Effect Counseling in SLC, and is the current Postpartum Support International Utah Chapter president. She is a spunky, extroverted person who loves helping perinatal women and especially loves helping them build community. We discuss what contributes to loneliness in motherhood (which is basically everything about it), and then Anj gives several specific ways to start making friends.
Resources
- Instagram: @ rippleeffectcounseling or call 801-259-7321
- Zoom Support Group on Thursdays at 9 am
- Sign-up for Utah's Climb Out of the Darkness event
- Facebook Event: Utah's Climb Out of the Darkness
- PSI Helpline
- PSI Support Groups
- Utah-Specific Maternal Mental Health Website
Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
Today I talk to Cassie, a mother of two and L&D nurse, who shares her personal experience with preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, anxiety, and postpartum depression. She talks about some difficult thoughts she had during this time of depression and how she found her way back to herself. This story is close to her heart, and it will touch yours. Big thanks to Cassie for her vulnerability.
Resources:
- EPDS Scale. Contact your provider if you score above 10.
- Postpartum Support International
- Call 1-800-944-4773 to get in touch with someone in your area (this is outside of Utah) who can help you find your local resources.
- Maternal Mental Health Resources in Utah
The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
Today I get to talk to Dr. Deirdre Conway, a local reproductive endocrinologist from Utah Fertility Center. She helps us understand the difference between an OBGYN and a reproductive endocrinologist (REI), when to make an appointment with an REI, what a first appointment looks like, how common infertility is, and possible treatment options. She's an absolute delight, and you'll love getting to know her and the information she shares.
Resources:
- Patient Resources on Utah Fertility Center's website
- As a Woman Podcast by Reproductive Endocrinologist Dr. Natalie Crawford
- Dr. Natalie Crawford's YouTube Channel
The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
Short solo episode on my number one question: how do I find a therapist who specializes in maternal mental health AND who takes my insurance AND who I like AND is taking new clients?
I also talk about how I navigate these sites, so the options are not so overwhelming. Here are the resources I share in the episode:
- PSI Helpline
- PSI Directory
- PSI Support Groups
- Utah-Specific Maternal Mental Health Website
- Psychology Today
Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
I get to talk to Louisa, a local Utah mother of two children. She shares her personal experience with postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety after delivering her first daughter and adopting her second. She explains some of her thoughts from when she was struggling the most and how therapy helped her.
Resources:
- PSI Helpline: 1-800-944-4773 Louisa actually called this number and they PSI coordinator emailed her the next day with a list of therapists who were currently taking clients.
- Utah's Website: find a maternal mental health therapist in Utah
- PSI's Provider Directory: find a maternal mental health therapist in any state
- TIPP Skill
- Climb out of the Darkness Utah. Sign up using this link.
- Join a Climb near you.
Emily Freeze is a marriage and family therapist who specializes in working with couples as well as maternal and reproductive mental health. She is an owner of New Beginnings Counseling Group who has locations in Provo, Lehi, and American Fork. Emily shares a lot about her own story regarding her infertility journey. She normalizes going to couples therapy, common problems couples face, and offers lots of usable tools.
Resources:
- Hold Me Tight by Dr. Sue Johnson
- The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by Dr. John Gottman:
- The New Rules of Marriage by Terrence Real
The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
Today I talk with Betty Flores, LCSW, who has a private practice called Perinatal Wellness where she sees clients in Utah and North Carolina. We talk about her experience postpartum, the mental load of motherhood, perfectionism, asking for help, and planning for the postpartum period while pregnant.
Resources:
- Fair Play: A Game-Changing Solution for When You Have Too Much to Do (and More Life to Live) by Eve Rodsky
- Fair Play Documentary
- You Should've Asked Comic
- The Hidden Load: How 'Thinking of Everything' Holds Mums Back
The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
This episode we talk about some of my experiences with loneliness, why connection is so important for humans, and some tips on how to make friends as an adult.
Resources:
- PSI Online Support Groups
- Call or Text PSI Help Line: 1-800-944-4773
- maternalmentalhealth.utah.gov
- What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness TEDTalk by Robert Waldinger
- Making Friends as An Adult by Thoughts on Thoughts
- This could be why you're depressed or anxious by Johann Hari
- BumbleBFF
- Peanut App
The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
Camille Hawkins is a therapist and owner of Chapters & Seasons who shares her personal experience with infertility, pregnancy loss, and infant loss. She acknowledges and affirms that if you have lost a baby or pregnancy, your loss matters. Your pain is real and valid and that is due to the deep love and connection that you have with a baby or pregnancy that you lost. She teaches us a few things about navigating grief around humans who do not know what to say. Finally, she talks about her practice called Chapters and Seasons which blends individual and group therapy with a wellness and experiential component.
Resources:
- Ghost Belly
- Chapters & Seasons Groups, Classes, and Workshops
- Miscarriage or Stillbirth: Why do we automatically assume one is harder? written by Camille Hawkins
- Chapters & Seasons Instagram
The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
Enter your personal story here.
Today I talk with two people from the Utah Infertility Resource Center (UIRC), a non-profit organization that provides education and emotional support to those who are struggling to grow their families so they are empowered, strengthened, and equipped to move forward on their respective journeys.
First, I speak with Annie Hamilton who has experienced infertility herself and is now a therapist at UIRC helping people navigate and process their own infertility journey. We discuss the several losses associated with infertility and coping skills such as mindfulness, finding pleasant activities, identifying emotions, and boundary setting.
Then, I speak with Shelli Mecham the current executive director for UIRC who talks about all the resources available through their organization.
Resources Referenced:
- As a Woman Podcast by Reproductive Endocrinologist Dr. Natalie Crawford
- Dr. Natalie Crawford's YouTube Channel
- Pleasant Activities List
- Emotion Wheel
- Emotions in Body
- DEARMAN
- Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
- Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler
- Conquering Infertility by Dr. Alice Domar
- It Starts with the Egg by Rebecca Fett
- What Makes a Baby (picture book) written by Cory Silverberg and illustrated by Fiona Smyth
- UIRC Support Groups
- UIRC Resource List
- Fertility Challenges PSI Support Group
The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
Enter your personal story here.
Article: Thompson, J. (2021). The effectiveness of couple therapy on psychological and relational variables and pregnancy rates in couples with infertility: A systematic review.
Today I talk with Dr. Lauren Gimbel who is an OBGYN at the University of Utah. We talk about the value of pre-conception visits, the risks associated with untreated mental illness during pregnancy, and the building blocks of mental health: sleep, nutrition, and exercise.
After the interview, I talk a little bit about postpartum psychosis because of a recent tragedy that has been in the news. I also talk through some recommendations made by the pediatrician and author Dr. Natasha Sriraman from her book called Return to You: A Postpartum Plan for New Moms. We talk about a few things that are important to plan before having your baby, so you can be set up with the most support possible. I just thought these two topics go together because you don’t always know what postpartum will bring and having an actual written plan can help you and help your support people help you.
Beehive Meals. Not sponsored, I just think it's a great idea.
The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
Sam Dawson-Tandy is a physical therapist and pelvic floor specialist in Utah. Sam shares reasons why someone may see a pelvic floor PT, how appointments work, and things she wishes women knew pre-pregnancy, during pregnancy, and postpartum.
She realized as she worked over the last several years that pelvic floor physical therapy is not accessible to everyone, so she decided to start Birth, Embodied. Her goal is to provide empowering, accessible, tangible education to the perinatal community. She offers two community classes: birth preparation and postpartum recovery. Her classes are held virtually (for anyone) and in person (in Utah).
- Free Pelvic Floor Resources. Includes information from the National Association for Continence with a free 6-week pelvic health program.
- PDFs from Sam including:
- Exercise in pregnancy, tips by the trimester
- Pointers for your first postpartum poo
- Things I wish they told us: Lactation and your vagina
- Postpartum sex: Advice from a pelvic floor PT
@birth.embodied Instagram Page
The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
Article: Wu, J. M., Vaughan, C. P., Goode, P. S., Redden, D. T., Burgio, K. L., Richter, H. E., & Markland, A. D. (2014). Prevalence and trends of symptomatic pelvic floor disorders in U.S. women. Obstetrics and gynecology, 123(1), 141–148.
I talk to Megan Johnson, CSW who is the sister of Emily and co-founder of The Emily Effect. Emily Cook Dyches was a committed mother, a caring daughter, and a loving sister who lost her life to postpartum anxiety. Megan, her sister, talks to us about Emily as well as some coping skills to help mothers regardless of a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder. We discuss managing expectations, mindfulness, and journaling.
The Emily Effect hopes to provide resources to families and support for women suffering from perinatal mood disorders through sharing the sharing of stories. They are holding an event in February to premier McKenna Rose Brown's experience with postpartum depression. If you are seeing this around the time it is released, you can get tickets here.
- Emily's Story
- Letters of Light
- The Emily Effect Instagram Page: @the_emily_effect
The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
Articles discussed:
- Efficacy of journaling in the management of mental illness: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Effects of expressive writing intervention for women's PTSD, depression, anxiety and stress related to pregnancy: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
- The Effect of Writing Therapy on Anxiety in Pregnant Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Jessica Allred owns and provides therapy at Treat Counseling in Bountiful and Layton, Utah. She shares her experience with postpartum anxiety, teaches us what happens to the postpartum brain, and gives us concrete strategies to improve mom's mental health. My Type A brain loves this kind of stuff.
- She pulls a lot of her information from this literal textbook: Women's Reproductive Mental Health
- Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts: A Healing Guide to the Secret Fears of New Mothers by Karen Kleiman
- PSI's Free Online Support Groups
- EPDS Screening Tool
- Perinatal depression: A review by Maureen Sayres Van Niel, MD and Jennifer L. Payne, MD
- ResearchPod. For pregnant women, new mothers, and those who love them: The latest updates on postpartum depression
You can email admin@treatcounseling.com or call the phone number on their website to schedule an appointment. You can also learn more at their Instagram page: @treatcounseling.
The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
Jasmin Charles is a physician assistant and clinical director of the Substance Use in Pregnancy Recovery Addiction Dependence Clinic (SUPeRAD). She is a powerhouse of a human being and has a fierce love for humanity. Every single person could benefit from listening to this whether you have a substance use disorder or not.
SUPeRAD is a specialty prenatal clinic that integrates maternal fetal medicine, addiction specialist, and resource management. The SUPeRAD Clinic uses a holistic and collaborative approach with their patients by incorporating various professionals from various fields, including OB/GYN care, ultrasounds, MFMs, addiction fellows, MAT with buprenorphine, pharmacy assistance with polypharmacy, social work, recovery peer support and advocacy, Connect2Health, and more.
Here are some excellent resources she shares about during the episode:
Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness (USARA)
SUPeRAD Cell Phone: 385-881-3035 If you call or text this number, you will talk to someone who works in the SUPeRAD clinic, and they will help answer any of your questions.
Buprenorphine Practitioner Locator on SAMHSA
American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)
ASAM Find a Physician
I talk with Ashley Henderson who is an ownership partner and clinician with Reach Counseling in South Jordan and Salt Lake City, UT (though they, like most places now, offer virtual therapy). We discuss the difference between baby blues and postpartum depression as well as what you might be experiencing if you have postpartum anxiety.
Resources:
EPDS Scale. Contact your provider if you score above 10.
Postpartum Support International
Call 1-800-944-4773 to get in touch with someone in your area (this is outside of Utah) who can help you find your local resources.
Maternal Mental Health Resources in Utah
If you want to work with a provider at Reach Counseling, you can call at (801) 446-3515 or email at admin@reachcounselingutah.com.
Article:
Collardeau, F., Corbyn, B., Abramowitz, J., Janssen, P. A., Woody, S., & Fairbrother, N. (2019). Maternal unwanted and intrusive thoughts of infant-related harm, obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression in the perinatal period: Study protocol. BMC psychiatry, 19(1), 94.
In this episode, I talk with Dr. Alyssa Hickert about the safety of medications in pregnancy including antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotics. She educates us on intrusive thoughts and how they showed up for her when she had her own baby.
TLDR: Many psychiatric medications are safe. It's important to have a discussion with your provider about the best choice for you.
We talk about the resource MotherToBaby which you can use to search for the medication you are on and receive digestible, evidence-based information about it during pregnancy.
Articles Referenced During Episode
Maloney, S. E., Rogers, C. E., & Constantino, J. N. (2020). Antidepressants, pregnancy, and autism: Setting the record(s) straight. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 177(6), 479–481. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20040418
Perry, A., Gordon-Smith, K., Di Florio, A., Craddock, N., Jones, L., & Jones, I. (2021). Mood episodes in pregnancy and risk of postpartum recurrence in bipolar disorder: The Bipolar Disorder Research Network Pregnancy Study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 294, 714–722. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.07.067
Smith, S., Martin, F., Rai, D., & Forbes, H. (2022). The association between antidepressant use during pregnancy and miscarriage: A systematic review and meta-analysis. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4046664.
The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
Jamie Hales works at Huntsman Mental Health Institute as an LCSW and is the co-chair of Postpartum Support International Utah Chapter.
She shares her personal journey which includes infertility, IVF, pregnancy loss, postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, birth trauma, and her partner's postpartum anxiety. She offers hope for others who experience perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and discusses tools for mental wellness using the SUNSHINE acronym.
SUNSHINE Acronym
Utah Provider SearchThe local support groups Jamie mentions during the episode (and others) can be found on this website if you filter by Support Group in the "Search by Provider Type(s)" box.
Postpartum Support International's Online Support Groups
You can call 801-585-1212 to reach the HMHI Downtown clinic to schedule an appointment or you can call 801-213-3770 to reach the HMHI Farmington clinic.
The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
The two articles I referenced at the end of the episode are the following:
Haßdenteufel, K., Feißt, M., Brusniak, K., Lingenfelder, K., Matthies, L. M., Wallwiener, M., & Wallwiener, S. (2020). Reduction in physical activity significantly increases depression and anxiety in the perinatal period: A longitudinal study based on a self-report digital assessment tool. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 302(1), 53–64.
Cai, C., Busch, S., Wang, R., Sivak, A., & Davenport, M. H. (2022). Physical activity before and during pregnancy and maternal mental health: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Journal of Affective Disorders, 309, 393–403.
In this episode, we talk to Misty DeMann, LMFT who works at The EFT Clinic. We talk about the impact a child has on a relationship, and how to maintain a healthy relationship during the postpartum period.
Resources discussed:
- Connection & Attachment: Romantic Relationships Edition by Thoughts on Thoughts
- Hold Me Tight by Dr. Sue Johnson
- PSI Utah Resources for Patients
- PSI Free Online Support Groups
- Mom and Mind Podcast: Rage in Motherhood
If you want to work with Misty, she offers her email during the episode, or contact her through her Psychology Today profile.
This episode features Lyndsey Proctor, LCSW owner of Serenity Recovery & Wellness. We talk all about boundaries: what they are, why they matter, who they benefit, and a formula for how to set them (a skill called DEAR MAN). We flesh out an example of how to set a boundary with a partner.
DEAR MAN Worksheet
Postpartum Support International Website
PSI Free Online Support Groups
Local Support Groups: filter for support groups in your area.
TIPP Skill for Intense Emotions
Radical Acceptance
Call (801) 984-0184 to contact Serenity to schedule an appointment with one of their therapists in person or online. Their offices are in Riverton and Provo, Utah.
Greaves, A. E., McKenzie, H., O'Brien, R., Roberts, A., & Alexander, K. (2021). The impact of including babies on the effectiveness of dialectical behaviour therapy skills groups in a community perinatal service. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 49(2), 172–184.
Laura Parry, LCSW owns Roots & Branches Wellness in Lehi, Utah. We discuss self-compassion, matrescence, and inner child work.
Resources discussed in the episode:
- Find Maternal Mental Health Providers in Utah
- Kristin Neff's Self-Compassion Website
- 5 Minute Self-Compassion Meditation
- Alexandra Sacks, MD TED Talk on Matrescence
- The Birth of A Mother, NY Times Article by Alexandra Sacks, MD
- Pregnant Women are Endurance Specialists
- Inner Child Work
- SUNSHINE Acronym
- SHRIMP Acronym: Partner Check-In
- Read the Self-Compassion Research
If you are interested in working with her or one of the other therapists at their practice, you can call or text (385) 352-3251 or message them on their website
Note: We briefly discuss intrusive thoughts during the episode. Intrusive thoughts are common, but for some people they can be a symptom of OCD or another PMAD, so don't hesitate to seek help if you are experiencing intrusive thoughts.
I asked my friend to interview me so I can explain a little bit about who I am and why I started The Sad Moms Club Podcast.
TLDR:
Every episode will try to meet three goals:
1) Help you feel less alone in the motherhood experience.
2) Teach skills and/or educate you on evidence-based information.
3) Share a resource that is available to you.