PSI Blog

“...When queer parents find care systems that recognize and affirm who they are, the benefits go beyond just individual well-being. Families grow stronger, mental health improves, and a basic ethical principle is upheld: Every parent should feel seen, safe, and supported as they step into parenthood.” Inclusive Perinatal Mental Health Care: Supporting Queer Families During the Transition to Parenthood By Amanda Keenhold, DNP, PMHNP-BC, PMH-C
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Inclusive Perinatal Mental Health Care: Supporting Queer Families During the Transition to Parenthood

Gain insights into supporting queer families during the perinatal period and improving mental health care inclusivity.
“Now, as both a perinatal mental health certified therapist and a woman who lived through a perinatal mental health disorder, I have seen how writing and visual art can give shape to emotions that often feel unspeakable and play a vital role in reclaiming your own voice, making meaning, and ultimately finding healing.” When Words Aren’t Enough: Creative Expression for Nervous System Regulation, Meaning Making, and Healing in the Perinatal Timeframe By Madison Petersen, LCSW, PMH-C
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When Words Aren’t Enough: Creative Expression for Nervous System Regulation, Meaning Making, and Healing in the Perinatal Timeframe

By Madison Petersen, LCSW, PMH-C PTSD Awareness Month "As both a clinician and an artist (with lived experience with both perinatal loss and a PMHD), I have seen how writing and visual art can give shape to emotions that often feel unspeakable…
“There was an intense period where I called the hotline several times a week just to have a voice reassure me I could get through this. The counselors who spoke to me were so kind, so quick to offer resources, and asked some really good questions. It was truly a lifeline of reassurance that I wasn't alone.” I did the hardest thing: I asked for help. Juanita’s Story
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Tolerating Uncertainty as a Queer Parent in Unprecedented Times

By Madeline Korth, LISW-S Feeling Helpless Starting in November of 2024, I started each day with a worrisome pattern: jolt into consciousness at the sound of my baby’s cries, soothe, change, feed, and check the news on my phone. It…
“We would never expect someone to sit in the driver’s seat of a car for the first time and simply know what to do, such as how to merge into traffic, when to use their brights, or how to parallel park. Instead, we build systems around learning, ones with instruction, mentorship, and practice, as we build gradual confidence. And yet, with parenthood, the expectation is often immediate fluency.” By Blaire Melius, LCSW, PMH-C
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You’re Not Born Knowing This: Parenthood Is Something You Learn 

Delve into the true nature of parenthood. Learn why the idea of instinctive parenting is often misleading and complex.
“Its relatively low rate is often touted as the reason why discussions of postpartum psychosis have too often included the word “rare” to describe it. The reality, however, is that postpartum psychosis is not rare, and it's time we not only openly acknowledge this but also leave that phrasing behind us once and for all.” By Aaisha Alvi
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Putting an End to Calling Postpartum Psychosis “Rare”

Postpartum psychosis (PPP) can be life-threatening. Uncover the truth about its occurrence and the critical need for support.
“I wish every mom would write themselves a love letter this Mother’s Day. You deserve to recognize how far you’ve come–and the strength you’ve built. Ask yourself: What would I say to my younger self? What were my hardest moments–and what did I learn? When did I ask for help? How did I change because of it? What am I most proud of? Remember, you are growing even when it doesn’t feel like it. And you are not alone. Happy Mother’s Day.” Mother’s Day: A Love Letter to My Younger Self To the mom who doesn’t feel like herself right now By Nancy Goh Kelly, MPH
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Mother’s Day: A Love Letter to My Younger Self

Read how new mothers can recognize how far they’ve come–and the strength they’ve built as a result of the challenges of motherhood.
“In clinical work with birth parents over the years, I’ve found that there is no singular way to feel, respond, or honor this season. For some birth parents, Birth Mother’s Day feels like a meaningful opportunity to be seen. For others, it may bring up grief, loss, or a sense of being set apart…This is the nature of grief and identity in adoption: it is not either/or. It is both/and. And within that duality, birth parents deserve to be witnessed fully in their motherhood.” Birth Mother's Day Honoring Birth Mothers: Holding Space for Both Mother’s Day and Birth Mother’s Day By Emily Morehead, PhD candidate, LPC-S, PMH-C
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Birth Mother’s Day

Celebrate Birth Mother's Day and recognize the unique experiences of birth mothers who have placed children for adoption.
“At every stage of your baby’s life, it can be grounding to remember the strength it took to bring them into the world, and to trust that same resilience within you as you continue to care for and respond to their needs. You can’t erase the infertility journey after giving birth and parenting.” National Infertility Awareness Month & Motherhood After Infertility By Emily Morehead, PhD candidate, LPC-S, PMH-C
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National Infertility Awareness Month & Motherhood After Infertility

Infertility affects many but is often misunderstood. Learn why awareness matters, as many face family planning challenges.
“Whether your challenges have involved loss, infertility, or both, there comes a time where you'll need to find a peace that is your own. Just as each person may have a different vision of what their life would have been like, we can each have a different journey in healing.” Parenthood After Loss and Infertility By Vasthie Arteaga, M.D., PMH-C
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Parenthood After Loss and Infertility

Delve into the poignant realities of parenthood after loss, where memories of the past coexist with the joys of the present.
“By centering joy, we not only heal from impacts of systemic oppression but also induce the birth of a healthier, more hopeful future for Black mothers and their babies.” Black Birthing Joy: A Remedy for the Black Maternal Health Crisis By Amaris Gibson, LPC, PMH-C, IMH-E
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Black Birthing Joy: A Remedy for the Black Maternal Health Crisis

Discover how to navigate the Black maternal mortality crisis while centering joy, healing, and hope for Black mothers.
“Campaigns and initiatives focused on raising awareness of IPV and IPH across peripartum women can transform the narrative…by reducing stigma and addressing these issues head-on.” Behind Closed Doors: A Look Inside Violence and Homicide Amongst Pregnant Women of Color By Tiffany Chow
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Behind Closed Doors: A Look Inside Violence and Homicide Amongst Pregnant Women of Color

Understand the alarming link between intimate partner violence and pregnancy-related homicides and the unique risks faced by peripartum women.
“South Asian maternal mental health is not a niche concern for a specialist audience. It is what happens when a mother is struggling, and no one around her has the language or the framework to see it. That is something any of us can begin to change.” By Raag Malhotra, Psychologist, PMH-C
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When the Village Is Silent: Supporting South Asian Maternal Mental Health Across Cultures

Understand the mental health challenges South Asian mothers face and the cultural factors influencing their experiences.
“Postpartum doulas bridge the gap needed to support families, practically and emotionally. Although postpartum doulas are not mental health clinicians, their role in supporting families is critical in improving mental health outcomes by addressing risk factors.” How Postpartum Doulas Support Mental Health By Danielle Bruner, Postpartum Doula World Doula Week
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How Postpartum Doulas Support Mental Health

Uncover how postpartum doulas provide vital support to families, focusing on mental health, sleep, and nutrition in the postpartum period.
Postpartum Support International
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