The Barbara C. Gutin Program is hosting their annual Baby Fair at the Lynn Women’s Institute on May 10th! If you are a new or expecting mother please join us and enjoy the dozens of vendors and organizations ready to ease your transition into parenthood. This event is FREE, but please register in advance here!
Please stop by the Gutin program table to have a conversation with our team of therapists. We will be happy to introduce you to all of the resources at the program and answer all of your questions! See you there!
This Saturday November 16th please sign up for the FIT4MOM Stroller Strides Class at Town Center Mall in Boca Raton. This is an opportunity, not only to experience a fun workout class with your fellow mamas, but in addition you’ll receive my expert opinion on how to change unhelpful thinking into a positive mindset!
New moms know more then anyone that anxious, negative, or simply unhelpful thinking can become a slippery slope! In this class, you will pick up a key tool to challenge and reframe negative thinking, so that ultimately you can approach future situations with confidence and a healthier perspective.
I’m excited to announce my collaboration with Child & Co. on October 19th from 1-2pm.
Child & Company and Samantha Joy Counseling invites you to attend an intimate group gathering hosted by yours truly! The “Beyond Motherhood” meet-up was created to hold a space for mothers who are coming off of their newborn baby era and are now facing their next chapter of mom life. Unlike most new parent support groups, that only focus on the pre or postpartum period, this group will go further to address the complexities of balancing everyday life as a parent.
If you have felt lately, that your mom-identity is your only identity then this will be a great experience for you to attend! Living your ‘best mom life’ does not mean just living vicariously through your kids. We will address why mothers tend to struggle with loosing their sense of self after having children and more importantly how to get it back!
Would you like the opportunity to meet like-minded mothers who are learning, doing, and achieving their personal and professional goals?! Then join me and dozens of other amazing women for the Yes We Can Conference 2024 happening on April 14th at the Boca Town Center Mall.
Whether you are a first time parent or not, all mothers can relate to the experience of trying to balance their personal life and their professional aspirations. At this event you will get to hear from local ‘mompreneurs’ aka women in business who have succeeded in bridging the roles between both worlds.
Featured panelist!
I am so excited to be a part of a select group of women who will be discussing their journeys and contributions to their community. What I hope to promote to conferences goers is prioritizing needs that contribute to having a healthy wellbeing. My role as a mental health counselor is first, to help people be in a better place psychologically and physically, so then they can set attainable goals both personally and professionally. It is much more difficult to succeed career-wise if we are not mentally fit do so. I would encourage every pre and postpartum mother to have at least one, but preferably more than one counseling session with a therapist to check in on their mental health before taking on more responsibilities.
If you want to attend the Yes We Can Conference 2024 click this link to buy your tickets now!
I am excited to announce that I am officially certified as a perinatal mental health provider by Postpartum Support International!
My pursuit of the PMH-C was born (pun intended) from my own personal journey into motherhood. I had my first child during the summer of 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and have since welcomed two more children into my family. Becoming a mother has fundamentally changed my life in ways I never thought possible. I went from someone who luxuriated in sleeping in on the weekends, and enjoying quiet mornings with my coffee, to a life sleep deprivation, new sources of anxiety, and constant demands for attention from three under the age of five.
Before I had my own children, I worked with countless mothers and parents, helping them through the issues they faced. But it was not until I experienced the role personally, that I could truly appreciate the challenges, both external and internal, that we face. Becoming a mother is a wondrous, joyful experience, filled with ups and downs, excitement and fear, and hopes about the future. In the same breath, it can also be a source of mental, physical, and interpersonal struggles. As a PMH provider, I am committed to helping you navigate the life changing journey of becoming a parent. Everyone’s experience is unique and everyone deserves support and care, physically and emotionally, from their healthcare providers. It would be my honor and privilege to provide that care through yours.
One of the most common barriers to therapy, other than insurance or finances is finding a therapist you actually like!
I’ve talked to clients and therapists alike trying to get an understanding about what makes a client therapist relationship work.
I’m going to share a few helpful tips that will guide you toward making an informed decision, before you meet with your next therapist.
Is this therapist familiar with your background?
First of all, a therapist does not have to be from the same race, gender, culture, ethnic or religious background as you are to be a great fit. What can improve a therapeutic connection, however is if they do have either educational, personal, or professional experiences or training with clients of your background. Having a therapist that is familiar with cultural diversity can improve the quality, trust, and benefit of the therapeutic experience.
You might ask, have you had clients like me? Are you familiar with ‘x’ aspect of my background? Have you helped clients with ‘y’ problem?
Asking questions during a consultation can confirm whether your therapist has experience with clientele like yourself or may be less familiar with people of your background.
2. Does this therapist specialize in the problems I’m dealing with?
Are you battling trauma, addiction, postpartum depression…? There could be a number of things you could be challenged with, so you should feel entitled to have a therapist who has professional experience or training in the areas you want to work on most.
Meeting with a therapist who has qualified experience or training in the areas you need help with most can immensely increase the positive outcomes you experience from therapy.
Many therapists have special training or certifications in clinical interventions that are meant to treat specific mental health conditions (i.e. PTSD) or more broadly family/relationship issues.
3. How is your therapist’s bedside manner?
So you found a therapist who is familiar with your background and they have great professional experience, but how do you feel when you are with them in the room (or virtually). Most therapists offer free consultations, so take advantage of that time to get to know them before you book!
Just as doctors, not one therapist is alike even if they went to the same school or had the same training. Much of what makes or breaks a therapeutic relationship is if you feel a positive presence from your therapist.
It’s important to remember that therapists are people too and are not perfect, but here are some characteristics that make some therapists more compassionate than others. Things to look for are: kindness, patience, good listening, flexibility, empathetic, and passion for what they do.
Mental Wellness for Motherhood 