Originally posted November 19, 2018. Veterans Yoga Project Yoga for Emotional Healing PTSD Veterans Yoga Project (VYP) is a nonprofit organization that specializes in helping veterans gain access to the healing benefits of yoga with a program called Mindful Resilience. Thanks to the efforts of VYP, the Mindful Resilience yoga program is being used to help veterans and active-duty military personnel heal from the emotional, physical and psychological aspects of war t

Originally posted August 15, 2017. Robin Blakely is the co-director of The Creative Center of America , where the scope of work encompasses securing and managing promotional placements at print, broadcast, and live venues that have included: ABC, NBC, CBS, HGTV, The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, The National Baseball Hall of Fame, Esalen Institute, Omega Institute, The Golden Door Spa, The Hollywood Reporter, ABC World News, Vanity Fair, and more. Kathy’s intervi

Originally posted July 10, 2016. Originally published on PsychCentral.com . Reposted here for archive purposes. In earlier years of my clinical career, I was interviewed by PsychCentral about my work in psychotherapy, perinatal mental health, and holistic approaches to emotional healing. PsychCentral has since reorganized its website and the original interview is no longer available online, so I am reposting it here for archival purposes. At the time of this interview, my wor

Originally posted July 7, 2016. Topic: Codependency, mindfulness, and the examined life Kathy Morelli, LPC This interview originally appeared on PsychCentral several years ago. The original article is no longer available online, so the full interview is reposted here for archival purposes. What do you mean by an “examined life”? What does this look like? The examined life refers to a quote credited to both Socrates and Plato: “The unexamined life is not worth living.” To lead

This year again I have the honor of hosting Megan Daley! Megan discusses her challenges with perinatal mood disorders twice in her lifetime. Now pregnant with her third child, she talks about her concerns in this pregnancy for her postpartum health and how she is proactively creating a personal postpartum plan. To help others, Megan outlines resources that helped her through her dark times. She says: “The most important thing I ever did was finally put down the mask.” P

Dyane Leshin-Harwood, Author Today I have the honor of hosting Dyane Leshin-Harwood’s story of postpartum onset of bipolar disorder. Her story is incredibly inspiring. I had tears in my eyes as I read her gutsy story! I imagine you will as well. Postpartum mood disorders can include bipolar disorder and postpartum mania — conditions that require specialized care and awareness. Please join me in welcoming Dyane’s contribution to the Postpartum Support International 2014 Bl

Heather Barson’s story is extraordinary. She writes about her recovery from post-traumatic stress after childbirth — about navigating a healthcare system that did not protect her autonomy, about isolation, about anger, about meaning-making, and ultimately about healing. Her journey is layered, complex, and deeply human. I admire her immensely. Please join me in welcoming Heather Barson. Q: Tell me briefly about what you do in your life & work outside this space. Heather: M

This interview is part of a professional spotlight series highlighting diverse perspectives in mind–body and perinatal care. Views expressed are those of the interviewee. Please welcome my colleague from across the pond! Dr. Diane Speier, a holistic psychotherapist and birth and postnatal professional to BirthTouch ® is guest posting today! Diane is also a birth psychologist, specializing in the psychology of parenthood, the psycho-physiology of birth, postnatal depres

Postpartum Thyroiditis, Pre-eclampsia, Scary Thoughts: An Interview with Jennifer This interview shares one mother’s personal experience with postpartum mood challenges. It is offered to increase awareness and reduce isolation, not as clinical guidance. In 2012, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jennifer, the founder of Organic Baby University . As a mental health professional specializing in Maternal Mental Health, Jennifer’s story has both personal and professional inter

Spring was a great time for Women’s Reproductive Health events in New Jersey. I was fortunate enough to attend and also was invited to present at La Leche League of the Garden State’s Annual Conference in Jamestown, New Jersey. I also went to an event hosted by St. Clare’s Hospital and the Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey. I had so much fun meeting and seeing some virtual colleagues/friends, such as Ruth Callahan and Colleen White at LLL

This post shares one mother’s personal experience with postpartum mental health challenges. It is offered to reduce isolation and encourage support-seeking, not as clinical guidance. In this personal narrative, Megan Daley shares her experience of postpartum depression and anxiety, including the challenges she faced and the steps she took toward recovery. Struggling Through the Darkness & My Journey to Recovery I used to have a vision in my mind of what it would be like to be

This post shares a personal reflection related to perinatal experience. It is offered to foster understanding and connection, not as clinical guidance. Comparing Scars The course of a marriage is often turned, sharply, by incidents that might pass in a moment but can define them for years, until another incident becomes another corner. Looking back on my marriage, there are three of them that I now realise shaped our new family. The first was during late pregnancy with ou

This post is part of an ongoing series of conversations with professionals in the perinatal mental health field. It is offered to share perspectives, not as clinical guidance. Intro: You have been involved in different areas of Maternal Mental Health for many years. You founded the Arizona Postpartum Wellness Coalition, you produced a DVD about Postpartum Couples, and your daily psychotherapy practice is centered on the woman & family experience. Q: Do you have a person

April was a great month for Women’s Reproductive Health events in New Jersey. I was fortunate enough to attend and also was invited to present at La Leche League of the Garden State’s Annual Conference in Jamestown, New Jersey. I also went to an event hosted by St. Clare’s Hospital and the Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey. Both events were at the intersection of women’s physical and mental health. I had so much fun meeting and seeing some vir

So, I kept it quiet that I suffered from postpartum depression for many years. I was ashamed that I suffered from depression and mostly ashamed about my episode of postpartum depression, as I had a baby to take care of and somehow this condition marked me as not a good mother.

This post is part of an ongoing series of conversations with professionals in the perinatal mental health field. It is offered to share perspectives, not as clinical guidance. Biography: Suzanne Swanson, Ph.D., is an activist in many areas of Maternal Mental Health. Since 2006, she has been the Postpartum Support International (PSI) Minnesota Coordinator. By 2007, along with a collective group of perinatal mental health professionals, she helped form the Pregnancy and Po

This post is part of an ongoing series of conversations with professionals in the perinatal mental health field. It is offered to share perspectives, not as clinical guidance. Biography : Heidi Koss, LMHCA, has been an activist in many areas of Maternal Mental Health for two decades. She has volunteered for Postpartum Support International (PSI) of Washington for sixteen years and is the Postpartum Support International Washington State Coordinator. She runs a busy Marria

This post is part of an ongoing series of conversations with professionals in the perinatal mental health field. It is offered to share perspectives, not as clinical guidance. Biography: Jennifer Moyer experienced postpartum psychosis when her son was eight weeks old. She has put in the hard work of personal recovery and has built a life filled with the love of her family and her determination to leave a positive imprint in this world. She has focused her efforts on being

Bio: Dr. Pec Indman is a internationally recognized expert in the field of mental health related to pregnancy and postpartum. In 2002, she was one of the first professionals, along with Dr. Shoshona Bennett, to author a book about postpartum depression. In her private psychotherapy practice, she works with clients experiencing fertility challenges, pregnancy loss, depression and anxiety during pregnancy or postpartum. Dr. Indman is the Chairperson of the Education and Trai

Meet these wonderful Individuals who are Sending Positive Vibes out into the world! They Rock the world! I am tons of grateful for my intelligent and loving friends in the birth community who have agreed to help me share my work throughout February, March and April! Simone Magaletta-Snyder (New Jersey). A rockin’ wise birth woman! Mom, doula, childbirth educator, and massage therapist of DoulaSimone will be sharing her well-educated thoughts on the books and talking to