Mindfulness offers a gentle way to deepen your connection with your baby, helping you both feel more secure, loved, and present. Here are some mindfulness practices to nurture your bond.

Originally posted June 17, 2013. Mom’s voice is perfection to her baby Today I am pleased to have Matt Logan, MA, MT-BC, a board-certified...

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

I met Ivy at Postpartum Support International’s Conference in 2011. She had such a nice feeling about her. Her accessibility, strength, humility and intelligence were quite strongly evident. Of course I had to kindle her book when it came out. Ivy, as she says, gives us a picture of the “ordinary postpartum depression” experience. But her personal story is about so much more than postpartum depression. I had a lot of emotions as I read her personal story and learned about

Originally posted July 24th, 2012. “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” Dalai Llama. Two weeks ago my siblings and I moved my mom to assisted living. Some people know what that really means. Some people think they know, but I know they really don’t know. She gave up her home, her car, her bank accounts, her keys, her freedom. She still had her small dog. But they made me take him away from her after a few days, too. In the first few days in a strange setting, t

Originally posted April 1, 2012. Science and Sensibility I am honored and hope that I can do a good job for Lamaze International for the month of April as their Guest Community Manager for the Science and Sensibility. Stop in here and take a look at my introduction and the the happenings over at Science and Sensibility for the month of April! thanks! Take care,

Originally published January 1, 2012. Chris Brogan, web entrepreneur, and also a depression survivor himself, has a blog topic/exercise called “My Three Words.” He uses this exercise the New Year as a way to create what he calls his “guiding pillars” to focus his business on the new year. Ala Chris Brogan, I’m going to borrow his idea and create “My Three Words for Mental Health in 2012.” I’d love it if you’d leave your three words to improve and maintain your mental he

Revisiting Attachment Parenting In Part Five of my Infant Sleep Series, I revisit Dr. Sears’ bed-sharing and attachment parenting books as I am today, the mother of a 17-year-old son and a trained and experienced Licensed Professional Counselor. I first read about Dr. Sears' philosophies as a new mother learning how to breast-feed and learning how to parent, so long ago. I approach Dr. Sears’ work with mixed feelings. I deeply respect his cultural contribution to restoring e

Originally posted October 9, 2011. This is a personal reflection shared in honor of World Mental Health Day, offered to reduce stigma and remind others that help, healing, and hope are possible. Hey there! Honored to be part of PsychCentral’s World Mental Health Day Blog Party! Today, as an LPC, I could write another professional blog about treatment options or family dynamics; like outline a specific self-care relaxation, expressive or cognitive re-framing exercise. But,

Originally published September 19, 2011. Reflections from the Postpartum Support International Conference on gender, hormones, and women’s mental health. Great to see Dr. Jeanne Driscoll! There were so many great speakers talking about the complexities of caring for women in the perinatal period. Dr. Jeanne Driscoll, a practicing psychologist and nurse-practitioner, is co-author with Deborah Sichel, MD of Women’s Moods: What every woman must know about hormones, the brain,

Pregnancy is a time of spiritual & psychological growth, but can also be a time of uncertainty. Personal issues as being in a relationship, balancing career and motherhood, and being a good parent may start to show up. During this time of change, intense emotions may come up as you re-evaluate your ideas about life and relationships. Much joy and much stress may show up, as you wonder about how it will be to become a parent. If you experienced abuse in your past, you ma