Guest: Shaina Davis, LCSW, LCADC, ACS, Clinical Director at Tree of Life Counseling Center

Topics Covered:

• Overview of maternal mental health, including perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD), postpartum depression, and postpartum anxiety.
• Practical strategies for new mothers, such as self-care, building a support system, and setting realistic expectations.
• Discussion on the viral TikTok by @nursehannahbh, which highlighted the struggles of postpartum life and sparked both criticism and support online.
• The impact of societal expectations on new moms and the importance of empathy.
• When to seek professional help during pregnancy and postpartum.

👉 Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

01:03 Welcome Shaina Davis, LCSW

05:41 The Pressure to “Do It All”

09:07 Practical Strategies for Overwhelmed Parents

11:54 Parental Guilt and Building a Support System

17:53 Balancing Competing Priorities (Work, Family, etc.)

22:03 Workplace Accommodations for New Parents

27:48 How Therapy Can Help New Parents

29:30 Defining your Own Identity

32:07 Listener Call-In

38:17 Conclusion

🌳 Tree of Life Counseling Center

• Serving Princeton and Freehold, NJ
• Offering mental health support with over 50 experienced clinicians
• Schedule an appointment at treeoflifecc.org or call 732-393-8391