In this episode, Ellen Boeder, discusses her personal story of motherhood, how she overcame the challenges of conflicting roles in society, how therapists can support moms, the signs and signals when a mom is healthy and well-resourced, and, most importantly, what to look out for when a mom needs extra support in her life.

Although this episode is really geared toward supporting women who are transitioning into motherhood or in the early years of parenting, this episode also applies to any parent or anyone who is thinking of having a child.

Last week we explored the attachment and bonding process between parents and infants and how critical that time period is for healthy childhood development. Today is all about what mom’s go through in those first few years of having a new child.

In many parts of western civilization, there’s so much emphasis placed on career, and, increasingly, mother’s are often troubled by balancing the roles of being a parent and a mother. And there’s also so many cultural myths and stigmas that mothers face today.

We have a guest today who’s going to break down the modern myths of motherhood, what needs to happen with mom’s in a therapy setting, the challenges and triumphs that mom’s are facing every day, and how to recognize a mom that’s well resourced in all the ways that count.

And this episode isn’t only about moms. Ellen has a message for fathers who want to learn how to support moms, as well as some thoughts for anyone considering becoming a parent.

Ellen Boeder has been a practicing psychotherapist since 2003. She has worked with women in a range of healing contexts, and after becoming a wife and mother to two children, she has shifted her practice to working with couples. Ellen is trained in PACT, the Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy. Ellen brings her lived experience as a woman, wife, and mother into her understanding as a clinician.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Ellen's perspective as both a therapist and mom on parenting
  
• The adjustment as a new mother and balancing other roles
  
• Cultural myths and stigmas mother's face every day
• Relevant support systems for mothers that clinicians need to know about
  
• Signs and signals that a mother is well resourced and healthy
  
• How mothering can be an experience of gratitude rather than constant overwhelm
  
• A message for the fathers in the relationship

Visit www.higherpractice.com/podcast to get the show notes for this episode and to learn more about Ellen Boeder.