Blooming in Motherhood Molly Vasa Bertolucci, LCSW, PMH-C

Join me for this conversation for growing moms with Tori Sprankel, a mom to two and an expert at personal brands for go-to girlies. You already know her work from, well, this podcast! Tori has played a huge part in growing Poppy Therapy and this podcast - she's someone I look up to both in business and in motherhood and I'm thrilled to share this conversation with you! 
This episode is especially for you if you are in the messy middle of figuring out how to shift your work life to fit motherhood wondering if there's another way or if you're an entrepreneur juggling it all 🤹‍♀️ As a mom to two girls, Tori believes in showing them that a cubicle isn't the only way to make a living - that having the freedom and courage to change lives through your own dreams is worth more than any paycheck.
In this episode, you'll hear about Tori's journey from being torn up at having to drop her baby at childcare to work a job that didn’t fit, to finding a work-life formula that did fit her family - and how Tori has grown through shifts and challenges to step into motherhood and business with clarity and confidence.
We talk about:
❀ Romanticizing life and the small moments
❀ Being a “why choose?” mom - why choose between being a present mother and using your skills to build something that impacts the world?
❀ The wild ride of losing her corporate job the day she brought a new baby home from the hospital - and how the uncertainty of that time also brought her freedom
❀ Working mom guilt (including some mindset shifts and mantras for the hard days)
❀ Dinosaurs and poop - being enthralled with what your kids are enthralled with
Join us!
"I'm the "why choose?" - I want both. I want the kids and I also want to have parts of my day look like I don't have kids. You can have both and it's okay to want both."
Tori is an expert at personal brands for go-to girlies + her obsession is turning that pretty little pinterest board of yours into the brand you’ve always dreamed of. She loves working with women who need that boost of brand magic to back up their killer service suite that the world desperately needs. She specializes in lighting-fast turnaround to help you show-up efficiently, confidently and consistently where it matters most these days: online.
Resources❀ BLOG: Returning to Work After Maternity Leave: 3 Ways to Feel Less Overwhelmed❀ Sign up for Tori's Nothin' Fancy Friday Emails here!
❀ Shop Solly Baby wraps here (and use code "poppy.therapy10" for 10% off!)
You can learn more about Tori and all of her services at www.torisprankel.com

Join me for this conversation for growing moms with Dr. Julie Franks, a therapist specializing in mom anxiety, stress, overwhelm, and burnout. In this episode, Julie shared about her own experiences living with anxiety through fertility struggles, pregnancy loss, a high-risk pregnancy, and constantly adjusting to the challenges of motherhood!
We talk about:
❀ Living with anxiety - and why anxiety is not always obvious
❀ Julie’s unexpected experiences in pregnancy - including extreme sickness and bed rest - and how she used self-talk and gratitude to help her through
❀ Recognizing grief over missing out on experiences that she’d hoped for, like a babymoon, a maternity photo shoot, and prenatal yoga classes
❀ How motherhood has given her the ability to “rise to the occasion” with calm and confidence
❀ Finding peace - and her voice - through learning to lean into challenges and changes - and letting go of expectations
Join us!
"My life got so much easier when I could really lean into what was working for me and our family."
 
Dr. Julie Franks is an experienced & licensed mental health therapist for moms, an expert in women's mental health, & a social work educator + researcher. She specializes in mom anxiety, and supports moms online with psychoeducation, resources, and tools that bring relief (and really work!!). Most importantly, she is a mom who is right there with you in experiencing the social pressures/demands of motherhood and the stress it creates. She live on Bainbridge Island, WA with her 2 year old son, husband, and 4 dogs.
 
Resources
❀ BLOG: Do I Have Postpartum Anxiety?
❀ BLOG: Birth Trauma: How to Heal from a Traumatic Birth
❀ BLOG: Returning to Work After Maternity Leave: 3 Ways to Feel Less Overwhelmed
❀ You can learn more about Julie and her resources for anxious moms at www.nurturingthesisterhood.com

Join me for this conversation for growing moms with Jodi Klaristenfeld, mother of a 28-week preemie NICU graduate and the founder of FLRRiSH. In this episode, Jodi shares about the unexpected early birth of her daughter, her NICU experience, and how her motherhood journey has brought her to support and empower NICU parents.
We talk about:
❀ Navigating the complex and beautiful world of becoming the mother of a NICU baby
❀ Special NICU milestones and celebrations 
❀ The mix of emotions NICU families experience - from fear and worry to wonder and pride
❀ Adjusting expectations of motherhood and learning to trust your child's own journey in their development and growth
❀ Practical challenges like feeding your baby and returning to work when your baby has an extended NICU stay
❀ The strength and resilience of NICU babies (and their parents)
This episode gives such insight into the challenging journey of having a baby in the NICU - and all that comes after. 
Join us!
 
"Sometimes in life, we don't have choices - we put one foot in front of the other even though we don't necessarily know how we do it. And then we see all the beauty and and the celebrations throughout."
 
Resources
❀ BLOG: Caring for Your Mental Health with a Baby in the NICU❀ BLOG: 5 Ways to Bond with Your Baby in the NICU
❀ SUPPORT GROUP: Support and Connection Group for NICU moms❀ You can learn more about Jodi and her resources for NICU parents at https://www.flrrish.com
Jodi Klaristenfeld is a mom to an adorable little girl who was born at 28 weeks due to a rare and life-threatening form of preeclampsia and HELLP Syndrome. After her daughter's early birth, Jodi quickly discovered preemie moms and dads aren’t always given the support they need. As a result, she created FLRRiSH, a platform that offers NICU parent education, empowerment, support and resources to help families navigate this beautiful and challenging journey. Jodi, her husband, and her family live in NYC.

Join me for this conversation for growing moms with Jenna Overbaugh, a licensed professional counselor, anxiety and OCD expert, and mother.
In this episode, Jenna talks about how becoming a mother has grown her strength, self-compassion, acceptance, and authenticity.
We talk about:
❀ The unexpected challenges of becoming a mom - all those things that don't make it onto the highlight reels
❀ The identity shift she experienced as an academic and career driven professional becoming a parent
❀ Adjusting to the lack of external validation in motherhood and learning to trust herself 
❀ Intrusive thoughts and anxiety in postpartum and motherhood
❀ Doing things with her son now that seemed impossible in the early days
❀ OCD, anxiety, and effective treatment - and how to know when you should get help
This episode is packed with relatable, insightful stories from Jenna and her expertise as the go-to girl for anxiety and OCD treatment. Join us!
 
"There are always going to be challenges, but you can rise to meet those challenges as long as you are meeting yourself with acceptance and self-compassion. And you're gonna get a whole heck of a lot stronger."
 
Resources❀ BLOG: How to Manage Postpartum Anxiety and Scary Thoughts❀ QUIZ: What Kind of Support Do You Need to BLOOM in Motherhood? Take this quiz for a personalized list of free resources!❀ You can learn more about Jenna and her work at https://jennaoverbaughlpc.com
Jenna Overbaugh is a licensed professional counselor based in Wisconsin and has been working with people who have OCD and anxiety since 2008. Previously, she worked at world renowned facilities including Johns Hopkins Hospital and Rogers Memorial Hospital, where she treated some of the most debilitating cases of OCD and anxiety in the world.  She has contributed to several peer reviewed literature articles as well as spoken at national conferences on OCD, anxiety, hoarding, and related issues.  She is the host of the "All The Hard Things" podcast and the creator of her signature program "The OCD and Anxiety Recovery Blueprint".  She’s also mom to a 5 year old and has lived experience with OCD and anxiety.
 

Learn about the ”new and improved” podcast and what to expect in season two of Blooming in Motherhood!

Season one finale episode!
And a name change! Our First Year is now Blooming in Motherhood - with more exciting changes to come. I can't wait to see how this podcast grows and develops. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all the guests and listeners of this first season. 
 
For this special finale episode, I'm talking with Dr. Cassidy Freitas.
Cassidy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and mom to three with a virtual group private practice in California where she supports parents navigating fertility, pregnancy, postpartum and parenting young children. She hosts the top-rated wellness and parenting podcast Holding Space and shares supportive tips and strategies for millennial parents over on Instagram @drcassidy.
 
On this episode, Cassidy talks about her own experiences in postpartum and parenting that have led her to the work that she's doing today.
We talk about:
✨ Models of parenthood from our own parents
✨ Breaking cycles of perfectionism
✨ Sleep deprivation and the impact on mental health
✨ Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders for both parents
✨ Breastfeeding challenges
✨ Learning, growth, and healing for many years through parenthood
This episode is jam packed with wisdom and insight from Cassidy. Join us! 
Resources
✨ BLOG: Managing Sleep Deprivation with a New Baby
✨ QUIZ: What Kind of Support Do You Need to BLOOM in Motherhood? Take this quiz for a personalized list of free resources!
✨ You can learn more about Dr. Cassidy and her private practice
at www.drcassidymft.com