Mom and Mind

399: From Surviving to Thriving: Building Community after Postpartum Depression and PTSD with Georgia Etheridge Stephens, MA, CCLS


Listen Later

Today, I’m joined by Georgia, who bravely shares her journey of healing after severe postpartum depression and anxiety. We dive into the importance of finding the right level of treatment, and she opens up about her experience in a partial hospitalization program specializing in perinatal mental health. Georgia also reflects on how her early life experiences and trauma shaped her path into parenthood, reminding us that healing is not only possible—it’s beautiful. Now, she’s using her experience to support and uplift perinatal families, turning her story into a source of hope for others. You won’t want to miss this inspiring conversation. Let’s dive in!

Georgia Etheridge Stephens has a background in international relations and is a certified child life specialist with 15 years of experience supporting families and children through complex and stressful situations. Her personal journey with perinatal mood disorders during pregnancy and postpartum inspired her to become a postpartum doula specializing in perinatal mental health. Driven by her passion for family support, Georgia founded The Pod, a family center in Los Angeles, a judgment-free space where parents can build community, access resources, and grow alongside their babies. 

Show Highlights:

  • Georgia’s story of finding support during a pregnancy with complications
  • Georgia’s professional role in supporting children and families, seeing the terrible things that can happen
  • An onslaught of darker and heavier thoughts
  • Finding the UCLA Maternal Mental Health Program when her daughter was 5 months old
  • Looks can be deceiving for someone suffering from postpartum depression.
  • The dire need for more mother-baby hospital programs in the country
  • After treatment, you don’t emerge as the same person you were before.
  • Rebuilding life in healthy ways
  • Early life experiences and channels of trauma—they are all connected
  • Understanding how parenthood rips you open and bares your soul
  • An overview of The Pod and what it provides to the community
  • Hopeful messages from Georgia about the value of sharing your truth with ONE person

  • Resources:

    Connect with Georgia Etheridge Stephens and The Pod: Website and Instagram

    Call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA or visit cdph.ca.gov

    Please find resources in English and Spanish at Postpartum Support International, or by phone/text at 1-800-944-4773. There are many free resources, like online support groups, peer mentors, a specialist provider directory, and perinatal mental health training for therapists, physicians, nurses, doulas, and anyone who wants to be more supportive in offering services. 

    You can also follow PSI on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and most other platforms

    Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/ for information on the grief course.  

    Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today!

    If you are a California resident looking for a therapist in perinatal mental health, email me about openings for private pay clients!

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Mom and MindBy Katayune Kaeni, Psy.D., PMH-C

    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8

    4.8

    208 ratings


    More shows like Mom and Mind

    View all
    ADHD Experts Podcast by ADDitude

    ADHD Experts Podcast

    1,306 Listeners

    Edit Your Life | Simplify + Declutter Your Home, Time, and Mental Space by Christine Koh

    Edit Your Life | Simplify + Declutter Your Home, Time, and Mental Space

    514 Listeners

    The Birth Hour - A Birth Story Podcast by Bryn Huntpalmer

    The Birth Hour - A Birth Story Podcast

    2,153 Listeners

    10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

    10% Happier with Dan Harris

    12,581 Listeners

    The Lazy Genius Podcast by Kendra, The Lazy Genius

    The Lazy Genius Podcast

    6,507 Listeners

    Therapist Uncensored Podcast by Sue Marriott LCSW, CGP & Ann Kelley PhD

    Therapist Uncensored Podcast

    1,379 Listeners

    What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood | Parenting Tips From Funny Moms by Margaret Ables and Amy Wilson

    What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood | Parenting Tips From Funny Moms

    991 Listeners

    Evidence Based Birth® by Rebecca Dekker, PhD, RN

    Evidence Based Birth®

    1,013 Listeners

    Light Up The Couch by Clearly Clinical

    Light Up The Couch

    327 Listeners

    Raising Good Humans by Dear Media, Aliza Pressman

    Raising Good Humans

    1,853 Listeners

    Momwell by Erica Djossa

    Momwell

    303 Listeners

    The Critical Care Obstetrics Podcast by Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics

    The Critical Care Obstetrics Podcast

    203 Listeners

    Good Inside with Dr. Becky by Dr. Becky Kennedy

    Good Inside with Dr. Becky

    4,388 Listeners

    We Can Do Hard Things by Glennon Doyle and Audacy

    We Can Do Hard Things

    41,405 Listeners

    The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

    The Mel Robbins Podcast

    19,373 Listeners