On the Couch with Carly

After a period of reflection and growth, On the Couch with Carly returns on MAY 14, 2025, with fresh perspectives on mental health, relationships, and the messy parts of being human.

On the Couch returns with three powerful episodes exploring fatherhood with Justice Mukheli, my solo episode on the collective experience of motherhood, and complex conversations about identity with Joseph Dana. Healing happens in relationships, not isolation.

Until May 14th, please take good care of yourself. I can't wait to be back On the Couch with you again.

Follow Carly on:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/on-the-couch-with-carly/id1497585376

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3t7A2FMnISQ2fz9D5p0Xuw

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfBi56xQookfRGL3zvWVzCg

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onthecouchwithcarly/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onthecouchwithcarly/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@onthecouchwithcarly

Website: https://onthecouchwithcarly.com/ Apple Podcasts · Spotify

I'm noticing the amount of pressure our parenting generation is under. We are working harder as well as parenting harder than ever before. In addition, we are being expected to "end inter-generational trauma" by giving our children the kinds of emotional attunement many of us never got ourselves. This is hard and I caution against the messaging that this is something we can even do, especially in our own individual capacities. I also offer a solution, which I think it the only way to survive and thrive as a modern parent today. Parenting workshops

Birth trauma can occur after baby is born. Nothing is quite as frightening as experiencing your newborn baby going into NICU but knowing the thresholds and protocols around this event will help. In this episode I unpack how I believe we need to educate ourselves in pregnancy for some of the more scary things that can go wrong. With the help of a doula you can be informed and empowered through this process.

In this episode I speak to the pandemic facing most families: the unequal division of labour in the home! Moms are carrying the mental load of parenting in disproportionate amounts. I look at the various factors that contribute to this reality and give some suggestions for how to navigate this and strive for a more equitable system.

Today's episode is a departure from the pregnancy and postpartum theme as I have an exciting announcement. I have just qualified as an integral coach! In this episode I discuss why I have chosen to become a coach, how coaching is different from therapy and what kinds of questions/problems you should bring to coaching.

Sleep training is not for everyone but for this sleep-deprived mom it was the key to surviving postpartum with her mental health intact. In this episode we talk about the need to center the mother's mental health as a necessary means to build secure attachment.

This is a follow up episode to the sleep training episode. I am 6 months down the line and this is what I have figured out about sleep and I offer my take so that you can feel empowered to make choices for you and your family that take into account everyone's needs.

What do you do when you feel anxious? In this episode I talk about how we need to not only manage the symptoms of anxiety, we need to understand what our anxiety is telling us and actually make structural changes to bring ease to our lives. In particular, I unpack why we are seeing such high rates of Postpartum Anxiety and what we should be doing about it.

Choosing to be a parent isn't for everyone. Today I unpack some of the things to consider when deciding whether to become a parent

This is a short episode where I discuss my experience of dealing with sibling rivalry and some advice for helping your children manage their big feelings around their siblings.