In a world that feels increasingly uncertain—from global conflict and community tension to lingering stress carried forward from the pandemic—expecting and new parents are holding more emotional weight than ever before. This episode explores how stress shows up during the childbearing years and, more importantly, how perinatal professionals can help parents feel grounded, supported, and capable even when the world around them feels unsteady. With warmth, insight, and decades of clinical experience, Gabrielle Kaufman offers practical, compassionate tools for navigating uncertainty without minimizing fear, fixing what can't be fixed, or leaving parents to manage it alone.

About Gabrielle Kaufman

Gabrielle Kaufman, MA, LPCC, BC-DMT, NCC, PMH-C is a dance/movement therapist and licensed professional clinical counselor with more than 30 years of experience in perinatal mental health. She previously served for over a decade as Clinical Director of Maternal Mental Health NOW and as Director of the New Moms Connect Program at Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles, supporting parents experiencing postpartum mood and anxiety disorders. Gabrielle has taught internationally for Postpartum Support International, Drexel University's Arts and Healing Initiative, and other professional programs, bringing a deeply integrative mind–body approach to maternal mental health care. She is bilingual in Spanish and a long-time advocate for accessible, compassionate support for families. At the heart of her work is one guiding belief: no mother should feel alone, and with the right support, every family can thrive.

What You'll Learn:

• Why uncertainty and global stress disproportionately affect pregnant and new parents, even when danger feels abstract or distant
• How naming stress helps "tame" it, reducing overwhelm without asking professionals to fix what's out of their control
• Why changing perspective—literally and emotionally—can restore a sense of agency when worries begin to snowball
• How grounding techniques and mindful practices help parents move out of their heads and back into their bodies
• Why receiving help is a strength, not a failure, and how modeling that truth supports both parents and providers
• How perinatal professionals can create stability through presence, predictability, and compassionate referral, even when answers are unclear

Resources & Mentions:

• Gabrielle Kaufman's Website(opens in a new tab)
• Postpartum Support International (opens in a new tab)
• Emotional Wellness Self-Help Tool (Maternal Mental Health NOW)
• Postpartum Support International(opens in a new tab)
• MotherRisk is no longer available – Instead try:
  • LactMed(opens in a new tab) at NIH
  • MotherToBaby(opens in a new tab)
  • Infant Risk Center(opens in a new tab)

Related Products from InJoy:

• Understanding Pregnancy
• Understanding Birth
• Understanding Postpartum Health & Baby Care

Related InJoy Resources:

• Season 9 Episode 4: Insights on Perinatal Mental Health from PROSPER Leaders: Practical Tips for Educators and Doulas
• Bringing Awareness to Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders by Gabrielle Kaufman