Shterna Althaus introduces a panel of four female professionals who will each present their perspectives on women's health, post-birth or pre-birth experiences and child-rearing.
Shterna, a registered couples therapist, emphasized the importance of maintianing peace in marriages , referencing the Rebbe's teachings on peace as a "means to receive blessings". Shterna discusses the concept of 5 love languages in Jewish marriages and the importance of maintaining a 5-to-1 "positive-to-negative" ratio, as advocated by Dr John Gottman. Shterna highlights the significance of filling our emotional bank accounts in relationships on enhancing marital satisfaction, emphasizing the importance of women taking initiative in decision-making and avoiding negative cycles. The significance of self-care, regular date nights, and maintaining a positive focus in relationships is highlighted. The need for couples to communicate effectively, avoid the "four horsemen" of conflict, and work together as a team is paramount. She encourages women to assert their needs gracefully and to use positive language to influence their husbands.
Shternie Gestetner, lactation consultant and midwife, discusses the concept of trusting maternal instincts and intuition, describing them as a deep, quiet sense of knowing that comes from a close, intimate relationship with one's child. She emphasizes the importance of shutting out external noise and information to connect with this " inner sense of certainty". Shternie also highlights how the abundance of information available to modern mothers can lead to anxiety and a lack of trust in their own instincts, contrasting this with the quiet, deep connection needed to truly know and care for a child. Shternie emphasizes that while some decisions may seem obvious, others require trusting one's gut feeling, even when options appear equally viable. Shternie also highlights the unique nature of each child's needs, encouraging mothers to develop their intuition and observation skills to assess their child's well-being.
Rivkah Pincus, a registered counselor, speaks about the challenges of pregnancy, validating the feelings of anxiety and uncertainty that many experience. She provides practical strategies, including taking one step at a time, lowering expectations, practicing mindfulness, and allocating worry time, to help manage anxiety during pregnancy. She emphasizes the importance of self-compassion and seeking support, while acknowledging that challenges in motherhood can coexist with moments of joy and hope.
Sheina Gutnik, child behavioral therapist, discusses strategies for understanding and addressing children's behaviors, emphasizing the importance of recognizing underlying needs behind inappropriate behaviors. She highlighted the need for self-regulation and mindfulness among parents. Sheina also shared personal experiences and practical tips, including the significance of body language in communication and the need to adapt parenting approaches to individual children's needs.
Contact Shterna Althaus, Couples therapist & Dating coach: [email protected], womanscoach.me
Contact Shternie Gestetner, lactation consultant & midwife : [email protected] or instagram melbourne-lactation
Contact Rivkah Pincus : [email protected]
instagram handle is @innercalm.counselling 🙂
Contact Sheina Gutnick behavioural therapist: [email protected]
