Becoming a first-time mom is a huge change. Most of us have romanticized expectations of what being a mom will be like. We think that it will be a time of love, cuddles, and joy. The reality of sleep deprivation, struggle, and difficulty stepping into the role can leave us sinking deep into mom guilt mode. This transition into motherhood has a name—matrescence. Perinatal Psychologist Dr. Katayune Kaeni (Dr. Kat) walks us through what matrescence is and how we can help ourselves through the process. 
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/34CRdQ5 
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108: What is Matrescence? The Transition into Motherhood with Perinatal Psychologist Dr. Katayune Kaeni

We often enter motherhood envisioning joy, nurturing, peace, and love. But the reality can blindside us. Nobody tells us about Mom Rage, overstimulation, intrusive thoughts, or other mental health struggles. Unfortunately, when we seek help, we might face a lack of support, a system that doesn’t put moms first, and a world that turns a blind eye to the challenges of motherhood. We’re here to change that. We believe that moms deserve access to community, support, and mental health literacy. If you’re struggling with motherhood, you’re not alone–and you’re not failing. On The Momwell Podcast, host and psychotherapist Erica Djossa teaches strategies to help you cope with the psychological and emotional load of motherhood and prioritize your mental health and wellbeing. Erica shares the best kept secrets of the therapy world and interviews other professionals (psychologists, pediatricians, psychiatrists, fertility specialists, lactation consultants, and more!) who provide their expertise to empower you on your motherhood journey.

Kids & Family

Parenting

Health & Fitness

Mental Health

Today, we’re reaching back into the vault to revisit one of our most popular episodes! 
What if I told you that you didn’t have to play with your child all day? Moms put a lot of pressure on themselves to entertain their kids. They believe that “good moms” play with their kids as much as possible. But when we learn how to encourage independent play, we not only remove that pressure—we also give our children room to create, grow, and blossom. 
Today, I’m joined by Susie Allison, founder of Busy Toddler, to discuss what play is, why it matters, and how to encourage your children to play independently.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3X00MBq 
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227: From the Vault: Encouraging Independent Play with Susie Allison, Founder of Busy Toddler

It isn’t easy to feel confident in a world full of mom shaming. When moms are already feeling lonely and unsupported, disconnected from their friends, and unsure about their abilities, this pressure and criticism can take a real toll on their self-esteem and their mental health. 
Today, I’m joined by Renee Reina, Ph.D, host of The Mom Room Podcast, to discuss mom shaming, toxic mom culture, and how we can break away from the pressure and carve our own path in motherhood.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3WVmC9b 
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226: Navigating Mom Shaming with Renee Reina, Host of The Mom Room Podcast

It can be hard to establish healthy screen time habits for our children. But with the right framework in place, we can let go of guilt and fear and foster a positive relationship with technology within a healthy balance. 
Today, I’m joined by pediatrician and author Dr. Michael Rich, known as “the Mediatrician,” to discuss how we can set kids up for digital wellness.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4dGAF8v
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225: Encouraging Healthy Screen Time Habits with Dr. Michael Rich

Mom guilt is often fueled by intensive mothering ideology—the belief that moms should sacrifice every bit of their time, energy, and resources to their children (and find fulfillment only in motherhood), along with gender norms and social expectations. We can learn to manage mom guilt through awareness, anchoring ourselves in our values, and validating our needs and emotions. 
This week on The Momwell Podcast, I’m joined by JoAnn Crohn, founder of No Guilt Mom, to discuss how we can move past shame and guilt to enjoy the motherhood experience more. 
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4b5KzP0 
Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: momwell.com 
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224: Breaking Away from Mom Guilt with JoAnn Crohn

Gender norms, social expectations, and motherhood all become wrapped up in our identities, often leaving us questioning our career paths. But perhaps the answer starts with breaking away from the idea of a “dream job” and focusing instead on empowering ourselves to make active decisions driven by our internal values. 
Today, I’m joined by Lauren McGoodwin, CEO of Career Contessa, to discuss how women and mothers face barriers in the workplace and how they can start creating power moves to achieve real career fulfillment.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4dgFi90
Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: momwell.com 
Follow Momwell on Instagram: instagram.com/momwell 
Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: momwell.com/newsletter 
Register for one of our popular workshops and courses: momwell.com/shop
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108: What is Matrescence? The Transition into Motherhood with Perinatal Psychologist Dr. Katayune Kaeni

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