

Momwell
Erica Djossa
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 21, 2022 • 47min
139: Encouraging Independent Play with Susie Allison, Founder of Busy Toddler
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/3BS5ar9 Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 14, 2022 • 48min
138: Dividing Labour Fairly in the Home with Dr. Darcy Lockman, Author and Psychologist
Do you feel like you’re drowning in the mental load of motherhood? Many moms struggle with this. They find themselves falling into gender roles in the home without realizing it, and they don’t know how to break out of the pattern.Today, I’m joined by Dr. Darcy Lockman, psychologist and author of All the Rage: Mothers, Fathers, and the Myth of Equal Partnership, to discuss why the gender imbalance in household labour happens and how to shift the dynamics in the home. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3qsnkcx Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 7, 2022 • 48min
137: How To Help a Child Regulate Their Emotions with Dr. Becky Kennedy, Founder of Good Inside
When our children misbehave, it can be very triggering. We feel frustrated, disrespected, and uncertain of how to handle it. As a result, we often end up unsuccessfully trying to control their behaviour, instead of guiding them through their feelings. Today, I’m joined by Dr. Becky Kennedy, founder of Good Inside, to discuss how to help a child regulate their emotions and navigate their big feelings. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3cN87zq Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 31, 2022 • 57min
136: Why Does a Messy House Give Me Anxiety? with KC Davis, @domesticblisters on TikTok and Founder of Struggle Care
Why does a messy house give me anxiety? Why can’t I motivate myself to clean since I had kids? Am I just a lazy mom? Moms often worry about these things, feeling immense pressure to keep a clean house and experiencing shame when they fall short of those expectations. As moms, we can’t always buy ourselves more time to clean. But we can approach the concept of cleaning differently, learn to overcome our anxiety around cleaning, and develop simple tips for keeping the house functioning without getting overwhelmed. Today, I’m joined by KC Davis, author of How to Keep House While Drowning, known as Domestic Blisters on TikTok and founder of Struggle Care, to discuss reframing our thinking about “the mess” and tips for cleaning with kids. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3Ku93VC Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 24, 2022 • 1h 1min
135: How to Support a Child Going Through Transitions with Jess VanderWier, Founder of Our Mama Village
Transitions can be overwhelming for our children and for us. As moms, we want to know how to support a child going through transitions. We might experience our own anxiety, deal with mom guilt, or question whether they are capable of navigating big changes. But with the right strategies in place, we can guide our children, and ourselves, through times of change. Today, I’m joined by Jess VanderWier, founder of Our Mama Village to discuss how to support a child through the transition into school and separation anxiety. (This is the final episode of our 3-part back-to-school series. Don’t miss Episode 133 on kindergarten readiness with Susie Allison of Busy Toddler and Episode 134 on helping children cope with school anxiety with Dr. Becky Kennedy of Good Inside.) Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3PFO7vS Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 17, 2022 • 46min
134: How to Help a Child With School Anxiety with Dr. Becky Kennedy, Founder of Good Inside
In this discussion, Dr. Becky Kennedy, a clinical psychologist and founder of Good Inside, tackles the challenges of school anxiety for children. She shares insightful strategies for parents to help their kids navigate this emotional landscape. The focus is on understanding both child and parental anxiety, fostering resilience, and encouraging open dialogue at home. Dr. Kennedy emphasizes the importance of preparing children for life's uncertainties, equipping them with coping skills to address their fears about school and social situations.

Aug 10, 2022 • 41min
133: Is My Child Ready for Kindergarten? with Susie Allison, Founder of Busy Toddler
Is my child ready for kindergarten? What should I do to prepare? What skills do they need? More than ever, parents are scrambling to make sure their children have “kindergarten readiness.” But the skills our children really need for kindergarten are far different than we might think they are. Today, I’m joined by Susie Allison, founder of Busy Toddler, to break down how to really prepare your child for kindergarten. (This is the first episode of our 3-part back-to-school series. Catch Episode 134 on managing anxiety about school with Dr. Becky Kennedy and Episode 135 on supporting your child through transitions with Our Mama Village.) Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3Q90MbZ Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 3, 2022 • 58min
132: Overcoming Postpartum Depression and Anxiety with Executive Director Dr. Wendy Davis
Overcoming postpartum depression and anxiety isn’t easy. When we’re suffering from postpartum mood disorders, the symptoms make us believe that we are the problem—that we are failing as mothers. But with awareness and the right support, we can find resources and overcome mood disorders during the postpartum period. Today, I’m joined by Dr. Wendy Davis, executive director of Postpartum Support International to discuss how to overcome postpartum depression and anxiety. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3Qf7xZt Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 27, 2022 • 56min
131: Overcoming Working Mom Guilt with Law Professor and Author Lara Bazelon
Overcoming working mom guilt isn’t easy. Intensive mothering ideals, the perfect mother myth, and social expectations tell us that we should put ourselves on the backburner and always put our children first. But moms can embrace fulfillment outside of motherhood, thriving in their careers and showing their children that it’s okay to prioritize themselves. Lara Bazelon, law professor and author of Ambitious Like a Mother, joins us to discuss mom life balance and overcoming working mom guilt. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3ITp9aN Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 20, 2022 • 1h 2min
130: How to Heal From Religious Trauma with Psychologist Dr. Quincee Gideon
Research has shown that religion and spirituality can be a fundamental pillar of resilience. But not all religious environments are healthy. Many of us had negative spiritual experiences and are searching for how to heal from religious trauma. Today I’m joined by Dr. Quincee Gideon, clinical psychologist and specialist in religious trauma and cult recovery, to discuss religion, trauma, and the role spirituality plays in our identities. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3PAGSWp Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices