

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

Dec 15, 2021 • 56min
099: The Pressure to Get It Right with Psychologist Dr. Jen Douglas
Have you ever felt like a simple parenting decision was going to have a lifelong impact? Have you been paralyzed with indecision because you don’t know what is best and don’t want to make the wrong choice? Parenting this way is suffocating and erodes your trust in your own intuition. Psychologist and Stanford clinical assistant professor Dr. Jen Douglas is back to help us break free from this pressure of perfectionism and learn to trust ourselves more. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/321GzRg 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

Dec 8, 2021 • 59min
098: Learning to Fight Fair with Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Elizabeth Earnshaw
Conversations with our partners become very high stakes after children are born. We come from different upbringings with different ideas of what parenting looks like, yet need to learn to work as a team. This can be a recipe for tense conversations or conflict with those we love. Licensed marriage and family therapist Elizabeth Earnshaw is here to introduce key skills that strong and thriving couples use so we can learn to disagree in a way that strengthens our relationships rather than weakens them. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3GrI1vc 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

Dec 1, 2021 • 50min
097: The One and Done Family with Renee Reina, PhD
Do you find yourself wrestling with whether to have more children? Many moms I work with struggle with this decision for a number of reasons such as finances, the ideal family they had envisioned, their past birth or postpartum experience, and the readiness of their partner.While other parents may have come to the conclusion that they only want one child but feel pushed towards having more by the opinions and expectations of others. The choice to be one and done can come with a lot of guilt, shame, and pressure from others—but what matters is what YOU actually want for your family. Renee Reina, PhD is going to help us unpack how to know when you’re one and done and then feel confident in that decision. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3pgeu0j 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

Nov 24, 2021 • 60min
096: Overcoming Gender Disappointment with Clinical Psychologist Dr. Renée Miller
When you first learned you were expecting a baby, did you have a preferred gender in mind? Some people do and for a variety of different reasons. It can be hard to admit, but you may have even experienced some sadness if you learned the baby wouldn’t be your preferred gender. This is completely okay and more common than you might think. But since it can be hard to admit, it can also be hard to work through. Dr. Renée Miller has spent her career helping parents overcome gender disappointment, and she’s here today to help us unpack this concept. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3cDHOrI 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

Nov 17, 2021 • 59min
095: Adding a Sibling to Your Family with Family Therapist Bryana Kappadakunnel
Do you worry about how your child will adjust to a sibling? Do you fear you will struggle with dividing your love and attention between children? Expanding your family comes with many mixed emotions about what this transition will mean for you and the relationship you have with your first child. Marriage and family therapist Bryana Kappadakunnel is here to help us ditch the worry and guilt about adding a sibling and embrace being imperfectly perfect for our children. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3wRliVE 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

Nov 10, 2021 • 1h 5min
094: Regulating Your Nervous System with Clinical Psychologist Dr. Quincee Gideon
Do you find that you are keenly aware of the shifts in the emotions of those around you? Are you wired to please others? Have you ever found yourself feeling panicked for no reason? Anxiety and trauma responses can cause our bodies to act in ways that may not make sense, and that can be scary. Clinical psychologist Dr. Quincee Gideon joins us to help us better understand our nervous system and how to more effectively manage its responses. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3qnZQqe 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

Nov 3, 2021 • 59min
093: Setting Boundaries With Moms & Mothers-In-Law with @psychedmommy Dr. Ashurina Ream
Do you struggle with family showing up unannounced? Does your family buy too many gifts for your child? Does your mother or mother-in-law ignore your parenting values and do things their own way? You are not alone. In today’s episode, Dr. Ream and I answer your questions to help unpack why boundary setting feels so difficult especially when it comes to dealing with our moms and mothers-in-law, and provide some advice for how to set those boundaries. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/31rpvno 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

Oct 27, 2021 • 50min
092: Co-Parenting and Blending Families with Therapist Abbey Williams
There are many roads that lead to motherhood, and some moms even start their journey solo. But what happens when you’ve chosen a partner to start a family, and it doesn’t work out? What does ending the partnership mean for your parenting situation, and your child’s situation? When we’re thrust into single parenting unexpectedly, the custody agreements that mean time away from our child can be devastating, and co-parenting is its own can of worms. Therapist and founder of Mimosas with Moms Abbey Williams is here to unpack the challenges of co-parenting for us. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3vLtGFs 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

Oct 20, 2021 • 50min
091: Social Justice Parenting with Author Dr. Traci Baxley
In the wake of George Floyd, many parents’ eyes have been opened to the injustices that BIPOC communities face on a day-to-day basis. This has also left many parents questioning how to "do the work" and raise inclusive children. Figuring out where to start when it comes to anti-racism and social justice work can feel quite daunting. Dr. Traci Baxley is here to teach us about ways we can use our parenting as a form of activism, teaching our children to show up and intervene on behalf of others. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/2Z2vgHq 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

Oct 13, 2021 • 1h 4min
090: Momming With ADHD with Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist Dr. Melissa Shepard
Do you ever feel more disorganized and frazzled compared to other moms? Do you regularly forget things you know are important because of how much you hold in your mind? While these might sound typical of most mothers, major factors of ADHD that often go undiagnosed in women include forgetfulness, inattentiveness, distractibility, and disorganization. Dr. Melissa Shepard is going to help us understand what ADHD is and the impact it can have on our parenting. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3v5X212 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