

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

Nov 8, 2023 • 1h 3min
198: Is There Such a Thing as Healthy Perfectionism? with Katherine Morgan Schafler, psychotherapist and author
Perfectionism in motherhood can be harmful, keeping moms held to unrealistic standards. But is there such a thing as healthy perfectionism? Today, I’m joined by psychotherapist Katherine Shafler to discuss how to reframe our thinking on perfectionism and harness the tendency without the negative side.Show Notes: https://bit.ly/40v0iD4 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 1, 2023 • 1h 12min
197: Breaking Out of the Default Parent Role with Erin & Stephen Mitchell, Founders of Couples Counseling for Parents
Do you ever feel like you’re the default parent for everything in your home? You’re not alone. Many moms find themselves being the go-to for physical, mental, and emotional needs of their child. This can leave them feeling alone, frustrated, unseen, and resentful. Today, I’m joined by Erin and Stephen Mitchell, founders of Couples Counseling for Parents, to unpack why moms become the default parent and what we can do to shift the patterns in the home.Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3tR1unU 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 25, 2023 • 52min
196: Redefining Postpartum Fitness with Amy Kiefer & Krystle Howald, co-founders of Expecting and Empowered
Our postpartum physical health often goes hand-in-hand with our mental health. But in many ways, it feels taboo to talk about the physical changes we experience after having a baby. And finding answers about postpartum fitness isn’t always easy. What’s safe? What’s effective? And how do we keep a healthy mindset? Today, I’m joined by Amy Kiefer & Krystle Howald, co-founders of Expecting and Empowered, to redefine what postpartum fitness means and learn how we can let go of unrealistic goals and harsh messaging and create a path to heal our bodies.Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3Q9C64d 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 18, 2023 • 56min
195: Rebuilding Connection and Intimacy After Baby with Aaron Steinberg, Co-Founder of Babyproofing Your Relationship
It’s common for relationships to struggle after having a baby. Between a lack of time and the invisible load, we might find ourselves feeling resentful and disconnected. But if we can become intentional and curious, we can rebuild connection and emotional intimacy after baby. Today, I’m joined by Aaron Steinberg, MA, co-founder of Babyproofing Your Relationship, to discuss how we can foster teamwork and emotional intimacy after having a baby.Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3M10O5q 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 11, 2023 • 1h 5min
194: Embracing the 7 Types of Rest with Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, Board-Certified internal medicine physician and award-winning author
Mom life is often synonymous with exhaustion. It starts with sleep deprivation and continues for years into the future. It feels like we always have more to do, and never enough time to do it. And even when we do carve out time for ourselves, we often end up feeling just as exhausted as before. But what if it’s not about the amount of time we spend resting, but the type of rest we’re getting? Today, I’m joined by board-certified internal medicine physician Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith to unpack the 7 types of rest and how busy moms can make small changes to get the rest they need without adding more to their plate.Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3LT1LwG 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 4, 2023 • 58min
193: Interpreting Newborn Hunger Cues and Sleepy Signs with Sharon Mazel, author of Bite-Sized Parenting: Your Baby’s First Year
Understanding our baby’s needs can be confusing. Are they tired? Hungry? Do they just need a cuddle? Babies don’t come with an instruction manual. But when you understand newborn hunger cues and sleepy signs, it becomes much easier to learn from and communicate with your baby. Today, I’m joined by Sharon Mazel, author of Bite-Sized Parenting: Your Baby’s First Year, to unpack newborn hunger cues and sleepy signs and learn how to tune into your baby’s needs.Show Notes: https://bit.ly/45fLbOgBook 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 27, 2023 • 50min
192: Understanding Overfunctioning in Relationships with Dr. Tracy Dalgleish, Clinical Psychologist and Relationship Expert
If you’re experiencing more conflict in your relationship after having a baby, you aren’t alone—67% of couples report a decline in satisfaction in the first three years of a baby’s life. There are many reasons why this happens—including an underfunctioning and overfunctioning relationship dynamic. Today, I’m joined by clinical psychologist and couple’s counselor Dr.Tracy Dalgleish to unpack what overfunctioning looks like in relationships and how we can break away from this dynamic and regain balance after a baby.Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3ZynijK 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 20, 2023 • 50min
191: Managing Mom Anxiety with Dr. Lauren, Licensed Clinical Psychologist
“Mom anxiety” often extends far beyond the postpartum period. It feels like we’re living in a scary world. We often respond by overparenting or withdrawing from experiences. But that might not be the best approach to help us learn to live with our fears and manage our anxious thoughts. Today, I’m joined by psychologist Dr. Lauren Cook, author of Generation Anxiety, to unpack mom anxiety and learn how to keep our fears from holding us and our kids back.Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3PlIQM8Book 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 13, 2023 • 50min
190: Embracing Power as Moms with Claire Shipman, NYT Bestselling Author
Motherhood can come with a lot of changes—identity loss, the invisible load, career impact, and relationship struggles. Moms often find themselves feeling powerless, in their lives, in their careers, and in their homes. But if we can change the dynamics in and out of the home, we can embrace power as moms and make real shifts on an individual and societal level. Today I’m joined by NYT bestselling author Claire Shipman to talk about her new book, The Power Code, and how the concept of power applies to moms.Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3riZ5RT 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 6, 2023 • 51min
189: How to Raise Confident Kids with Dr. Vanessa Lapointe, Founder of The North Star Developmental Clinic
Many moms struggle with body image and a lack of self-esteem—and we don’t want to pass those things on to our children. But understanding how to raise confident kids isn’t easy. How do we break patterns fueled by diet culture, people-pleasing, and generational cycles?Today, I’m joined by parenting educator and author Dr. Vanessa Lapointe to discuss how to raise confident kids.Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3P3QISj 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices