I met Rebekah during Yoga Teacher Training many years ago. At the time, Om Mama was just an idea, and Rebekah had not started her journey to becoming a counselor, yet. But on a subliminal level, I knew we would continue to cross paths and cheer each other on.
I have personally been in therapy since before Kevin and I started trying to get pregnant. I knew this was going to be a big life change, and I wanted to have someone in my corner. Little did I know how much I would come to need these sessions as we navigated infertility and IVF, as well as two pregnancies and postpartum experiences.
I wanted to share Rebekah’s words and experience with you, and I hope you’ll enjoy! I truly love getting to highlight what I call “inspiring mamas”, especially mamas that are so supportive – personally and professionally – of other parents. It’s a small piece of what I miss most about Om Mama! If you are looking for support, please be sure to read that section below and/or reach out to Rebekah herself!
Thank you, Rebekah!!
Q: A brief introduction about Rebekah:
I was born and raised in Brazil – no, not in Rio or the Amazon forest – but in a small country town surrounded by farmland. I moved to Seattle in 2016 to become an Au Pair for a wonderful family in Ballard. During my time with them, I met my life partner, Andrew. I was not looking for a serious relationship, just planning on living abroad for a couple of years, becoming fluent in English, and taking a few classes at the University but life sometimes shows us a different path to follow. We got married in 2018, adopted two cats – Peanut and Tuna – in 2020, and in 2022 welcomed (our daughter) Alice into the world.
While living those big life events, I found myself questioning my career choices and future. I have an undergraduate degree in Public Relations and have worked in agencies back in Brazil but that life did not make sense to me anymore. When talking to a friend about cover letters I shared my wonders and wishes to enter the psychology field and become a counselor and she asked me “So why don’t you do it?” and that changed my life.
There were a lot of insecurities about joining a graduate-level program – finances, workload, and self-doubt about my English proficiency were some of them. With the support of my loved ones, I made the move. I started working in the mental health field back in 2019 and applied to the Clinical Mental Health and Counseling program at Antioch in 2020 amid so many uncertainties with the beginning of the pandemic. Now, I balance motherhood, grad school classes, and internship.
In January I began to work with clients as an intern therapist at Sea Change Therapy, a group practice in West Seattle focused on supporting individuals, couples, and families during life transitions. Before becoming a mother I already had a strong passion for mothering and interest in working with the population. After Alice, my drive to provide support, care, and a listening space to folks going through the perinatal period became my professional purpose. I know that the system isn’t fair or supportive and our society just doesn’t accommodate our need for a “village”, so I aim to be in people’s corners during such a challenging moment of life.
Q: What has been especially helpful from your work/experience in your experience of parenthood?
Learning about human development, brain formation, and early childhood has helped me immensely as a mother. Knowing more about what to expect from Alice at different stages of life has been crucial for me to adjust any expectations that may arise and be able to connect with her simply as she is. There are a lot of comparisons and pressure, especially in the social media era, so for me, knowledge and information have made a huge impact. I believe that my studies have been supporting me to create a nurturing space for Alice to express herself and feel her emotions in a way I did not experience as a child. Additionally, truly understanding the importance of taking care of my mental health to show up for her allowed me to prioritize caring for myself when I needed it.
Q: What has been different than you expected about your own parenthood journey in relation to your work? What do you wish you would have known?
All my friends who were moms before me told me to wait until I was done with grad school before having a child. Of course, I did not listen to them. Balancing school classes and demands with motherhood has been incredibly challenging. There is a lot to do beyond attending classes, and that takes so much time to complete. I am very fortunate and privileged to have a partner with a true interest in being a parent and with the ability to have a fairly flexible schedule, as well as family members who have made a difference in my motherhood and student journeys. Alice is the absolute best but there are moments when I wish I had waited a bit longer to have her in my life. At the same time, I know that having her has made me a better counselor.
Q: How has being a parent impacted the way you work with your clients?
The depth of understanding of motherhood/parenthood is very different when you become one. Experiencing the challenges of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Navigating the unwelcoming and unsupportive system to have basic needs met. Getting to know a little human and welcoming them into the world and our family. Going through the pains and joys of this transformational process has deeply impacted how I show up in the therapy room with my clients.
Q: What has been grounding/helpful for you during this season? How are you balancing work/life/etc?
THERAPY! I know I am biased but honestly, therapy is such an essential thing as you move through life. Having someone to talk to every week at the same time has created a moment of safety and certainty to pause and focus solely on myself. Additionally, I could not have been doing this without my friends who are also parents. Having a community of people with similar – and at the same time so different – experiences has been crucial. Many of my friends do not live in the United States, so I do a lot of texting and sending voice messages to them at all hours of the day, especially right after Alice’s arrival. I am lucky to have great people in my corner supporting me as I navigate life. Andrew is a phenomenal husband and father, and I know that I could have never gotten this far in graduate school without him.
Spending time outdoors, being in nature, and taking Alice to the park are also ways to help me ground. Since I started my internship in January, Alice has joined a nanny share/at-home daycare, and that has created a lot more space and time for me to complete my tasks. There are still many challenges – I will be done with my studies in December, hopefully, and have one less responsibility on my plate – but I know I am not alone.
Q: Do you have any advice for people seeking support/therapy during their perinatal season? How to find it, what to look for, when to seek support?
Therapy is a good thing, not a sign of failure or a last resource. The perinatal period is filled with wild challenges bringing an immense life transition. It is completely normal to wish for more support and to have someone to talk to. Therapy can be life-changing and life-saving. It is also important to know that if you are struggling, you are not alone. During pregnancy or postpartum, approximately 1 out of every 5-7 birthing people experiences significant depression, anxiety, intrusive repetitive thoughts, panic, or post-traumatic stress. The symptoms can start anytime during pregnancy or the first year postpartum. They differ for everyone and might include feelings of sadness, shame, constant worry, anger or irritability, lack of interest in the baby and in things that you used to enjoy, appetite and sleep disturbance, possible thoughts of harming the baby or yourself, and racing thoughts.
A great place to start looking for resources and support is through Perinatal Support Washington (https://perinatalsupport.org/), an organization focused on being there for parents and caregivers during the perinatal period. You can reach out whenever you are ready to do so. Additionally, I am currently open to seeing clients living through this period of their lives. You can find me at Sea Change Therapy (https://www.seachangetherapy.co/) and schedule a free 15-minute consultation to see if we would be a good fit.
Ready for more?
Check out another recent “inspiring mamas” post with Sam, a pelvic floor PT and new mama, here!
If you are a counselor, wellness professional, or any small biz owner, I would LOVE to take your headshots! Book a branding session with me and we’ll spend an hour together capturing you + your personality. I’d love to help share your passion + story with the world! Learn more here!
