The current social climate remains marked by heightened stress, disconnection, and uncertainty. In the wake of the pandemic, amidst global instability and increasing political division, many people—especially new mothers—are navigating an invisible epidemic of loneliness.
Motherhood initiates profound personal transformation. As Selma Fraiberg, author of The Magic Years, emphasized, the early years of parenting are emotionally dense and developmentally formative. A mother must integrate a new identity while tending to the foundational needs of another life. This is challenging in the best of times. In a culture that promotes self-sufficiency and social perfection, it can become quietly devastating.
Many mothers are still recovering from the disconnection of early COVID. Some gave birth in total isolation. Others entered parenthood without traditional support systems—no visitors, no meals dropped off, no one to hold the baby while they showered. Now, as the world rushes to normalize itself, the residual sense of dislocation persists.
We created this space in response to that.
The Highlight Reel Is Not the Whole Story
It is easy to feel discouraged when our real lives don’t match the curated snapshots we see online. But as John Bowlby, the parent of attachment theory, taught us: emotional security does not arise from perfection—it grows through attunement, repair, and presence. A single post cannot convey the long nights, layered emotions, or the everyday bravery of new motherhood.
When we compare our internal experience to someone else’s curated external presentation, it often leads to feelings of inadequacy and shame. A phrase I’ve carried with me for over 30 years, first shared by a wise therapist, is: “Beware of comparing your insides to other people’s outsides.” This reminder remains essential in early parenthood, when vulnerability is high and connection—not comparison—offers the most meaningful support for identity and mental health.
Instead, what supports mental health and identity development during early parenthood is real connection.
Group Therapy: Grounded, Supportive, and Evidence-Informed
Group therapy provides not only clinical benefit but also emotional nourishment. As Bessel van der Kolk notes in The Body Keeps the Score, healing from trauma and stress occurs most reliably in community. Isolation deepens suffering. Witnessing, mirroring, and being seen without judgment—these are powerful interventions.
Group therapy for new mothers has been shown to decrease depressive symptoms, increase confidence, and support emotional regulation. When new parents gather to speak honestly and listen deeply, a sense of safety and belonging can return.
About the Group
What: A virtual support group for new moms to connect, reflect, and gather tools for navigating early motherhood—with grounded guidance, compassion, and connection.
Why: Because early parenting is not just about sleep schedules and feeding choices. It involves loss, identity shifts, relationship changes, and learning to trust your instincts. And no one should navigate that terrain alone.
Who: Facilitated by Laura Kelloway, LCSW or Elizabeth Wilkins-McKee, LCSW—clinicians with decades of experience in perinatal mental health, clinical social work, and raising children of their own. Authentic, experienced, and committed to building communities of care.
When:
- April Group: Wednesdays, 11:15 AM–12:30 PM, starting April 30 (8 weeks) with Elizabeth Wilkins-McKee, LCSW
- June Group: Mondays, 11:15 AM–12:30 PM, starting June 2 (8 weeks) with Laura Kelloway, LCSW
Where: Online via secure video platform (link provided upon registration)
Cost: $75 per session (billed weekly). Full 8-session commitment required to support group trust and consistency.
Why It Matters
This is not a space for performance. It is a space for real reflection, shared stories, and steady support.
If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure—you’re not alone. If you’ve been craving space to think, to laugh, to cry, and to grow—this group is for you.
Connection is not a luxury. It is a lifeline.
You do not need to be fixed. You deserve a space to feel supported.
Let’s build that space together.
To register or learn more, email: [email protected]
