Mandolin Restivo is a birth and postpartum doula, maternal mental health advocate, educator, and nonprofit leader with more than two decades of experience guiding families through pregnancy, birth, and the beautiful messiness of parenting. She holds an MA, BSW, Doula Certification, Lactation Certification, Childbirth Education Certification, and Sexuality Education Certification.
A longtime group facilitator, mindfulness practitioner, and parent guide, she creates meaningful spaces where individuals can exhale, reflect, and make meaning. Her coaching and groups blend evidence-based practices with heart-centered presence, drawing from her training in mindfulness, somatic healing, and birthwork.
Mandolin is also a writer working on a memoir exploring themes of family dysfunction, healing, and love. She understands firsthand that by examining our lives tenderly and without judgment, we can create meaning that is a powerful catalyst for self-acceptance and fulfillment.
Whether she’s guiding a conversation about preparing for childbirth, postpartum thriving, helping a parent shift from survival mode to mindful connection, or holding space for deep reflection through the written word, Mandolin can both meet you where you are and help you find a path toward how you want to be in the world.
Mandolin brings her full humanity (and humor) into every space she holds. She knows healing happens in the community, and she is honored to walk alongside those who are rewriting their stories in real time.
Mandolin’s superpower is understanding the broader themes that are present, either in a 1:1 session or during a group. Her kryptonite is someone talking to her while the dishwasher is running.
Mandolin is for you if…
- You want to parent with intention but feel like you’re constantly putting out fires
- You crave calm but keep getting sidelined by tantrums
- You are navigating the messiness of identity shifts in early parenthood and want a space to reflect and regroup
- You are curious about journaling for healing and growth
- You are looking for a guide who brings equal parts science, soul, and straight talk