April: Teletherapy + Virtual Support Groups
Dear friends,
Whew, it’s been a rough few weeks! Probably much like you, I’m finding myself oscillating between many feelings throughout the day. It seems to me that the socially distanced life is paradoxically both overstimulating and understimulating. Fearful and quiet. A raucous, and boredom. We’re having to do the very difficult thing of holding a lot of different thoughts and feelings at the same time, which is never easy to do - even under the best of circumstances. Every feeling belongs - all of them.
I’m painfully aware that many situations, in many households across the country right now are very difficult. We are definitely in a moment of collective trauma. It’s scary to be pregnant right now. It feels impossible for parents of newborns to lose access to their villages. It’s difficult to be home endlessly with cagey kids, from toddlers to teens who are out of school. We are worried about the health and safety of ourselves and loved ones. And if that weren’t already enough we have the economic strain on top of it, as so many are fearing for their jobs and income.
We are all being forced to live in ways that are unnatural, with very little access to support and to the structures of life that normally give shape to our days. Every single aspect of our lives has changed. It makes it even more important and grounding, to hold fast to the things that haven’t changed; love for our families, care of self, ability to appreciate beauty in nature, and the practice of observing something in each day to see a sparkle of light in. In survival mode, the most basic habits are very impactful; exercise, good food, plenty of sleep. And remember to go easy, sister.
My dear friend Christine Bayles Kortsch, PhD says this in a recent essay; “This is also a season. And like all seasons, we don’t control it. We can’t force spring to come any sooner or slow down the passage of time. We can’t change circumstances beyond our control. Sometimes, rather than fighting reality, it’s a matter of digging deep for the courage to see it for what it is. We can open ourselves to a beautiful opportunity: the chance to respond with clarity and grace to what is, not what might be.”
We are working hard here to make sure that we can keep offering many of our core services at this time. All therapy is being offered on our HIPAA compliant telehealth platform, and we ARE accepting new patients! (We can treat anyone in the state of Pennsylvania). We always offer reduced and flexible fees, but we have a special price right now ($65) for Healthcare Providers.
Motherhood Village Peer-group support is now on ZOOM Tuesdays @ 8:00pm, and Sundays at 7:00pm. We are also launching NEW support groups for Healthcare Providers, Pregnancy Support, and Parenting during the Pandemic. See below for details about how to join. There are no massage services at this time, but we will let you know when we can safely resume them.
Are you longing for place? Community? Connection? Especially in this time of social isolation. We might have something you're in need of here at Maternal Wellness Center. Please contact us, if you are interested in any of these groups, classes or workshops. Keep reading for details about all of the early spring happenings, and come be a part of it - you'll be glad you did.
Warmly,
Kellie Wicklund, LPC, PMH-C
Owner + Clinical Director, Maternal Wellness Center LLC
