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The Generational Transmission of Untreated or Unresolved Relational Trauma
She leaned in close to me, whispering as if we were girlfriends rather than therapist and client: “I’m trying to get pregnant because then I’ll have someone who will love me forever and never leave me.” How do I, as a compassionate therapist, gently explain to this 13-year-old girl that...
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Supporting Maternal Mental Health and Reducing Stigma: A Clinical Perspective
Becoming a mother is a beautiful and rewarding experience, but it comes with a set of challenges that often go unrecognized. Maternal mental health is a critical dimension of perinatal care that is often overlooked amid the focus on the physical aspect of pregnancy. During the perinatal period,...
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Reframing Residential Treatment: Preventing Family Separation and Supporting Women with Substance Use Disorders
According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 70.5 million people used illicit drugs in the past year, and 48.5 million of them met the criteria for a substance use disorder (SUD). In 2022, 32.6 million women reported illicit drug use, and while men have historically shown higher...
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From Silence to Support: Changing the Story on Maternal Mental Health
When I became a mother, I was prepared for a momentous life change. What I did not anticipate was the impact that pregnancy and postpartum could have on my mental health, in addition to my physical recovery. After giving birth to my first daughter, I dismissed my stress and sensitivity as the...
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Trusted, Trained, and Too Often Overlooked: The Role of Holistic Providers in Maternal Mental Health
The perinatal period is a critical window of vulnerability and opportunity. Research shows that up to 20% of women experience a mental health disorder during pregnancy or in the first year postpartum, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (Howard et al., 2014). Without...
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The Impact of Childhood Separation: Parallels Between Children of Parents with Mental Illness and Children of Incarcerated Parents
Family separation is a traumatic experience for children, regardless of the cause. When separation occurs due to parental mental illness or incarceration, children face unique psychological and systemic challenges that are often overlooked. Both groups experience disenfranchised grief, attachment...
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Community Counseling & Mediation Presents: New Bond Street Clinic Open House on May 9, 2025
BROOKLYN, NY – Community Counseling & Mediation (CCM) will hold an open house for their new child and adolescent behavioral health clinic, Bond Street Clinic, located at 9 Bond Street, 6th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201, on Friday, May 9, 2025 at 10 AM. This event is open to the public and...
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The Impact of Leisure Activities on Mental Well-Being in Children and Adolescents with Prader-Willi Syndrome and Trauma
Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a rare, complex genetic syndrome estimated to impact one in 10,000 to 30,000 individuals worldwide (National Library of Medicine [NLM], 2020). PWS is generated by a genetic mutation on Chromosome 15, causing a wide range of cognitive and physical disabilities (NLM,...
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Understanding the Link Between Trauma and Substance Use in Adolescents
Adolescence is a critical period of development, and exposure to trauma during this stage can impact mental health and behavior. Research consistently shows a strong connection between trauma and substance use among adolescents, with trauma often acting as a risk factor for developing substance use...
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Young Adult Access Centers: A Massachusetts Model for Supporting Young Adults with Behavioral Health Challenges
The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) Young Adult Access Centers are unique community spaces that serve young adults with mental health and co-occurring behavioral health concerns and support them with their transition to adulthood. These 10 Access Centers are tailored to young people...
