As a busy, career-oriented woman, I’ve had moments where I’ve asked myself, “What’s the point?” I love being a licensed clinical social worker, but not if it means I cannot do the work that truly matters to me. Over the years, I have worked in community mental health centers and inpatient hospitals, supporting anyone who walked through the door. While that work is important, I realized that the work that brings me the greatest sense of purpose is supporting mothers through different stages of their mental health.

I work with mothers during the perinatal and postpartum period who often feel invisible. This includes both career-oriented mothers balancing the demands of work and family life, as well as stay-at-home mothers navigating the emotional and identity shifts that can come with caring for children full time. Many feel unheard, undervalued, and deeply alone. Some are afraid that the thoughts they are experiencing might lead others to label them as a “bad mother” or “weak”. Because of this, these thoughts are often kept hidden, and many mothers suffer alone.

Mothers deserve to feel cherished, supported, and reminded that they are the exact mother their children need. At times, a woman’s identity can feel lost in motherhood, and rediscovering who you are can be an incredibly empowering process.

I support mothers in redefining their identity, managing unhelpful thoughts, reframing mom guilt, strengthening relationships, and reconnecting with their own sense of value and self-worth.

If you recognize yourself in this and feel uncertain about reaching out, I encourage you to try anyway. You don’t have to navigate this alone.

Jodi Gray Davis, LCSW

University of Connecticut

Licensed Clinical Social Worker