New Leaf Psych

08/31/2026

Owner and Clinician Here👋

I’m returning to clinical work this fall with a slightly different perspective than the one I left with.

I wrote about the transition back to work after maternity leave, identity, motherhood, and what it means to return to the therapy room changed by your own lived experiences.

Additionally, I'm excited to share that I’m currently accepting new clients and referrals at New Leaf Psych for virtual counseling throughout Ohio, with evening and Saturday morning appointments available.

Please feel free to share with anyone who may be looking for support.

- Elena 🌿

Returning to work after maternity leave can shift your identity. A therapist reflects on motherhood, conflicting emotions, and coming back changed.

06/30/2026

Think of your amygdala, the brain's emotional panic button, as a smoke detector. If you have survived severe trauma, that smoke detector doesn't just work, it overachieves. It completely loses the ability to tell the difference between a slightly burnt piece of toast and a literal house fire.

When your partner sighs loudly while looking at the calendar, your brain doesn't just hear a sigh. It translates that sound as “Danger! Imminent conflict! Total abandonment!” and instantly triggers a fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response.

You aren't waking up and choosing to lose your cool over a minor inconvenience. Your body is just trying to protect you from a ghost in your past.

Wondering where the line is between a regular bad mood and a full blown nervous system takeover? Read our latest article on the blog: "Why Does Everything Feel Like Too Much?"

Constantly wondering why you overreact to small things? Learn the difference between a bad mood and a true nervous system trauma response, and see how virtual trauma informed therapy in Ohio can help you find peace in the chaos.

06/22/2026

Navigating a loss that doesn't fit the mold? Explore why "guilty" feelings like anger, relief, and numbness are a natural part of complex grief.

Navigating a loss that doesn't fit the mold? Explore why "guilty" feelings like anger, relief, and numbness are a natural part of complex grief.

06/18/2026

"As I noticed this shift, I was delusional enough to believe I'd bounce right back as soon as my body physically healed. For that, I blame the cultural expectation that parenthood should somehow fit into the leftover spaces around work, relationships, hobbies, and everything else. I bought into that narrative too.

It didn't take long, however, to realize that for me, parenthood felt like the whole point. Suddenly, everything else seemed to belong in the margins around it."

What happens when a therapist becomes a mother? A personal reflection on postpartum recovery, identity changes, newborn life, and learning to redefine productivity, purpose, and self worth after having a baby.

05/13/2026

Elena Rodgers, LISW‑S, is leading a session at our CLE Mental Health Summit on the power of slowing down in a fast‑paced, tech‑driven world. Her work centers on safety, pacing, and the nervous system, reminding clinicians that healing isn’t about rushing toward solutions, but creating the conditions where people can actually grow.

Register for the summit today before spots are all filled up! ✨

04/22/2026

What an honor is was to be featured in this article by Bold Journey. In the article we talk about resilience, growth, and community!

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Elena Rodgers a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below. Hi Elena, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?