Tides and Light Mental Wellness

06/15/2026

As we move into summer, I wanted to take a moment to say thank you. ☀️

I am incredibly grateful for the trust that patients, referral partners, and our community have placed in Tides + Light Mental Wellness over the past few months. Because of this support, new patient appointments are currently scheduling into early August.

As I continue to grow the practice thoughtfully, appointment availability for new patients will remain somewhat limited through the summer, with additional openings anticipated this fall.

Thank you for your support and for allowing me to do work that I truly love. 🌊✨

With gratitude,

Caroline

06/14/2026

"What Should I Know About My Mental Health During Pregnancy?"

In this week's podcast episode, Dr. Marlene Freeman shares a piece of advice from her training that’s stayed with her: everyone who asks for help should be able to find it.

Finding the right support before and during pregnancy can make a real difference in postpartum outcomes.

Hear more from Dr. Freeman and Dr. Jessica Vernon on how OBGYNs can help connect women to mental health care.

Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-should-i-know-about-my-mental-health-during-pregnancy/id1802653992?i=1000772026140

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7LmCGlCmKGON1kG7XFbkij?si=lQ89K4oaR12h84lZalalqw

06/10/2026

The Larson-Rabin family lives, literally, in Rainbow's backyard. They're putting THEIR backyard to good use and hosting a Gala to benefit Rainbow Place Shelter and Rockville Pre-K & Cooperative Nursery School (RPCNS), both of which are moving from their longtime location at 215 W. Montgomery Avenue.

Come join in for an inspiring night of connection and support!

Learn more at www.rainbowplace.org/event-details/yes-in-our-backyard.

05/29/2026

✒️🎉✅ HB1118 & SB891 Health, Health Insurance, and Health Occupations - Perinatal Behavioral Health Conditions has officially been signed into law by

This bill:
💙 Requires identification of approved screening tools
💙 Requires insurers to cover screenings for perinatal mental health conditions at prenatal visits and postpartum visits
💙 Creates standing referrals through one year postpartum
💙 Requires Maryland Department of Health to create a perinatal behavioral health screening program
💙 Helps providers connect patients to services
💙 Requires continuing education for licensed providers in both substance use disorders and perinatal mental health

This monumental effort was supported by a diverse and passionate coalition made up of many organizations, advocates, providers, and parents since the bill was first drafted last year.

The bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, reminding us all that caring for Maryland parents and future generations is a universal issue.

Thank you to bill sponsors and for their incredible leadership!

Thank you to coalition leaders Claire Ernst, Mikah Goldman Berg, Kyra Vocci, Ana Rodney, Lauren Thompson, and all those who submitted testimony in support of the bills. Thank you to our coalition partners at

This victory for Maryland parents wouldn't be possible without you!

05/19/2026

I’m so excited to share that I’ve been accepted into the Fall 2026 NP Masterclass in Reproductive Psychiatry through the Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Women’s Mental Health.

I’m grateful to be one of 40 nurse practitioners selected from across the country for the Fall 2026 cohort, learning from world-renowned MGH and Harvard faculty, including Drs. Marlene Freeman and Lee Cohen — pioneers in the field of reproductive psychiatry.

One of the things I value most in this work is never becoming stagnant. Women’s mental health and reproductive care are constantly evolving, and I’m committed to continuing to learn, grow, and provide thoughtful, evidence-based care to the women I serve through Tides + Light Mental Wellness. 🌊✨

05/17/2026

Massive Lancet meta-analysis suggests most use of antidepressants while pregnant does not raise autism or ADHD risk after confounders, easing treatment decisions.

05/14/2026

"What we see is often only a small part of someone’s story.
Behind the smiles, the silence, the short replies, or even the “I’m fine,” there may be stress, grief, overwhelm, uncertainty, or emotions they haven’t found words for yet.
A little more patience.
A little more empathy.
A little more kindness.
You never truly know what someone else is carrying beneath the surface." 🌊✨

What we see is often only a small part of someone’s story.

Behind the smiles, the silence, the short replies, or even the “I’m fine,” there may be stress, grief, overwhelm, uncertainty, or emotions they haven’t found words for yet.

A little more patience.
A little more empathy.
A little more kindness.

You never truly know what someone else is carrying beneath the surface. 💛

Today’s reminder: kindness isn’t weakness — it’s emotional intelligence in action.

05/14/2026

We're so excited to introduce today's episode with Dr. Emily Oster, PhD!

Dr. Ruta and Allie often turn to ParentData for evidence-based guidance, which is why they invited Emily to join the conversation about navigating the complicated decisions of parenthood.

They discuss:
- How common pregnancy complications really are
- How to sift through overwhelming information
- How to make decisions when the perfect option doesn't exist

🎧Listen wherever you get you podcasts!

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-happens-when-pregnancy-doesnt-go-as-planned/id1802653992?i=1000767575336

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6yOlONLWXrRa4cookDD9aJ?si=sHXg5c-fR52t0_94bqIWpw

05/10/2026

My generation had great role models, free university and the morning-after pill. We should be running the world. Instead, two-thirds of us are facing mental health problems – and it’s not all about the menopause

05/06/2026

Today is — a reminder that maternal mental health matters at every stage of motherhood, not just in the immediate postpartum period.

So many women are carrying more than anyone realizes while still showing up for everyone around them. Anxiety, depression, rage, intrusive thoughts, burnout, grief, overwhelm, numbness, identity shifts, fertility struggles, complicated pregnancies, pregnancy loss, and the invisible mental load of caring for others are far more common than many women are led to believe.

You do not have to be in crisis for support to matter.
You do not have to “push through.”
And you are not failing because this season feels harder than you expected.

Women deserve thoughtful, compassionate mental health care that makes room for the full picture — not just survival, but support, understanding, and healing. 🌊✨

🤍

Tides + Light Mental Wellness
Thoughtful Psychiatry for Women
Serving women across Maryland via telehealth + in-person Fridays in Gaithersburg