Hope Formanek, MS, LPC Associate, Supervised by Miranda Solis LPC-S

09/11/2026

Today we remember the lives lost on September 11, 2001, and the families, first responders, survivors, and communities forever changed by that day. We remember not only the tragedy, but also the incredible compassion, courage, and sense of community that emerged in its aftermath. May we continue to remember, to hold space for one another, and to choose kindness.

Never forgotten.

08/13/2026

Back to School, Back to Routine… But What About Your Mental Health?

For some families, this time of year brings excitement and a sense of getting back into a routine. For others, it can bring a lot of stress, anxiety, and overwhelm. New schedules, earlier mornings, homework, activities, school drop-offs, figuring out childcare, and trying to get everyone where they need to be… it can be a LOT. And sometimes we focus so much on making sure our kids are adjusting that we forget to check in with ourselves.

How are YOU doing with all of the changes?

You don't have to have everything figured out right away. It takes time to find your new rhythm, and it's okay if the transition feels a little messy.

If you're feeling overwhelmed, give yourself some grace. Take a break when you can. Ask for help when you need it. And remember that taking care of your own mental health is part of taking care of your family, too.

Here's to a new school year, and hopefully finding a little more balance along the way! ✏️🍎

08/12/2026

A little reminder about maternal mental health.

With all of the recent conversations surrounding the Lindsay Clancy case, I’ve been thinking a lot about how we talk about maternal mental health. I’m not here to weigh in on the details of that case or what did or didn’t happen. There are so many complicated pieces to it, and I don’t think any of us can fully understand someone else’s experience from the outside. But I do think it’s an opportunity to talk about something that deserves more attention: how moms are really doing.

When a baby is born, so much of the focus naturally goes to the baby. Is the baby healthy? Is the baby eating? Is the baby sleeping? Is the baby hitting their milestones? And of course, those things matter.

But so does Mom.

How is she feeling? Is she overwhelmed? Is she anxious or depressed? Does she feel like herself? Is she getting any support? Does she feel safe talking about the thoughts and feelings she's having, even the ones that scare or embarrass her?

Sometimes a mom can look like she’s doing just fine on the outside while feeling completely overwhelmed on the inside.

Struggling with your mental health does not make you a bad mother. Asking for help does not mean you aren’t strong enough. And you shouldn’t have to reach a breaking point before you feel like you’re “allowed” to ask for support.

So check in on the moms in your life. And maybe instead of just asking, “How’s the baby?” ask, “How are YOU doing?”

And if you’re a mom who isn’t doing okay right now, I hope you know that you deserve care and support, too.

Don’t just check on the baby. Check on the mother. ❤️

07/30/2026

07/23/2026

05/28/2026

"I felt like I was not a good mom."

If one of the greatest athletes in the world can feel like she isn't doing enough, that tells us something important: this is not a personal failure. It is a feeling that far too many new parents carry, quietly, and alone.

Postpartum depression and anxiety can look like guilt. Like never feeling like enough. Like going through the motions while something feels deeply off. You deserve support 💙

📞 Call or text the PSI HelpLine: 800-944-4773
💙 Free support programs & resources: Postpartum.net
🔵 Join our Maternal Mental Health Month campaign: Postpartum.net/bluedot

05/08/2026

Is it PPD, PPA, or POCD? 💭

Maternal mental health doesn’t look just one way, and symptoms can show up anytime during pregnancy or postpartum.

What you’re feeling might be:
• Depression
• Anxiety
• OCD
✳️ Perinatal Mental Health Disorders also include bipolar mood disorders, PTSD, and psychosis. ✳️

All are common, temporary, and treatable, but they do require support.

Too often, parents experience symptoms like: irritability, racing thoughts, guilt, sadness, intrusive thoughts, or constant worry… and don’t realize there’s a name for it.

When we connect the dots, we make maternal mental health visible.
And when it’s visible, it becomes treatable, supportable, and understood.

💙 If you see yourself in this, you are not alone
💙 If you recognize this in someone else, check in

📞 Free, confidential support: Call or text 1-800-944-4773
🌐 Resources & support programs: Postpartum.net

Spot it. Share it. Support it.
Let’s 💙

05/01/2026

What no one tells you about motherhood is that it can feel really hard and really beautiful at the same time.

May is Maternal Mental Health Month, and it’s something I care deeply about both as a therapist and as a mom.

We hear a lot about how special this season is, but not nearly enough about how common it is to struggle. Anxiety, depression, intrusive thoughts, rage, grief, or even feeling disconnected from yourself or your baby are experiences many moms have, even if no one is saying it out loud.

A lot of moms end up carrying this quietly, wondering if something is wrong with them or if they should just be able to handle it. But you were never meant to do this alone, and having the right support can make such a difference.

If you’ve been struggling in this season, whether you are pregnant, postpartum, or somewhere in between, you deserve care too.

04/27/2026

As a therapist who works with moms, this statistic really stopped me in my tracks:

Mental health conditions are now the leading cause of pregnancy-related death in the U.S. This includes su***de and substance use, and many of these deaths are happening months after birth, long after the check-ins, meals, and support often fade.

This is the part that does not get talked about enough. The postpartum period does not end at 6 weeks. For many women, it is just the beginning.

In my work, I see so many moms who look like they are holding it all together on the outside but are quietly struggling underneath. Anxiety that will not turn off. Feeling overwhelmed, irritable, or unlike themselves. Guilt for not enjoying every moment, or pressure to keep pushing through because they feel like they should be okay.

And yet, most of these deaths are preventable. Which tells us this is not about individual failure, but about the need for more support, more honest conversations, and better access to care.

If you are a mom in this season and things feel heavier than you expected, you are not alone, and you do not have to do this on your own. And if you know a mom, check in on her, not just in the newborn stage, but in the months that follow too.

💛 Maternal mental health matters. It truly can save lives.

Source: Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, “Key Takeaways from the Latest CDC Data on Pregnancy-Related Deaths” (mmhla.org)

04/24/2026

Not all child abuse leaves bruises.

April is Child Abuse Awareness Month 💙

Child abuse isn’t always visible, and it’s more common than many people realize.

There are several types of child abuse:
• Physical abuse: causing bodily harm
• Emotional abuse: patterns of shaming, threatening, or rejecting a child
• Sexual abuse: any sexual activity with a child
• Neglect: failing to meet a child’s basic physical or emotional needs

Neglect is the most common form of child abuse, yet it can be the hardest to recognize because it often looks like what is missing rather than what is happening.

In the U.S., about 1 in 7 children experience abuse or neglect each year, and many cases go unreported.

Warning signs to look for can include:
• Sudden changes in behavior such as withdrawal, aggression, or anxiety
• Regression such as bedwetting, clinginess, or loss of skills
• Unexplained injuries or frequent “accidents”
• Fear of going home or being around certain individuals
• Changes in eating, sleeping, or school performance

The impact of abuse doesn’t end in childhood.

Many adults who experienced abuse may struggle with:
• Anxiety, depression, or PTSD
• Difficulty trusting others or forming healthy relationships
• Low self-worth or chronic shame
• Emotional regulation challenges
• Patterns of burnout, perfectionism, or people-pleasing
• Higher likelihood of engaging in high-risk coping behaviors such as substance use, alcohol misuse, smoking, or unsafe sexual behavior

Healing is possible, but awareness is where it starts. If you’re a parent, caregiver, or community member, staying informed and attuned can make a difference. And if you or someone you know has been impacted, support matters.