Gentle Mama Counseling

Home
United States
West Hartford, CT
Gentle Mama Counseling

I am an LCSW and Birth Doula with a speciality in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders with cert. th

08/22/2026

You are allowed to take up space… even in a role that constantly asks you to make space for everyone else.

I want to give a voice to the moms who are carrying the invisible load: the “momagers,” the do-it-all-ers, the ones who know everyone’s schedule, needs, preferences, appointments, snacks, and somehow still wonder if they’re asking for too much.

The “I’m supposed to.”
The “It’s my job because they’re mine.”
The “I brought them into this world, so I should be able to handle it.”

And maybe the thought you don’t always say out loud:

*I wish my partner did more.*
*I wish I didn’t have to ask.*
*I wish someone would notice what needs to be done and just… do it.*

Needing a break doesn’t make you less devoted.
Asking for help isn’t a betrayal of your role as a mom.
Wanting more support doesn’t mean you’re ungrateful.

You’re allowed to want more.
You’re allowed to speak up.
You’re allowed to take up space.

And you don’t have to earn rest by reaching your breaking point. 🤎

If this hit a little too close to home, save it and consider this your permission slip to ask for what you need.

08/21/2026

Michelle is licensed in CT and OH. She’s in network with Aetna, Husky, United Health Care, Connecticare, Oxford, Harvard Pilgrim, and accepts self pay with the others not listed here.

Contact us for hours, nights and weekends available for your convenience.

07/18/2026

Episode 1: *”Wait... this is normal?!”*

What’s one thing you wish someone had warned you about?

07/01/2026

Meet Gabrielle.

The therapist who can talk nervous system regulation and reality TV in the same conversation.

She's happiest moving her body, whether that's a yoga flow, a walk outside, or lifting something heavy enough to remind her how strong she is.

A lover of iced coffee on a warm day, matcha year-round, and fresh sourdough bread topped with raspberry chia jam.

Gabrielle believes healing doesn't have to be intimidating. It can be honest, approachable, and grounded in everyday life.

She brings warmth, curiosity, and authenticity into the therapy room, creating space for people to show up exactly as they are.

Because growth isn't about becoming someone new.

It's about reconnecting with who you've been all along.

Now tell us something about you.

What's your comfort show, favorite snack, or go-to drink?

06/30/2026

A little behind the scenes of the people behind Gentle Mama.

The faces.
The laughter.
The conversations.
The humans who show up every day to hold space for mothers in some of their most tender seasons.

Because therapy is not just about techniques and tools.

It’s about connection.

It’s about feeling seen.
Feeling understood.
Having someone remind you that your story makes sense.

Whether you’re navigating grief, identity shifts, motherhood transitions, or simply trying to find yourself again…

You deserve support that feels human.

We’re honored to be part of that journey. #

06/26/2026

I am only scared because it’s unfamiliar.

Not because I am incapable.

My brain really loves to act like every new thing is a potential disaster.

New chapter?
“Absolutely terrifying.”

Trying something different?
“Are we sure this is safe?”

Taking a step toward the thing I’ve been wanting?
“Let’s create 47 imaginary worst-case scenarios first.”

Thanks, brain. Very helpful.

But unfamiliar does not mean impossible.

It means I haven’t learned this yet.

And that’s how every brave thing starts.

The first conversation.
The first boundary.
The first therapy session.
The first time choosing myself.

I don’t need to wait until I feel fearless.

I just need to remember:

I have done hard things before.

If you’re standing at the edge of something new and wondering if you’re capable…

This is your reminder.

You are.

And if you’re ready for support while you step into what’s next, reach out. Let’s talk about what healing could look like for you.

06/25/2026

I spend my days telling moms the things they rarely hear:

You’re allowed to need support.

You’re allowed to grieve the parts of motherhood that changed you.

You’re allowed to love your children deeply and still miss who you were before.

You’re allowed to be becoming.

At Gentle Mama, we make space for the hidden grief, identity shifts, and emotional weight that can come with motherhood.

Not because you’re broken.

Because you’re human.

And humans were never meant to carry everything alone.

06/24/2026

Have you ever looked back and thought…

“How did I not see it?”

Maybe it was a relationship.
A boundary you didn’t set.
A choice you would make differently now.
A sign you missed.
A version of yourself you wish you could go back and protect.

We do this thing where we look back at who we were with the knowledge we have today…

And then we judge them for not knowing.

But your past self didn’t have today’s experience.
She didn’t have today’s perspective.
She didn’t have the lessons you only learned by living through them.

She made decisions with the information she had at the time.

That doesn’t mean every choice was perfect.

It means she was human.

Growth is not proof that you failed.

Growth is proof that you learned.

The fact that you would choose differently today does not mean you made the wrong choice then.

It means you have become someone who knows more now.

Offer yourself the same grace you would offer someone you love.

If guilt or self-criticism is keeping you stuck in the past, therapy can help you untangle what belongs there and what you’re ready to carry differently now.

Your past self was learning.

Your present self gets to heal.

06/23/2026

We are in network with different insurance providers in 5 different states (CT, RI, MA, ME, OH, and NY).

Contact us at www.gentlemamacounseling.com for more information on what insurance for which state.

06/22/2026

Everyone wants to meet the baby.

But postpartum support is about so much more than holding a newborn.

It’s protecting the person who carried them.
The person recovering.
The person learning a new identity.
The person who may be loving this season and struggling in it at the same time.

The best gift you can give a new parent is not just your presence.

It’s making their world a little lighter.

Save this for the next baby visit.

Share this with someone who loves a new family well.

Address

16 Brace Road
West Hartford, CT
06107

Telephone

+18602154710

Website

https://www.gentlemamacounseling.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Gentle Mama Counseling posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in West Hartford?