Adrienne Griffen, MPP, takes us on an insightful journey into the world of maternal mental health. She discusses the prevalence and wide range of mental health conditions that can arise during pregnancy and postpartum, including anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and, in some cases, psychosis. Adrienne opens up about her personal experience with postpartum depression, emphasizing the importance of education, advocacy, and access to resources for mothers facing similar challenges. She also highlights new treatment options, including revolutionary medications, and underscores the critical role of self-care, social support, and therapy. Adrienne explains the urgent need for widespread education and routine screening, as well as the importance of equipping families with tools to offer effective support.

Connect with Adrienne Griffen:

Adrienne Griffen, MPP, is an advocate and nationally recognized expert in the field of maternal mental health. She is a sought-after speaker and educator, using her lived experience (laced with humor) to engage audiences on issues surrounding the mental health and wellbeing of our nation’s mothers. Adrienne is the Executive Director of Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the mental health of mothers and childbearing people in the United States with a focus on national policy and health equity. Adrienne serves on the National Maternal Mental Health Task Force, and on the Boards of Directors of the Marce Society of North America and the Mental Health Liaison Group. She also founded Postpartum Support Virginia, which she led for ten years. She lives in Arlington, VA with her husband and three young adult children.

mmhla.org/fact-sheets

postpartumva.org

Episode Timestamps:

• (01:30) Defining maternal mental health
• (03:15) Adrienne’s personal experience with PPD
• (05:30) Current trends and interventions; Postpartum Support International
• (10:50) Innovative treatments and medications; mental health screenings
• (17:00) Supporting new moms and families
• (19:45) Advocating for yourself and others

EMDR Basic Training

Register Now for the January/March 2025 Training!

Watch this episode on YouTube:

youtube.com/@TheMentalHealthEntrepreneurPod

Connect with Rachel:

Facebook Group: The Mental Health Entrepreneur

Website: traumaspecialiststraining.com

Instagram: instagram.com/trauma_specialist

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rachel-harrison-81a4796

Kerri Brady, VP of Educational Practice at Huckabee and board member of the Texas School Safety Center, explores how architectural design influences student mental wellness and emotional regulation in schools. Kerri dives into the concept of trauma-informed design, discussing how purposeful layouts and thoughtful spaces can help manage emotional dysregulation in high-stress areas like cafeterias. She also introduces the five phases of emergency management and advocates for the design community to play a more active role in preventive measures against school violence. Tune in to learn how intentional design fosters human connection, comfort, and emotional support for students and staff alike, ultimately contributing to a more resilient school environment.

Connect with Kerri Brady:

huckabee-inc.com/leadership/kerri-ranney

Episode Timestamps:

• (03:00) Architectural design and school safety
• (04:00) Five phases of emergency management
• (08:15) Designing trauma-informed spaces
• (12:20) Emotional dysregulation; creating a calmer nervous system
• (19:35) Designing spaces that foster human connection
• (26:45) Advocating for the design process of a school facility

EMDR Basic Training

Register Now for the January/March 2025 Training!

Watch this episode on YouTube:

youtube.com/@TheMentalHealthEntrepreneurPod

Connect with Rachel:

Facebook Group: The Mental Health Entrepreneur

Website: traumaspecialiststraining.com

Instagram: instagram.com/trauma_specialist

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rachel-harrison-81a4796

Jamie Sedgwick shares her insights on the stigma surrounding Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and discusses how it is often misunderstood and wrongly believed to be untreatable. She emphasizes the effectiveness of therapies like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in treating BPD. Jamie also talks about the importance of therapists taking care of themselves to avoid burnout and advocates for de-stigmatizing BPD by understanding the behaviors as former adaptive skills for getting needs met. This conversation aims to inspire mental health professionals and advocates to challenge existing stigmas and approaches to BPD treatment.

About Jamie Sedgwick:

Jamie is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and National Certified Counselor. She has worked in the mental health field for over 10 years and has been trained in EMDR since 2017. Jamie credits EMDR with changing her practice as a therapist and helping her be more effective in assisting clients in healing from a wide range of presenting problems. Jamie has a passion for working with Complex Trauma and a Special Interest in Personality Disorders. In addition to her clinical work, she is an EMDR Consultant and acts as the Training Director for Trauma Specialists Training Institute. Jamie has experience in leading EMDR Basic Training as well as creating and facilitating EMDR Advanced Trainings. She enjoys her roles as a consultant and trainer because it allows her the opportunity to meet like-minded clinicians and assist them in learning how to implement EMDR into their own clinical practice in a way that makes the most sense to the clinician and the client.

traumaspecialiststraining.com

Episode Timestamps:

• (02:20) Stigma and misconceptions about BPD
• (04:15) The role of EMDR in treating BPD
• (06:20) Behaviors and symptoms of BPD
• (11:20) Jamie’s passion to destigmatize the BPD population
• (13:10) Developing effective treatment plans
• (16:00) Messages of hope and advocacy

Borderline Personality Disorder Through A Trauma Lens

Destigmatize BPD, Gain Skills and Reduce Your Fear

Register Now for the December 12th Virtual Training!

Watch this episode on YouTube:

youtube.com/@TheMentalHealthEntrepreneurPod

Connect with Rachel:

Facebook Group: The Mental Health Entrepreneur

Website: traumaspecialiststraining.com

Instagram: instagram.com/trauma_specialist

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rachel-harrison-81a4796