I am often asked about resources for parents who are looking for an extra bit of support during the transitional time of parenthood and early parenting.
Here’s a list of resources that has been helpful for families I work with. Offerings include support groups, books, counseling, and social media groups.
Many of these resources are free for you to access, so check them out and maximize your support systems. It will truly make a difference!
Resources for Individual Counseling & Support:
- Open Path Collective
- This is a fantastic resource for finding an individual counselor on a budget. A great option for those who do not have insurance and still want quality care at a really affordable price. You have to pay an initial fee of $50 and then each session you schedule with your individual counselor ranges from $30-$60 depending on the counselor. Couples counseling is also offered through this platform. Counselors within the state of Georgia are legally allowed to practice anywhere within the state, so if you find someone who’s not local to your community, you can always inquire about a virtual session! It will really open up your options.
- Postpartum Support International
- This resource is specifically geared toward new and expecting parents. PSI is a really wonderful resource for those struggling with the transition of parenthood. They have a warmline you can contact at any time. From there, you will be connected with a local state coordinator who will connect you with counselors, prescribers, and support groups in or near your county. Check them out.
- Postpartum Support International Provider Directory
- A directory specifically for providers who are trained to support perinatal mental health. You can filter by zip code, insurance, and type of provider (counselor, psychiatrist, psychologist, etc.). PSI is an invaluable resource for new families.
Resources for Support Groups:
- The Healing Hive
- The Healing Hive is a support group local to Atlanta that I started in April, 2020. We meet virtually every Monday evening at 6:30 PM for an hour. The group is open to anyone identifying as a mother who is going through the phase of pregnancy throughout early parenting. We are a fun, welcoming, and supportive group. You’re always welcome to join us!
- Motherwise Support Group
- This free virtual support group is hosted by the Atlanta Birth Center and occurs every Tuesday. Just like The Healing Hive, all groups are led by a maternal mental health professional. A lot of local parents really enjoy this group, so give it a shot!
- Northside Hospital
- Northside has a variety of support group offerings. From general support, to NICU support, to bereavement support, be sure to check out their programs.
- Postpartum Support International (again)
- PSI hosts several weekly groups that cover a range of topics. Take a look and see if there is one that fits your needs.
Resources for Pregnancy and Infant Loss:
- Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support Group
- WellStar Health System offers compassionate and professional support after the loss of a child to miscarriage, stillbirth or infant death. All of our groups are co- facilitated by Women’s Services Chaplain, Reverend Elata Dowdy, M. Div., BCC and Bereavement Supervisor, Roxanne Graham.
- All the Little Hearts
- This heartwarming resource is an intimate project that sends care packages to families who have experienced miscarriage. They also provide a resource list on their website.
- The Pink Elephants Support Network
- This network is full of supportive resources regarding pregnancy and infant loss. They have PDFs you can download, you can join one of their support circles, or join their peer support program.
Resources for NICU Parents:
- Graham’s Foundation
- This is a wonderful resource that targets different audiences of those involved in a preemie baby’s life: parents, providers, and family and friends. You’ll find peer support, lists, an app, and so much more.
- Hand to Hold
- Hand to Hold is a foundation that supports NICU families to the fullest extent. They have tons of resources, an app, a podcast, private Facebook communities, and more.
- March of Dimes
- The March of Dimes has a pretty extensive NICU support platform. They have support groups, an app, and more. It’s a worthwhile resource to check out.
Resources for life with a baby or young child:
- Understanding Child Development and Behavior
- Here are some helpful resources for learning about your child’s behavior and understanding the “why” behind the “what”:
- Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
- This is a free resource from Harvard that goes into the science of early development. Explore their website and learn about your child’s brain and what you can do to support it.
- Conscious Discipline
- I love Dr. Becky Bailey’s work with families of young children. Her whole website is full of useful information, but her resources page is easy to use and especially helpful. You’ll find PDFs, videos, articles, webinars, and basic discipline tips that focus on parenting in an effective, respectful, loving way.
- Parenting from the Inside Out
- Authored by Dan Siegel, this book highlights the importance of self-reflection and what goes on internally when we experience stressful parenting moments, for both adult and child. Dan’s work is highly regarded all over the world – and for good reason.
- The Gentle Parenting Book
- Don’t be fooled by the title. Gentle does not equal passive. Instead, think of it as “respectful.” This book focuses on how to disciple children using emotional connection, which is truly the foundation of raising confident kids. Give it a go.
- The Whole-Brain Child
- Another Dan Siegel book that is a must-have for your parenting collection. Learn about what goes on inside your child’s brain during everyday parenting moments that are tough to handle. He even tells you how to respond! Great stuff. There’s also a workbook available separately if you would like extra hands-on support.
- No-Drama Discipline
- Yet another Dan Siegel book to look at. This one mainly focuses on discipline, while the others focus a little more on nurturing development.
- Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
- Here are some helpful resources for learning about your child’s behavior and understanding the “why” behind the “what”:
- Sleep
- Sleep adjustment is not always easy. I am including this small section because this topic comes up a lot with the parents I work with. As an infant, early childhood, and perinatal mental health clinician, I recognize the need for sleep for parents while also recognizing the biological needs of children. Here are some resources that support infant-parent sleep from an attachment perspective, which naturally encompasses the neurological and biological norms of sleep.
- Possums & Co.
- A super cool organization that promotes “Neuroprotective Developmental Care” for parents and babies.
- Isla Grace
- A sleep support program that keeps attachment and development in mind.
- Biologically Normal Infant & Toddler Sleep
- A Facebook peer support group full of helpful information and resources.
- The Beyond Sleep Training Project
- This initiative offers one on one consultations, a private Facebook group, and does advocacy work towards normalizing infant sleep. They have a lot of tips and resources.
- The Gentle Sleep Book
- This book is authored by Sarah Ockwell-Smith, a renown author on positive parenting. She has books covering a range of topics, from adding a second child to preparing your child for their first day of school – all from an attachment lens. I highly recommend!
- Possums & Co.
- Sleep adjustment is not always easy. I am including this small section because this topic comes up a lot with the parents I work with. As an infant, early childhood, and perinatal mental health clinician, I recognize the need for sleep for parents while also recognizing the biological needs of children. Here are some resources that support infant-parent sleep from an attachment perspective, which naturally encompasses the neurological and biological norms of sleep.
Resources for General Self-Help:
This section is dedicated to self-help techniques and resources to improve emotional wellbeing. Some of them are for general emotional wellbeing, some of them target the stressors of pregnancy and early parenting. Either way, hopefully one or two will resonate with you.
- Struggle Care
- This is a FANTASTIC resource for those of us who struggle with daily tasks and functioning due to feelings of overwhelm. Founder KC Davis describes “care tasks” (important tasks that we must complete in order to maintain daily functioning) and provides helpful tips for lessening the load of stress that comes along with…well, living. It’s an awesome resource, so check it out.
- Insight Timer
- This is a 100% free app that has thousands of guided meditations for sleep, anxiety, and stress. I recommend it to clients and peers all the time. There are options to enroll in courses with specific instructors if you’d like. Overall, it’s a really cool app and you can search for just about any topic through their platform (pregnancy, childhood trauma, divorce, worry, gratitude, love, etc.).
- The National Institute of Mental Health
- This is a free resource with tons of downloadable graphics on anxiety. It’s helpful basic education on what anxiety is and why it’s important to manage.
- Expectful
- This is an app geared toward stress reduction in pregnancy, including fertility through motherhood. It’s a paid subscription, but it’s a very unique and tailored program. I like it and recommend it.
- Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety Workbook
- This is a practical tool for tackling postpartum anxiety on your own. While it is best to process anxiety with a perinatal mental health certified counselor, this self-help book is a good starting point for pinpointing feelings of anxiety and panic and it provides practical tools for coping. If you’re on a budget but want to learn more about managing anxiety, this can potentially be a good place to start.