How do I prioritize my mental health while parenting?
Parenting is taxing on one’s physical and mental health – and often parents prioritize their child’s well-being over their own. But to care for our children, we need to care for ourselves. Doing this can be extremely challenging. For adults experiencing mental health conditions, navigating parenthood while also working toward recovery can be overwhelming to say the least.
Join the Center for Resilient Families at Arizona State University and Mental Health America as we explore personal experiences faced by:
- Parents living with mental health conditions.
- Mental health professionals who have worked with parents to improve their health and well-being.
Funding for this series is provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Child Traumatic Stress Network.
Meet the Speakers
Luis Resendez is a licensed marriage and family therapist based in Riverside, California. Resendez specializes in men’s mental health issues and trauma. He is also an adjunct professor at Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena and the author of “What About Dad?: Understanding and Addressing Postpartum Depression In Men.”
Lori Poland is the co-founder and chief executive officer at The National Foundation to End Child Abuse and Neglect (EndCAN). Poland is a therapist who specializes in attachment and trauma, and is trained in family counseling, child and adolescent therapy, and infant mental health. As a childhood survivor of a high-profile child abuse case, she has since devoted her life and career to ending child abuse and neglect, as well as healing its cycles and ripple effects. As a mother, Poland also brings to our conversation her lived experiences of navigating parenthood.
Erika Procaccini lives in Connecticut with her husband and 16-year-old daughter who is on the Autism Spectrum. She has a Masters Degree in Psychology and is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapy Associate. Erika is also a group facilitator for the Youth Mental Health - Project Parent Support Network, which meets monthly online. Connecting with other parents and focusing on her health and physical well-being has been instrumental in helping Erika through the stresses of raising a child with complex and often demanding needs.