In part 2 of a 2 part episode series, Dr. Toni continues a conversation on the impact of trauma on parenting with social worker Jinelle Watson. They discuss triggers for experiencing trauma responses, automatic reactions that can impact parenting, and how guilt, shame and judgment can follow. Listen in to learn what therapy can look like and how you can take the first steps towards shifting your parenting and trauma responses.  

Jinelle Watson is a registered social worker who holds a Masters in Social Work with a clinical designation in Calgary, Alberta. She has been working in the field of mental health for over 8 years. During her pregnancy, she developed a passion for understanding the impacts of pregnancy and postpartum on gestational and non gestational parents and their families. With her daughter being born in 2020 she has developed a special level of empathy for life with a new baby during a global pandemic. Prior to the birth of her daughter in 2020, Jinelle specialized in sexual trauma therapy and she has built on this experience by completing her perinatal mental health certification. 

Jinelle’s approach to therapy comes from an anti-oppressive, and person-centered lens. She is experienced in supporting individuals and families through areas including but not limited to depression, anxiety, big T and little t trauma, PTSD, addictions, grief and loss, sexuality, gender identity, self-image and self-worth. Jinelle primarily uses techniques from Mindfulness Based Therapy, Sensor Motor based Psychotherapy, Art based therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, and Feminist Therapy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

• Potential triggers for a trauma response
  
  • Including specific pitch, tone, level of sound, possibly created by one or more of your kids
    
  • Interactions with your own parents, especially if they are part of your support network as a parent
    
  • Social media and mainstream media
    
  
  
• How your instincts and automatic default reactions can create different feelings, including shame, guilt and judgment
  
• How you can use rupture and repair to shift how you parent 
  
• The importance of giving yourself permission to make mistakes in parenting
  
• How to find the right mental health professional for you 
  
• The importance of safety and stabilization, in addition to processing and healing, in trauma work
  
• The importance of not forcing therapy on yourself or your kids if they are not ready
  
• How you get to decide your growth or gain from working on your trauma responses
  
• The importance of being curious about your behaviour, thoughts, body sensations without judgment or analysis
  
• How curiosity towards yourself can be the first step to increasing your window of tolerance
  
• The importance of boundaries and saying no
  

You can connect with Jinelle at https://www.jinellecounselling.com/ for a free consultation or Moss Postpartum House on Instagram @moss_postpartum_house

Today’s Mama Must-Have:

Dr. Toni is a big fan of RuPaul’s Drag Race and their quote at the end of each episode: “If you can’t love yourself how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else?”

Jinelle finds building community to experience love and support from others essential. 

Dr. Toni’s next HypnoBirthing session for expecting parents looking to decrease fear and anxiety to support their natural instincts around labour and birth is happening this fall. Join her at https://www.hypnobirthingcalgary.com/register

Join Dr. Lisa’s new Meetup group Wild Woman Adventures Toronto if you want to get out in nature, connect with other women and push yourself out of your comfort zone. Activities include: sunrise/sunset SUP, tree-top trekking, a new moon workshop and more!

Dr. Lisa’s Wild Collective in Fall 2022: get on the waitlist: wildcollectivetoronto.com

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Disclaimer: The information provided is not meant to replace treatment with a licensed health care practitioner. It is for informational purposes only. Consult with a Naturopathic Doctor or other licensed health care professional to determine which treatments are safe for you.