Lorilee Keller Counselling

06/04/2019

Postpartum and the transition into motherhood is a highly transformational period that is rewarding, challenging and stressful all at once. Many aspects of this journey are not talked about. Many women are left wondering:

Is it normal to feel sadness, anger or grief alongside love and joy?

How do I let go of perfectionism and feelings of guilt?

Will I ever be able to accept my postpartum body?

How do I navigate my relationship with my partner now that we have a baby?

In this four-week postpartum group we will discuss postpartum body image, perfectionism, coping with difficult feelings, communication and relationships, and embracing your new identity as a mother. Attending the group will give you the opportunity to build community with other women who are on similar path. The intention of the group is to feel less guilt and shame, less isolation and aloneness and more self-compassion, greater sense of community and connectedness to yourself and others.

For more info and registration: www.lorileekellercounselling.com/postpartumgroup

05/09/2019

I recently read the book Love Warrior by . Her description of healing from disordered eating and embracing intuitive earring was so beautiful and spot on that I had to share it.

05/09/2019

Illustration

All big transitions in life bring uncertainty and unfamiliarity. Becoming a mother is arguably ones of the biggest life transitions that you will go through. Even if you’re ready or excited for the transition the new routine of motherhood and the day to day caring for an infant can be overwhelming.

After years spent studying or building a career you may feel accomplished and competent at your job and now all of the sudden you have a whole new skill set to learn. One that is drastically different than anything you’ve done before.

When we are dealing with transitions we need to call upon our resources to help us cope. In the midst of lack of sleep and the chaos of a new routine what helps you do feel grounded? Is it sitting down and mindfully drinking a cup of tea or coffee while your baby sleeps? Is it journaling in the few spare minutes before you go to bed? Is it committing to stop eating regular meals and snacks throughout the day?

Spend a few minutes thinking about your resources. If you aren’t sure what you are think about what makes you happy and what helped you to cope with difficult things in the past.

For more about posts about pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood follow my other account .with.love

05/02/2019

Love this!!

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Diet culture demonizes carbs but the reality is that they are most easily converted to glucose (ie energy for your brain and body!)
You do NOT need to fear carbs.
They provide energy, help with serotonin production (ie boost mood), and also just taste good and leave people feeling more satisfied.
Don’t believe the diet culture hype! 🙅🏼‍♀️
Rather than cutting out food groups-let’s focus on cutting out things that are actually detrimental to your life!
Optional assignment: make a list of one column of things that are helping in your recovery and one of things that are pulling you down.
Then, you can gradually work to add to the left column and eliminate the things that are dragging you down in your recovery.
What’s your favorite kind of carb 👇🏻 il start toss up between donuts and bagels (depending if I want something savory or sweet.)
Looking for help?
☀️ Schedule a free 15 minute consult for therapy or coaching-worldwide via video. Link in my bio.
🌈 Read latest blog, link in my story.

05/02/2019

❤️👌🏻
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During hard conversations, when I feel myself reaching for my favorite armor (perfectionism, anger, being the knower, trying to control, emotional intensity, getting critical), I try to remember that the antidote to armoring up is staying curious.

These are a few of my favorite questions and sentence starters.

Read more about it on the blog. Link in profile.

05/01/2019

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Photo

Postpartum can bring up a lot of grief and sadness along with happiness and joy. You are allowed to experience grief even though it may also be a happy time.

In our culture the stories we hear are often either about extreme postpartum depression or else overwhelming joy. Most women’s postpartum experiences are more nuanced and complex than this.

Whatever your feelings of grief are about: the loss of you’re pregnant belly, your old identity before you became a mother, your changing body, the loss of simplicity of your life etc.. Make room for that grief and those feeling of sadness. They will rise and peak but they won’t last forever.
Allow yourself to be with your experience. Don’t beat yourself up or criticize yourself for not feeling how you expect that you should. Making room for this grief will also make room for change and growth as you transform into your identity as a mother

For more posts on childbirth, postpartum, and motherhood follow my new counsellor/doula account .with.love

04/29/2019

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Comments such as: “You don’t look pregnant from behind.” “You’re still so tiny.” “It doesn’t look like you had a baby” and even more seemingly innocuous comments like “Your bump is so cute and round. “ are all problematic.

I understand that often these comments are to compliment the other person and that they don’t necessarily come from a bad place. But we as a culture need to stop commenting on the appearance of women’s pregnancy and postpartum bodies.

Read more about it on my blog. Link in profile.

04/29/2019

🙏❤️
Repost

04/25/2019

Growing up many of us internalize deep rooted beliefs through our experiences and interactions with our family of origin.


These beliefs are often held unconsciously but shape how we live our lives. When we are triggered they become our default way of being and influence how we feel and our relationships with others.


First notice when you are triggered: fast heart rate, tension in body, shallow breathing, overwhelming emotions, numbness. Notice these experiences as messages from younger self. Ask yourself how old is this self? What beliefs is she holding onto? What does she need in this moment?

Looking for help? Schedule a free 15 minute phone consultation. Website link in profile.

04/24/2019

For some women breastfeeding provides pleasure, closeness or comfort. For other women breastfeeding can be difficult or painful. Some survivors of assault find breastfeeding to be triggering. Other women may have a strong desire to breastfeed but may be unable to
Allow your experience to be what is is. There is a lot of comments, judgment, and pressure around breastfeeding in our culture. Try to tune out the noise around you and tune into your own instincts, needs, and experience. Notice what works beat for you and your family and whether or not the overall experience of breastfeeding is mostly positive or mostly stressful.

You are not a failure if you decide that breastfeeding is no longer working for you. Let of go of judgments and guilt that you might be carrying around. Remind yourself that whatever decision you make is based on what is best for you and your family ❤️ For more posts on childbirth, postpartum, and motherhood join me on my new page .with.love.

Beautiful photo by

04/16/2019