Dr. Kristy Christopher-Holloway

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Dr. Kristy Christopher-Holloway

Dr. Kristy Christopher-Holloway is a well respected speaker, counselor, educator, and supervisor.

02/13/2026

February is American Heart Month, a time to focus on cardiovascular health. In the perinatal space, this conversation is incomplete without discussing Preeclampsia—and the profound psychological shadow it often leaves behind.

While medical teams work heroically to stabilize blood pressure and prevent seizures, the "all-clear" from a cardiologist or OB doesn't always mean the patient is out of the woods.

The Data on Trauma: Research shows a high correlation between hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and Postpartum PTSD (P-PTSD). Unlike "standard" postpartum depression, P-PTSD is a specific response to the medical emergency itself.

Why does this happen?

- The "Near-Miss" Experience: A diagnosis of preeclampsia often involves a sudden shift from a "healthy" pregnancy to a life-threatening crisis. This sudden threat to life is the primary diagnostic criterion for PTSD.

- Medical Trauma: The intensity of magnesium sulfate drips, frequent blood draws, and the potential for emergency delivery can lead to "iatrogenic trauma"—trauma caused by medical intervention.

- The Nervous System Response: The body’s fight-or-flight system remains stuck in "high alert" long after the blood pressure has normalized. This manifests as flashbacks to the delivery room, hypervigilance regarding one's health, or avoiding follow-up appointments.

We cannot treat the heart and ignore the head.
Heart health is mental health.

02/11/2026

Decision-making during pregnancy and postpartum does not happen in a vacuum.

Distress, fear, exhaustion, and prior experiences all shape how information is processed and choices are made. Ethical perinatal care requires recognizing this emotional context—without assuming incapacity or removing autonomy.

Informed consent is not just about information.
It’s about understanding.

Ethical care includes emotional context.

02/09/2026

As we honor Black History Month, it's crucial to delve into the systemic factors that shape health outcomes. Today, we focus on the "Weathering" Hypothesis, a critical concept developed by Dr. Arline Geronimus.

What is Weathering? This hypothesis posits that chronic exposure to social and economic adversity—rooted in systemic racism—causes premature aging and health deterioration among Black individuals. It's the cumulative toll of navigating a society marked by discrimination, implicit bias, and inequitable access to resources. This isn't just about emotional stress; it's about the literal "wearing down" of the body's physiological systems.

The Perinatal Impact: For Black birthing people, this "weathering" has profound implications for perinatal mental health:

Heightened Vulnerability: The sustained physiological stress of "weathering" can lead to increased inflammation and dysregulation of the HPA axis (our stress response system). This primes the body and mind for a higher risk of developing severe perinatal anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

Epigenetic Load: Research in epigenetics suggests that chronic environmental stressors can literally "turn genes on or off." This means the burden of systemic racism can, at a cellular level, impact not only the current birthing person but potentially influence fetal development and even the stress responses of future generations.

02/06/2026

We often wait to talk about perinatal mental health until someone is already pregnant—or already struggling.

But prevention doesn’t start in crisis.
It starts with education.

Preconception mental health education helps people recognize early warning signs, understand realistic emotional changes, and know when and how to seek support—before distress becomes overwhelming.

When partners and families are included, support systems become informed, responsive, and protective.

Prevention is powerful.

02/04/2026

Today is World Cancer Day. While we often view the perinatal period through a lens of growth and beginning, for approximately 1 in 1,000 pregnant people, it is also a season of a cancer diagnosis.

Gestational Breast Cancer (PrBC) is one of the most common types diagnosed during this window. For both the clinician and the patient, this intersection creates a unique, high-stress clinical landscape known as Medical Trauma.

The Psychological Impact:
- The Conflict of Care: Balancing the needs of the neonate with the urgency of oncology creates a profound psychological "tug-of-war." Patients often report feeling like their body is a "battleground" rather than a "vessel."
- Symptom Overlap: Fatigue, nausea, and breast changes are hallmark symptoms of both pregnancy and malignancy. This overlap can lead to significant health anxiety or "diagnostic overshadowing," where mental health needs are ignored in favor of physical survival.
- Post-Traumatic Stress: The rapid transition from an OB clinic to an infusion center can bypass the brain's ability to process. This increases the risk of Perinatal PTSD, lasting long after treatment ends.

If you are navigating this, know that "holding both" is heavy. You are allowed to grieve the "normal" pregnancy experience you expected while simultaneously fighting for your health.

02/02/2026

Black History Month invites us to examine how history continues to shape perinatal mental health today.

For generations, Black communities were forced to prioritize survival over wellness in systems that offered limited protection or care. That legacy still shows up in perinatal spaces—especially through the expectation of “strong Black motherhood,” where endurance is praised and distress is minimized.

Strength should never require silence.
Support is not a failure.
Care is not optional.

Reframing perinatal mental health means honoring rest, advocacy, and connection as essential—not indulgent.

Healing requires unlearning harmful legacies.

01/30/2026

We’ve all heard the phrase "It takes a village," but in 2026, most of us are living in suburbs or apartments where the "village" feels like it’s miles away. 🏘️

When it comes to Perinatal Mental Health, your "Safety Net" is the difference between spiraling and staying grounded.

For the Parents: Asking for help is often the hardest part of the job. We feel like we should "just know" how to do this. But here is the truth: Your baby doesn’t need a "perfect" parent who does it all alone. They need a healthy parent who knows how to resource themselves. Help isn't a sign that you're failing; it's a sign that you're smart.

For the Clinicians: "Support" is a vague word. A patient might have a partner at home, but that partner might be struggling, too. When you’re screening for mental health, dig deeper into the quality of the net. Help them identify their "2 AM person" before they leave your office.

Let’s normalize the "Net": Who is one person in your "Safety Net" that you couldn't do this without? Tag them below to say thanks! 👇

01/28/2026

High-achieving individuals are often praised for “handling it all,” but competence can become a barrier to care during the perinatal period.

Perfectionism and a strong sense of responsibility may temporarily support functioning—but they can also mask distress, limit emotional expression, and delay support-seeking. Many individuals continue working, parenting, and performing at a high level while experiencing significant internal anxiety, intrusive thoughts, or exhaustion.

In perinatal mental health, visible success does not equate to emotional well-being. Difficulty asking for help is not a personal failure—it’s often a learned survival strategy reinforced by professional, cultural, or social expectations.

Early recognition matters, especially for those whose distress is quiet, internalized, or misunderstood as “coping well.”

01/26/2026

"I’m fine."

It’s the standard response at the 6-week OB-GYN visit, at the grocery store, and even to our own partners. But in the world of perinatal mental health, "fine" can be a mask for deep exhaustion, anxiety, or intrusive thoughts. 🎭

Why we fall into the trap: We’re conditioned to be "warriors." We think that if the baby is healthy and fed, we shouldn't complain. But your health matters just as much as the baby's.

For Clinicians & Support Systems: If you want to truly support a parent, stop asking general questions. General questions get general answers. Specific questions get specific truths. By asking about sleep, intrusive thoughts, or the ability to eat, you give the parent a "map" to explain their internal world.

For Parents: The next time someone you trust asks how you are, try to skip the "fine." Even if you just say, "It’s been a really long morning," you’re breaking the trap. You’re allowing yourself to be seen.

Let's practice: If "fine" wasn't an option, what’s one word to describe your mood today? Let's normalize the real answers in the comments.

01/23/2026

Did you know that the hormone drop after birth is the single largest sudden chemical change any human can go through? 🎢

We talk a lot about the physical recovery of birth, but we don't talk enough about the "neuro-chemical" recovery. Within hours of delivery, the hormones that were supporting your pregnancy vanish, leaving your brain to handle a massive "reboot" while you’re also navigating sleep deprivation and a new baby.

The Elevator Analogy: If you felt like you were "falling" emotionally in those first few weeks, it’s because, biologically, you were. Your brain was at the 100th floor for months, and suddenly the floor disappeared.

When to check the "Emergency Brake": While the "freefall" is normal, you shouldn't stay in the basement forever.

The Baby Blues: Usually peak around day 3–5 and fade by day 14.

PMADs (Postpartum Mood & Anxiety Disorders): If you still feel like you’re falling after 2 weeks, or if the "crash" is making it hard to function, it’s time to call for backup.

Your brain will find its floor again. Sometimes it just needs a little help with the wiring. 🛠️

For the parents: Did you feel "The Crash" in those first few days? What did it feel like for you? Share your experience below. 👇

01/21/2026

The expectation that parenting should feel instinctive places unnecessary pressure on new parents—especially during pregnancy and the postpartum period, when emotional vulnerability is already heightened.

Uncertainty, questions, and self-doubt are not indicators of incompetence. They are part of learning a role that no one is fully prepared for. When this myth goes unchallenged, parents may internalize shame and hesitate to seek support—delaying care when it’s most helpful.

Normalizing learning curves is a critical component of perinatal mental health support.

01/19/2026

Feeding decisions sit at the intersection of physical recovery, infant needs, cultural expectations, and identity. When feeding does not go as planned—whether due to medical, logistical, or emotional factors—it can become a significant source of stress during pregnancy and postpartum.

Pressure to “get it right” often overshadows the emotional realities of feeding. Guilt and grief are common responses, particularly when expectations are shaped by rigid messaging or lack of support. These reactions are not signs of weakness—they reflect the importance placed on caregiving and connection.

From a perinatal mental health perspective, how a parent feels about feeding matters as much as how feeding occurs. Emotional well-being should be supported regardless of feeding method.

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Atlanta, GA

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+16788298143

Website

http://www.kristycholloway.com/

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About Dr. Christopher-Holloway and New Vision Consulting and Training, LLC

Welcome! We are so glad that you are here! Dr. Kristy Christopher-Holloway is an Assistant Professor at Lindsey Wilson College, the Founder and Director of New Vision Counseling Center, LLC, a group private practice in Douglasville, GA, and the Founder of New Vision Consulting and Training, LLC. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Georgia, a National Certified Counselor (NCC), a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC), and an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS).

As an educator and trainer, speaker, and consultant, Dr. Christopher-Holloway works with many helping professionals including counselors, counselors-in-training, social workers, as well as medical professionals. She has presented at conferences, workshops, and trainings locally, nationally, and internationally with focuses on cultural competence, African Americans and mental health, the psycho-emotional impact of infertility in African American women, addressing religion and spirituality in the counseling session, the strong Black woman syndrome and generational trauma, operating a successful private practice, incorporating wellness in clinical practice, and more.

Clinically, Dr. Christopher-Holloway’s research focuses on the mental health help-seeking experiences of religious or spiritual African American women diagnosed with infertility, as well as the psycho-emotional impact of infertility in African American women and couples. She works with minority women experiencing infertility trauma, birth trauma, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (postpartum depression, anxiety, etc), and pregnancy and infant loss (also commonly referred to as perinatal loss or reproductive loss). She has worked in settings to include private practice, in home, outpatient, and residential treatment, working with children, adolescents, and adults, providing individual, couple, family, and group counseling.