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.

04/08/2026

Pregnancy and early parenthood involve more than physical changes.

There is a continuous, often invisible layer of thinking, planning, anticipating, and decision-making that many parents carry every day.

Tracking appointments.
Learning new routines.
Making constant decisions with limited rest.
Navigating expectations—both internal and external.

This mental load doesn’t always get acknowledged, but it can have a real impact on emotional wellbeing.

When we recognize this invisible work, we create space for:
• more realistic expectations
• more intentional support
• and more sustainable transitions into parenthood

Support during this time isn’t just about helping with tasks—it’s about reducing the cognitive and emotional weight parents carry.

What aspects of the mental load of parenthood are talked about the least?

04/07/2026

In the delivery room, the focus is often exclusively on physical safety—heart rates, dilation, and vitals. But psychological safety is just as critical for a healthy recovery. When a birthing person feels ignored, coerced, or silenced, the risk of developing a Perinatal Mood or Anxiety Disorder (PMAD) increases significantly.

For Black and Brown birthing people, advocacy isn't just a preference—it is a tool for survival and equity.

Effective advocacy means:

Slowing down the room: Unless it is an emergency, you usually have time to ask questions.

Naming the feeling: If you feel panicked, say, "I am feeling unsafe/anxious right now."

Using your team: Ensure your partner or doula knows your "Mental Health Rights" as well as you do.

Remember: You aren't "difficult" for asking questions. You are an active participant in your own care.

Save this post to your "Birth Prep" folder or share it with an expecting family.

04/06/2026

In the perinatal space, we often prioritize "functioning" as the primary indicator of well-being. If the parent is back at work, the house is clean, and the baby is hitting milestones, we assume the parent is "fine."

However, for many high-achieving individuals, functioning is the last thing to go.

They will sacrifice their sleep, their peace, and their nervous system to maintain the appearance of stability. This "High-Functioning" presentation is often a sophisticated mask for:

Internalized Anxiety: Where the "over-doing" is fueled by a fear of failure.

Depressive Numbness: Where they are "going through the motions" without any joy or connection.

Hyper-vigilance: Where "productivity" is actually a trauma response.

If you are a provider, a leader, or a support person, remember: A parent who "has it all together" may be the one who needs the most permission to fall apart.

Save this post for your next advocacy meeting or mental health screening. We have to start looking deeper than the surface level of "functioning."

03/30/2026

Stability is the goal. Safety is the priority. 🕊️

Today is World Bipolar Day, and while we talk a lot about Postpartum Depression and Anxiety, we must elevate the conversation around Perinatal Bipolar Disorder. For those living with Bipolar I or II, the transition to parenthood brings unique challenges. The extreme hormonal shifts combined with significant sleep deprivation can create a "perfect storm" for mood cycling—specifically Postpartum Mania or Psychosis.

What you need to know:

Mania is not just "having energy." It can manifest as extreme irritability, a total lack of need for sleep (without feeling tired), or a "wired" feeling that feels uncontrollable.

Sleep is a clinical requirement. For a birthing person with Bipolar Disorder, sleep isn't a luxury; it’s a mood stabilizer. Partners and support systems must prioritize 4–6 hours of uninterrupted sleep for the birthing person.

Proactive Planning Works. We don't wait for a crisis to happen. We create a "Postpartum Care Plan" during the second trimester that includes your OB, your therapist, and a Reproductive Psychiatrist.

To the Families: You can be an incredible parent while managing Bipolar Disorder. Having a diagnosis does not mean you are destined for a crisis—it means you need a team that understands the nuances of your brain.

To the Providers: Screening for a history of mania or hypomania before the baby arrives is life-saving work.

Save this to your "Resources" folder and share to break the stigma surrounding Bipolar Disorder in motherhood.

03/27/2026

We need to talk about the grief that starts before the pregnancy test. 🕊️

When we discuss "fertility struggles," we usually talk about medical diagnosis. But for the LGBTQ+ community and Single Parents by Choice (SMC), infertility is often not a physiological issue, but a social and systemic one.

"Social Infertility" is the profound grief of navigating a world that often refuses to see your path to parenthood as legitimate. It is the exhaustion of being a warrior before you are even a parent.

The mental health impact is unique:
It’s the anxiety of justifying your family’s structure.
It’s the trauma of intrusive donor selections or invasive medical procedures that were never your "plan."
It’s the feeling of invisible loss, as you mourn the biological ease that others take for granted.

We cannot achieve true Reproductive Justice without acknowledging Social Infertility.

To Families Navigating This: Your grief is valid. You are not "doing it wrong," you are doing it in a system not built for you. Find affirming support (like the experts listed in our link in bio).

To Clinicians & Trainers: We must expand our definition of reproductive loss. A family's journey starts long before the conception date. Our training must reflect the unique challenges of all paths to parenthood.

✨ If you have navigated Social Infertility, what is one word you would use to describe the mental health impact? Share below to validate others in this space.

03/25/2026

Your Pain (Emotional or Physical) is Not a Character Flaw. It’s Data. 🛑🛑🛑

Perinatal Mental Health is a spectrum. We expect the "Baby Blues," we expect some anxiety, and we expect exhaustion. What we should never accept is being dismissed when we know something is wrong.

"Medical gaslighting" happens when your concerns are met with denial, normalization, or downplaying by a professional. In the perinatal space, this can be catastrophic.

When a birthing person builds the immense courage to say, "I am not okay. I feel scared/angry/empty," and the response is, "Oh, everyone feels like that!" that is not "care." That is neglect of the mental health baseline.

We are facing a maternal mental health crisis. We will only change the numbers when we start listening to the stories.

Families: This checklist is not to create fear; it is to give you language. If you see your experience on this graphic, it is time to find a provider who will listen. (Try the https://www.google.com/search?q=PSIdirectory.com for PMH-C certified professionals.)

Providers/Trainers: We must do better. We must prioritize screening and the qualitative story behind the numbers.

💾 Save this. You never know when you, your partner, or a friend will need the validation to speak up and demand more.

03/23/2026

"I want another child, but I’m terrified of another birth." 🕊️

This is the silent heavy heart that many parents carry. When a previous birth was marked by medical emergencies, loss of autonomy, or physical trauma, the idea of a subsequent pregnancy can feel like walking back into a fire.

This is Secondary Tokophobia. It is a clinical reality where the trauma of the past creates an intense, physiological fear of the future. For many of my clients and the families you serve, this fear isn't "irrational"—it is a protective mechanism built by a brain that remembers being in danger.

To the parent feeling this: Your fear is a valid response to what you endured. Healing isn't about "getting over it"; it's about building enough safety in your present body to face the future.

To the provider: When a client expresses fear about a second or third birth, look deeper. Are we seeing general anxiety, or are we seeing the ripples of birth trauma? Our role is to provide a "corrective experience" through radical transparency, informed consent, and unwavering support.

Birth trauma changes us, but it doesn't have to define every chapter of our story.

✨ How do you support clients (or yourself) in navigating the "Next Time"? Let’s share trauma-informed strategies below.

03/20/2026

Perinatal mental health is closely connected to both parental wellbeing and early child development.

When concerns such as depression, anxiety, trauma, or overwhelming stress are identified early, timely support can make a meaningful difference. Research shows that addressing mental health needs during pregnancy and the postpartum period can strengthen the parent–infant relationship, reduce the likelihood of persistent mood symptoms, and support healthy emotional development for children.

Early intervention also benefits the broader family system by improving communication, reducing stress, and strengthening caregiving partnerships.

Supporting perinatal mental health is not only about helping parents feel better in the present. It also contributes to healthier developmental outcomes for children and stronger family wellbeing over time.

Early support improves outcomes for both parent and child.

03/18/2026

The perinatal period introduces significant physical, emotional, and cognitive changes. For individuals with ADHD—diagnosed or undiagnosed—these changes can intensify challenges with executive functioning, attention, and emotional regulation.

Because some ADHD-related symptoms overlap with those seen in postpartum anxiety or depression, neurodevelopmental factors may sometimes be overlooked in assessment.

When symptoms such as forgetfulness, overwhelm, difficulty organizing tasks, or emotional dysregulation appear during the postpartum period, it can be helpful to consider whether executive functioning differences may also be contributing to the experience.

Comprehensive assessment allows providers to better understand the full context of a parent’s challenges and identify supports that address both mood and cognitive demands.

Assessment should consider neurodivergence—not just mood.

03/16/2026

Perinatal mental health challenges are common, but many parents never receive adequate support.

Stigma surrounding maternal mental health can make it difficult for individuals to speak openly about their experiences. Some parents fear being judged, misunderstood, or perceived as incapable if they disclose symptoms such as anxiety, intrusive thoughts, or depression.

In addition to stigma, structural barriers also play a significant role. Limited access to specialized providers, financial constraints, and disparities in culturally responsive care can make it difficult for many families to obtain appropriate support.

Addressing perinatal mental health requires more than awareness. It requires reducing stigma, strengthening access to care, and creating environments where parents feel safe discussing their experiences.

Supporting parents ultimately supports families and infant development.

03/14/2026

Cultural narratives often suggest that parents will experience an immediate and overwhelming emotional connection when their baby is born.

While this does happen for some, it is not a universal experience.

Physical recovery, sleep deprivation, hormonal changes, and perinatal mental health conditions can all influence how connection is experienced in the early postpartum period. When bonding feels delayed, many parents assume something is wrong with them.

In reality, attachment is not determined by a single emotional moment.

Attachment develops through consistent caregiving, responsiveness, and repeated interactions over time.

When parents receive appropriate support for their mental health and adjustment, emotional connection often strengthens.

Connection is not defined by the first moment.
It is built through many moments.

03/13/2026

Perinatal mental health screening tools play an important role in early identification of concerns. They provide structure, consistency, and a starting point for discussion.

However, screening tools are not diagnostic instruments, and they cannot fully capture the complexity of an individual’s experience.

Factors such as cultural expectations, stigma, fear of judgment, and pressure to appear capable may influence how symptoms are reported. Some individuals also minimize distress or interpret symptoms as a normal part of new parenthood.

Because of this, screening results should always be interpreted within the broader clinical context.

Clinical conversation, thoughtful assessment, and curiosity about lived experience remain essential components of perinatal mental health care.

Screening scores provide information — but they do not tell the whole story.

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Atlanta, GA

Telephone

+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.