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.

11/28/2025

Pelvic floor health is deeply connected to emotional health—but it’s often overlooked in postpartum and perinatal care.
Chronic pelvic pain, incontinence, or discomfort can trigger shame, anxiety, and body distrust. For those with a history of birth trauma, medical trauma, or sexual trauma, these symptoms can also resurface old wounds.

When the pelvic floor is tight or painful, the body remains on high alert—activating the same stress response tied to trauma and anxiety. Over time, that tension can impact mood, relationships, and self-image.

Healing requires more than physical exercises—it requires safety, patience, and emotional repair. Pelvic floor therapy and mental health support together can help rebuild trust between body and mind.

You deserve care that treats your whole self.

11/26/2025

This is the message every parent struggling with a PMAD needs to hear today. Save this post. Read it when the darkness feels strongest.

A Reminder of Hope: "The pain you are feeling is real, but you are not alone, and it is not your fault. When you are in the darkness, the hardest thing to remember is that you will eventually find your way back to the light. Healing is possible, and you deserve every step of it." — Postpartum Support International

If you are fighting a battle that no one else can see, please know that your struggle is real and valid. It is rooted in biological change and stress, not in anything you did wrong.

The hardest step is believing that you can heal, but we promise you: the light is still there. You are not meant to stay stuck in the darkness.

Healing is possible, and you deserve to feel well.

➡️ Action Item: Tag a friend or partner who needs this reminder today. If you need help finding your way, reach out to the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: 1-833-852-6262.

11/24/2025

You're already struggling with fatigue and low mood, but you also feel constantly wired, jumpy, or full of fear. Does that sound familiar?

If you're dealing with a Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder (PMAD), you are likely experiencing what we call co-morbidity—the simultaneous presence of depression AND anxiety.

The statistics are clear: there's an estimated 70% overlap between these conditions in the perinatal period. You rarely get just one.

But here’s the critical part: When a provider only diagnoses and treats the depression, the anxiety and panic often remain, stalling your recovery. Imagine running a marathon with one shoe tied—you're working hard, but you can't get across the finish line.

You deserve integrated care—treatment that addresses both sides of the coin simultaneously. Swipe to understand why these conditions are so linked and how to ensure your recovery plan treats all of your symptoms.

➡️ Share this post to help normalize the complexity of PMADs.

11/22/2025

Tomorrow, November 22nd, is International Survivors of Su***de Day. On this important day, we shift our focus from fear to preparation and proactive care.

When struggling with a PMAD, there may be moments when hopelessness feels overwhelming. In those moments, thinking clearly is impossible. That’s why you need a Safety Plan.

A Safety Plan is not a sign of failure or weakness—it is a sign of incredible strength and self-awareness. It's a structured map, written out while you're stable, that guides you back to safety during a crisis.

This is a critical tool for every parent and clinician. Swipe through these slides to learn the immediate warning signs and the three essential steps to build your own crisis plan.

Remember: If you are feeling overwhelmed, you do not have to carry that burden alone. There is always hope, and there is always help.

➡️ Save this post. If you can’t make a plan for yourself right now, ask your partner or a trusted friend to do it with you.

11/19/2025

The holidays can be especially overwhelming for parents recovering from a Perinatal Mood or Anxiety Disorder (PMAD). Between disrupted sleep, pressure to “do it all,” and navigating visitors or family expectations, emotional recovery can feel harder this time of year.

If you’re in this season, remember:
✨ It’s okay to scale back.
✨ It’s okay to say no.
✨ It’s okay to rest instead of hosting.

You’re not falling behind—you’re protecting your peace.
Healing during the holidays means showing up as your real self, not your “perfect” self. 💜

11/17/2025

Today we honor the resilience of families who have faced premature birth and the often unseen emotional toll that follows. 💜

The NICU journey doesn’t end at discharge — many parents carry anxiety, grief, or trauma long after returning home. This isn’t weakness; it’s a natural response to uncertainty, medical stress, and disrupted bonding.

Supporting parents’ mental health isn’t optional — it’s essential.
When we care for the caregiver, we help the entire family thrive.

On World Prematurity Day, let’s:
💜 Acknowledge the emotional labor of NICU parents.
💜 Advocate for trauma-informed, family-centered care.
💜 Remind families that their feelings are valid and help is available.

🕯️ Join the global tonight to honor every baby born too soon, too small, or too sick — and the love that carries them forward.

11/14/2025

Perinatal mental health isn’t just about the absence of symptoms—it’s about learning to hold compassion for yourself through every stage of change.
You are not alone in your healing. You are not behind. You are becoming.

🕯️ Today’s affirmation:
✨ My feelings are valid. My healing is real. My story is still unfolding.

11/12/2025

After childbirth, your hormones are already in flux as your body works to regulate estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol. When hormonal contraception is introduced during this sensitive time, it can further influence mood by affecting serotonin and dopamine—key chemicals that stabilize emotions and energy.

While some people experience no changes, others report:

Increased sadness or anxiety

Irritability or emotional numbness

Low motivation or fatigue

Decreased libido or sense of disconnection

These reactions don’t mean you’re “too sensitive” or “imagining things.” They reflect how uniquely your body processes hormonal shifts—especially after pregnancy, sleep deprivation, and stress.

If you notice a change in mood after starting or switching birth control:
🌿 Track your symptoms for a few weeks.
🩺 Discuss alternatives with your provider—options include non-hormonal or low-dose methods.
🧠 Consider collaborating with a mental health professional to monitor emotional changes.

Your reproductive health and your mental health are connected. You deserve care that honors both.

11/05/2025

The Sleep Trap: You put the baby down, your body is exhausted, and you finally have a moment to rest... but you lie there wide awake.

Fragmented sleep (waking up for the baby) is a fact of new parenthood. But clinical insomnia (the inability to fall or stay asleep even when you have the chance) is a key symptom of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs).

This isn't just about being tired. This is a biological sign that your brain can't shut down due to anxiety, racing thoughts, or a dysregulated stress system. It's a symptom that actively fuels depression and anxiety.

If you’re wide awake when the baby is asleep, it is not normal. It’s a symptom that needs to be addressed, not ignored.

Swipe to learn the difference between typical sleep disruption and clinical insomnia, and get actionable steps for taking back your rest.

➡️ Save this post to remind yourself that poor sleep is a symptom, not a personal failing.

11/03/2025

Too often, perinatal mental health screening stops with one form — usually the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).
It’s an important tool, but it only scratches the surface.

What about the parent who isn’t “sad,” but can’t sleep, relives the birth daily, or fears being alone with their baby?
Those aren’t signs of “just the blues.” They may indicate anxiety, trauma, or obsessive-compulsive symptoms — all part of the perinatal mental health spectrum.

🩺 Comprehensive screening matters because it recognizes the complexity of real experiences.
Clinicians should pair structured tools with open dialogue — asking about fear, irritability, intrusive thoughts, and past trauma.

💙 For parents: You deserve a full picture of your mental health, not just one score.
If something feels off — even if it doesn’t look like sadness — speak up.
Honesty in screening leads to accuracy in healing.

10/29/2025

After experiencing a PMAD, it’s easy to fall into guilt or self-doubt — wondering if you’ve “missed your chance” to bond or if you’re not doing enough.

But here’s the truth: your child doesn’t need perfect. They need present.

Psychologist D.W. Winnicott’s “good enough parent” theory reminds us that secure attachment grows through responsiveness, not flawlessness.
That means:

It’s okay if you sometimes lose patience — repair builds trust.

It’s okay if you missed a moment — consistency matters more than constancy.

It’s okay if healing feels slow — your self-awareness is part of the connection.

Being a “good enough” parent means not giving up when it’s hard, and showing your child what resilience looks like.

💬 Remember: “Good enough” is more than enough for healing — for you and your little one.
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10/28/2025

Heading home!!

My roundtable presentation on "The Hidden Struggles: Infertility, Mental Health, and Black Motherhood" was SOLD OUT and went exceptionally well. It even went ten minutes over time, with such rich & lively discussion. So many connections made and so much great feedback.

I wholeheartedly enjoyed San Antonio & the Society for Reproductive Medicine Scientific Congress.

But as much as I love speaking & training, I'm ready to see my family and hug their necks.

Until next time...

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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.