Vanessa Martinez, LPC

11/28/2025

Something that has weighed heavy on my mind recently, and that I honestly hadn’t thought much of until I was a therapist, what how difficult that the holidays can be for some people.

Whether its from not having a family member for the first time or the 50th time, due to someone having passed away, relationship issues, or heartbreak, holidays can bring people down just as much as they can bring people joy.

Whichever one you are, be mindful of what other people are doing this holiday season. Be kind. Be loving. Be aware that not everyone is cheerful this time of year.

Be okay with those people that are as well. When we can take a step back and can remember we all experience things differently, and not judge someone for how they are expressing their emotions, the world can be a much better place.

So, whether you struggle or find joy in the holidays, let’s be mindful together and meet each other where we are at.

10/11/2025

This is such a helpful graphic.

Mamas and Dad's- you're not alone! Perinatal mental health issues are real and can affect both of you!

Reach out for help when you need it. Being a parent is hard. It can be scary at times, but you can learn to enjoy the moments with baby and with each other.

✨ Is it PPD, PPA, or POCD? ✨
Perinatal mental health challenges can look different for every parent. While postpartum depression is more widely recognized, many also experience perinatal anxiety or perinatal OCD—and each one is temporary, treatable, and deserves support. 💙

This OCD Awareness Week, let’s break the stigma and raise awareness about perinatal OCD—marked by intrusive thoughts, compulsions, and hypervigilance—that can feel overwhelming but is treatable with the right help.

You are not alone. Healing is possible. 🌸

👉 Save this post to learn the differences between PPD, PPA, and POCD.
👉 Share to spread awareness.

📞 PSI HelpLine: 1-800-944-4773 (call or text)
📞 National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: 1-833-852-6262
🌐 Visit Postpartum.net for free support groups, resources, and help in your area.
📱 Download the Connect by PSI App in the App Store & Google Play Store

10/10/2025

💭 Moms — can I ask you something?
Have you ever thought to yourself, “I don’t even know who I am anymore”?

I’ve been hearing this from so many moms lately. We get so focused on our babies or older kids that we sometimes forget that we are our own person too.

If there were a supportive space to help you manage the mental load, feel more like you again, and learn real tools for peace of mind — would you be interested?

Comment ❤️ or “yes” if that sounds like something you’d join.

08/25/2025

Mamas who haven't felt like the remember what it's like to have hobbies or how to take care of yourself, this one is for you.

Read more here: https://wix.to/cXPIYBE

Some days in motherhood feel like a blur, don’t they? You wake up, get everyone fed, dressed, and out the door. Before you know it, the whole day has passed. Then it’s dinner, baths, bedtime routines—and you’re left wondering where the heck did the day go? What did I do for me? If you’ve e...

08/01/2025

I had to share this little excerpt from the book I am reading by Brene Brown called The Gift of Imperfection. I love it because as a therapist, I teach people and encourage them to embrace all of themselves l. Their authentic, vulnerable selves. It’s scary but it can be beautiful too.

How can you embrace your imperfect self today?

07/31/2025

How do you all get your kids (and yourself!) prepared for the school year?

07/22/2025

I'm curious about what other women have experienced about their own journeys through childbirth and early postpartum.

Did you feel supported? Did you not feel supported? Who helped you through this time? Maybe no one did- I want to hear that too.

What is something that nobody told you about childbirth that you weren't expecting?

Did you have baby at home with a midwife or did you have a baby at the hospital? Natural delivery? C-Section?

I want to hear your experiences!

06/21/2025

Did you know that up to 1 in 4 new dads experience postpartum depression? In honor of June being men's mental health awareness month, this post is for the dads in our lives.

Men’s mental health matters, especially after welcoming a new baby into the family. The emotional challenges can be real, and it’s important to remember that dads need support, too.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you’re not alone. Let’s break the silence, start the conversation, and support each other toward healthier, happier families.

Learn more about men’s mental health after a baby arrives in my latest blog post. https://www.thrivinginmotherhood.net/post/dad-s-mental-health-matters-too

06/06/2025

Sometimes figuring out what to say to our kids is hard. Here's some tips to help you communicate more clearly:

1. Put all your attention on them and get down on their level.

2. Speak like they do. This is for smaller kids but use words they do. Sprinkle in the correct words in there too, but you dont have to emphasize correcting every single time.

3. Play with them. Even bigger kids want to play. Kids play to learn skills and to just have fun. Focus yourself on the moment and this will help easy your own anxieties about all the stuff you feel like you should be doing.

4. Create a special time each night or each week where they can talk to you about anything that might be coming up for them and truly listen! It might be something silly or uninteresting but if those things are important enough to bring up, I promise you, they'll remember if you ignored them or didn't care about it. They'll also remember the times you truly listened and cared for them so they will bring up the big stuff when they're older too!

Good luck and I hope these help! Let me know in the comments if you'd implemented any of these or want to.

05/26/2025

In this post, I share my journey both of my own postpartum mental health but also why I chose to help women who are pregnant or postpartum.

Many therapists choose to specialize in some sort of therapy that they are passionate about. I have chosen to specialize in perinatal mental health. A lot of people haven't heard the term perinatal. They don't know that there is such a thing. But a lot of people know what natal means. Natal is the w...

05/16/2025

Im so excited to be giving this talk at the Mancos Public library tomorrow!

Come join me mamas!