Navigating Motherhood, Therapy, and Shame Resilience with Dr. Jenny Turner

We are talking self-care on The Business of Psychology podcast

Photo by nrd on Unsplash

This week I’m writing from a place of exhaustion. In the spirit of the podcast episode I recorded with Dr Jenny Turner I felt I should acknowledge this from the start. My bones are tired.

Specifically, I am afflicted by the particular shade of tired that comes from a fortnight of vomiting children, solo parenting and trips to hospital. That queasy mix of anxiety, frustration and boredom that all the working parents reading this will know, even if we struggle to give it a name. The exhaustion has been so deep at times that I am fairly sure I have also been quite ill but didn’t really have time to pay attention.

There couldn’t really be a better week for me to release my conversation with Dr Jenny Turner. Jenny specialises in supporting us, the people who are really good at giving care but may not be so skilled at receiving it. I’ve known Jenny as a fellow perinatal clinical psychologist for while now and was delighted to hear she is now also inviting other mental health professionals to join her for therapy. I honestly believe there is nothing better we can do for our professional practice.

In the latest episode of The Business of Psychology, Jenny explains how she has personally and professionally navigated the landscape of motherhood, therapy, and shame resilience. She gives an articulate voice to the struggles many mental health professionals face, often leading them to the brink of burnout. I love an opportunity to talk about the unique and damaging culture that surrounds mental health professionals in the UK that creates an unnatural divide between “us” and our clients and keeps many of us from accessing the support we need as humans. I hope you will find the conversation refreshing.

Listen to the episode on the Business of Psychology here.

This week pretty much the only work activity I achieved amongst the vomit clearance was a training session with my local CIPD (the professional body for HR professionals). I had to move heaven and earth and call in all of my support network to make it happen. In fact it was so logistically difficult (especially for my tired brain) I nearly wrote it off as “impossible” but giving that talk was so close to my personal and professional values that I persisted through all the guilt and shame of handing my poorly babies over to someone else to do it and I am so glad that I did. Getting people thinking about mental health support as the “default” in pregnancy and parenthood is one of the reasons I started my “do more than therapy” journey eight years ago. My mission is all about changing the perception of mental health so people get support before the point of needing “treatment” and although this week was a tough one I felt I lived it.

Happy Saturday, wishing you all a restful weekend and, especially on mother’s day weekend, I hope you find the time and space to look after yourselves.

Connect with Dr Jenny

To learn more about Jenny’s work and perspectives, follow her on Instagram @drjennypsychologist or explore her writings on her Substack, Mind Body Soul Psychology. Her website is MindBodySoulPsychology.co.uk.

Ways to work with me

If you are a parent struggling with your mental health, HG or recovering from a traumatic birth my practice offers specialist therapy to help you thrive again. Book a free chat with us over at www.knowyourmindconsulting.com

If you are a mental health professional venturing into private practice, possibly because you NEED the flexibility we have everything you need from legal documentation, courses and coaching to create a fulfilling and profitable practice (whatever life throws at you) over at www.psychologybusinessschool.com

If you are a parent struggling to find your spark for your career or business due to the changing needs of your family, maybe due to SEND or caring responsibilities. You can book a free call here to discuss coaching to reignite your spark and help you reconnect with your professional values.