Sara Paules, LPC

To all my fellow ADHDers out there- especially those of us who chose to open a private practice or small business - How are we doing on the annual Procrastination of Taxes Day?!
Been a minute since I’ve gotten on here for various reasons and just wanted to say hello. 👋

There’s something so regulating about daily devotionals & something I love even more about this one, is that it uses parts language and emphasizes self-compassion. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve flipped through on a particularly difficult day of mom life, to land on a page that felt written just for me and my situation. It’s a book that feels like a hug from that one wise friend/older sister.
If you or someone you know is in the middle of a tough season and only have the mental capacity to handle a few sentences of text that feel light/uplifting, this might be your book. 10/10 ⭐️
I’m new to daily devotionals and loved this one! What devotional should I read next?

Perhaps you’re starting to see your weight change on the scale at the doctor’s office from your new baby bump.
Maybe you’re postpartum.. even 2 or 3 or 5+ years postpartum, wondering when you’ll ever lose the weight so many other women seem to shed so easily after having babies.
Maybe you keep telling yourself that you’ll finally feel at peace and allow yourself the gift of eating without counting calories when you can fit into your pre-pregnancy clothes.
May you notice the words you use when you speak about or think about your current body.. and notice whether it comes from a place of bullying, criticism, hate, love, neutrality, or recognition.

Trying something new and posting some of my favorite books I love to recommend to clients. First up is a tried and true read in comic book format with sections of journal prompts- Karen Kleiman’s “Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts”. If you or a friend is newly pregnant or postpartum, just go ahead and buy this super easy to read and beyond validating gem of a book now. For any and all moms but especially for ones struggling with PPD, PPA or just postpartum in general (including relationships with others).
Have you read this book? What would you rate it? I give it a 5/5 ⭐️

Today is International Maternal Mental Health Day and also the 3rd day of Maternal Mental Health Week.
Bring to mind 5 women in your life who have given birth. Statistically speaking, at least one of those 5 women developed a perinatal mental health condition during pregnancy or postpartum. I am not afraid to say that I am 1 in 5. Let’s break the stigma and talk about maternal mental health.
From :
“Worldwide, 1 in 5 women will experience a perinatal (pregnancy and postpartum) mental health condition such as postpartum anxiety or postpartum depression.
Other perinatal mental health conditions include postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), postpartum PTSD, bipolar mood disorders, and postpartum psychosis.“
You are not alone, you are not to blame, and with help, you WILL be well. Get help now:
• Call or text the Postpartum Support International HelpLine at 800-944-4773. You never need a diagnosis to ask for help.
• Call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-852-6262
• In a crisis situation, call or text the National Su***de & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
• Visit postpartum.net for additional programs and resources.
• Download the Connect by PSI App in the App Store or Google Play Store”

Some parenting unpopular opinions I’ve been having on the topic of making parenting generational changes & a whole lot of perfectionism. May you remember that committing to the work and making repairs after ruptures will take you far as a parent.. perfectionism not needed.