Sage Tree Therapy

Sage Tree Therapy welcomes Lauren to our team!

Lauren Jeevanjee, MSW, earned her Master of Social Work from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis in 2023 and holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology from New York University.

Lauren brings a thoughtful and nuanced perspective to her clinical work, informed by experience supporting individuals impacted by relationship violence through the ALIVE Crisis Line, as well as work with individuals on the s*x offender registry. These experiences have deepened her understanding of trauma, attachment, accountability, and the complex realities people carry into the therapy room.

Lauren has a deep appreciation for multicultural identities and neurodiverse experiences, shaped by both her personal and professional background. She served on a research team focused on validating a music therapy engagement scale for neurodivergent individuals, stroke survivors, and those navigating grief and traumatic experiences. She values creating an inclusive therapeutic space where clients of all cognitive styles, cultural backgrounds, and lived experiences feel understood, respected, and empowered.

As an individual therapist, Lauren has supported adults across the lifespan as they navigate life transitions, trauma recovery, relationship challenges, and questions of identity and self-acceptance. Her therapeutic approach is grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), while also emphasizing mindfulness, self-compassion, and helping clients reconnect with their authentic selves.

In her current role as a Behavioral Health Intake Therapist within an inpatient psychiatric setting, Lauren works with individuals experiencing acute mental health crises, conducting assessments and helping determine appropriate levels of care. This work further informs her ability to provide compassionate, evidence-based support to individuals facing a wide range of mental health concerns.

I’m a therapist for moms, and I was diagnosed with ADHD during the pandemic.

Looking back, I honestly don’t know how I kept it all together for so long — but I did. I was a strong student, went to grad school, had two high-risk pregnancies, cared for two preemies, built a thriving small business, and nurtured a loving marriage.

Then the pandemic hit, and I hit a wall.

Since then, through a lot of mental health and neurodivergence training, I’ve learned how common this is for moms. Many of us have been struggling for years, creating coping systems without even realizing it — and not knowing it doesn’t have to be this hard.

I didn’t know other people didn’t need a bazillion reminders to complete one task. I didn’t know mailing a card didn’t take everyone 7–10 business days: buy the card, sign it, get family members to sign, buy stamps, put on the stamp, walk to the mailbox… so many steps, so many chances to get distracted.

For most of my life, I thought everyone struggled like I did, and other people were just smarter, better, more disciplined, or somehow more capable. That led to shame and embarrassment, which makes it even harder to connect or ask for help.

Now I understand my ADHD is part of my wiring — and honestly, part of my superpower, along with being a Highly Sensitive Person. I’ve learned to use brain hacks, skills, supports, and resources that actually work for my brain.

That includes medication. The first adhd medication I tried wasn’t a good fit, so I barely took it for years. Then I found the right one, and it has helped tremendously. My to-do list is still never-ending - because, motherhood - but I have more capacity, more follow-through, and more energy.

Medication can be one helpful tool in the toolkit. Therapy with someone who truly understands ADHD can be another.

Have you been struggling and wondering if it could be ADHD? Or hormones? Don’t get me started on that one yet — a bomb was dropped on me last week, and I’m still recovering. More on that hot mess later.

Drop in the comments: what behaviors, practices, or supports have helped your brain and your life?

We can learn from each other.

🍩 🍩
Had a bunch of donuts delivered to the NICU and the Antepartum Unit at Mercy Hospital in honor of my Claire Bears 20th birthday.

All of those nurses are such angels. We were so scared and weren’t supposed to have a baby 7 weeks early. I hope they enjoyed their sugar rush!

We would love to have you for this free online Modern Motherhood Book Club in June! Please share widely!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1491557905813837/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D

Did you know that about 1 in 3 HG patients report experiencing suicidal ideation (Nana et al.)?

Believe us. HG is real, and it’s serious. If you or someone you know is struggling, you’re not alone, and support matters.

👉Learn more about our Support Program here: hyperemesis.org/support
👉Please consider donating to our mission: hyperemesis.org/donate

Perinatal mental health can't wait until crisis. Read our latest blog on early, practical ways to bridge the gap between hospital discharge and postpartum follow-up. Compassionate care can make all the difference!

Sage Tree Therapy is opening our caseloads for new clients, email [email protected] or call (314) 485-SAGE now!

https://wix.to/gckNkbq

Perinatal Mental Health Support Shouldn’t Start at a Breaking Point Perinatal mental health is having a long-overdue moment in the news. Recent coverage has highlighted what therapists, birth workers, OB providers, and parents have known for years: the weeks and months surrounding pregnancy, birth, and postpartum are emotionally intense, medically vulnerable, and st...

When new parents set limits around visits, it can stir up big feelings for extended family — especially grandparents who are excited, eager, and deeply in love with the new baby.

But cocooning is not rejection. It’s often protection. It’s recovery. It’s exhaustion. It’s learning how to become a family in real time.

The loved ones who become trusted support later are usually the ones who respect the boundary now.

Drop off food. Send encouragement. Ask what would actually help. And if the answer is “not visitors yet,” believe them.

That’s how trust is built.

I'm co-hosting a free training sponsored by Generate Health STL on Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders. This would be a perfect opportunity for anyone interested in learning the basics of PMADs or any of your supervisees who are working on licensure and newer to the field. We also tend to go much deeper than introductory trainings so experienced and advanced clinicians and professionals will also get a lot out of our two half-days together. Did I mention FREE and ONLINE? Sign up now!

Two-Day Heartland PMAD Virtual Training This free training is a great opportunity for providers and community members to learn more about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.

Behind every number is a woman with *Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) trying to make it through the day. Maternal Mental Health Day is a reminder that mental health conversations must include those living with HG. Believe Us!

HG increases the risk of maternal mental health complications:
🔸1 in 3 report suicidal ideation (Nana et al.)
🔸1 in 2 diagnosed with PMAD (Tain et al.)
🔸18% meet full criteria PTSD (Christodoulou et al., 2011)
🔸83% report negative psychosocial outcome(s) or economic consequences (Poursharif et al.)
🔸HG is a top 4 predictor of Postpartum Depression (Munk-Olsen et al.)

Please donate today to support our 26th year of helping women and babies facing HG: hyperemesis.org/donate



*HG is defined as a potentially life-threatening pregnancy disease that may cause weight loss, malnutrition, dehydration, and debility due to severe nausea and/or vomiting, and may cause long-term health issues for mothers and babies.

Donate - HER Foundation Your gift will allow us to grow our support, research, advocacy, and education programs. Give Hope! Change Lives!

Trigger Warning for the latest episode of The Pitt, the series finale.
Much of the episode centers around a ‘wild birth’ with someone choosing not to get any prenatal care who ends up being treated for preeclampsia and HELLP Syndrome.

It’s haunting to think how close I came to something like that scene when I was in Antepartum with Claire. It was scary and intense for both Mike and I to watch. 20 years later and those flashbacks and memories still come in clear.

This time I was reminded of the day after Claire was born. I was still in a recovery room in L&D bc I was so sick I guess. I think I was alone, everyone must’ve been visiting Claire in the NICU. Several doctors came in, including my friend , and trusted St Louis OB/GYN Dr Jamie Joyce, who was a resident there at the time I think.

I couldn’t open my eyes to see her but I could hear her voice asking me if I had a boy or a girl. I could barely mouth “girl”. I remember having a terrible headache and feeling super hot. They started putting ice packs all over my body. That’s all I remember. It sucked. I was almost too sick to even be scared.

Anyway - the episode has a positive outcome for both baby and mom - but I always feel compelled to let it be known when there are shows or movies with pregnancy trauma - so there’s my public service announcement.

(This photo was taken the day after she was born, and several hours after the memory I shared above. She was doing so well in the NICU that nurses wheeled her little incubator down to me in recovery so I could hold her. This was over 24-hrs after her birth and I was just getting to hold her for the first time.)