In this episode, clinical psychologist Amanda Donnet joins Dr Michelle Livock and Monique Mitchelson to talk about perinatal mental health through a fierce, compassion-forward lens.
Amanda works at the intersection of infant feeding, mental health, and early parenting, and brings a Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) framework to one of the most loaded seasons of life.
While “perinatal” means around birth, including pregnancy and infancy, this conversation has strong relevance for parents of kids of all ages.
This 85-page Episode Companion Article includes:
A clean, readable transcript format for easier re-reading and sharing
Key quotes, key terms, and visual callouts
Reflection questions and journaling space
Linked resources mentioned in the episode
Episode topics include:
Amanda’s journey into perinatal maternal mental health as a clinical psychologist.
Why can the perinatal period feel so challenging?
Common mental health challenges during the perinatal period.
Relationships
Breathing Underwater
Skill vs. Capacity
CFT-based frameworks and approaches in perinatal maternal mental health.
The Threat System
The Drive System
Rebalancing the Mental Load
The soothe system and strategies for when having a baby activates the threat system, and strategies for sensory overwhelm.
Maternal rage in the perinatal period.
Managing dysregulation and the importance of help-seeking.
The importance of neurodivergence screening in the perinatal space + Amanda’s four-point executive function plan.
Good for:
All parents wanting shame-free language and practical tools
Neurodivergent parents navigating sensory overload, executive load, and identity shifts in early parenting
Clinicians, educators, and support workers wanting a compassion-based, systems-aware resource
💡 Professionals: Add a $3 license upgrade if you want to use this resource in client work, groups, supervision, or trainings
Instant PDF download. U.S. Letter size. Printable.
In this episode, clinical psychologist Amanda Donnet joins Dr Michelle Livock and Monique Mitchelson to talk about perinatal mental health through a fierce, compassion-forward lens.
Amanda works at the intersection of infant feeding, mental health, and early parenting, and brings a Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) framework to one of the most loaded seasons of life.
While “perinatal” means around birth, including pregnancy and infancy, this conversation has strong relevance for parents of kids of all ages.
This 85-page Episode Companion Article includes:
A clean, readable transcript format for easier re-reading and sharing
Key quotes, key terms, and visual callouts
Reflection questions and journaling space
Linked resources mentioned in the episode
Episode topics include:
Amanda’s journey into perinatal maternal mental health as a clinical psychologist.
Why can the perinatal period feel so challenging?
Common mental health challenges during the perinatal period.
Relationships
Breathing Underwater
Skill vs. Capacity
CFT-based frameworks and approaches in perinatal maternal mental health.
The Threat System
The Drive System
Rebalancing the Mental Load
The soothe system and strategies for when having a baby activates the threat system, and strategies for sensory overwhelm.
Maternal rage in the perinatal period.
Managing dysregulation and the importance of help-seeking.
The importance of neurodivergence screening in the perinatal space + Amanda’s four-point executive function plan.
Good for:
All parents wanting shame-free language and practical tools
Neurodivergent parents navigating sensory overload, executive load, and identity shifts in early parenting
Clinicians, educators, and support workers wanting a compassion-based, systems-aware resource
💡 Professionals: Add a $3 license upgrade if you want to use this resource in client work, groups, supervision, or trainings
Instant PDF download. U.S. Letter size. Printable.
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