Tisheila Justice 3/1/25 Tisheila Justice 3/1/25

The Importance of Protecting Your Relationships as a Mom: A Guide for Mothers Navigating Life's Challenges

Why Protecting Your Female Friendships As A Mom is Important

Motherhood is a beautiful journey filled with moments of joy, growth, and transformation. Yet, it can also be a time of overwhelming challenges, both physically and emotionally. As a trauma therapist specializing in maternal and perinatal mental health, I’ve witnessed firsthand how motherhood can strain relationships, whether it’s with a partner, family members, or even close friends. With the added stress of anxiety, trauma, chronic illness, or fertility challenges, it can often feel like your relationships are on the brink of breaking.

Here’s the truth every mom needs to hear, your relationships are worth protecting. As a mother, your well-being and emotional health directly influence how you show up for those you love. That’s why taking steps to nurture and safeguard your relationships is essential - not just for your own healing but for the health of your family.

**The Real Challenges Moms Face in Relationships**

When we think about relationships as mothers, we often focus on our bond with our children. But the dynamic with your partner, family, and friends is equally important.

Between sleepless nights, parenting struggles, and the societal pressures of “doing it all,” it’s easy for relationships to take a backseat. Add trauma, anxiety, or past unresolved issues, and things can get even more complicated.

Here are some common challenges moms face in relationships:

Mental health struggles: Anxiety, depression, and trauma can create emotional barriers in relationships. The weight of these conditions can make it difficult to communicate effectively or connect in meaningful ways with your partner or loved ones.
Parenting stress: Parenting itself can be challenging, and disagreements about parenting styles or how to navigate difficult situations can add to tension in relationships. It can feel like you’re not on the same team, and that divide can grow.
Perfectionism and people-pleasing: The expectation that we need to be perfect as mothers can lead to feelings of burnout. This often means putting your needs last, which can cause frustration, resentment, and a breakdown in relationships.
Trauma triggers: Whether from childhood trauma, birth trauma, or past experiences, triggers can make it harder to navigate everyday interactions with loved ones. Relationships can become a source of emotional discomfort when we’re constantly dealing with unresolved pain.

Why Protecting Your Relationships Matters

As a therapist who specializes in maternal mental health, I can’t stress enough the importance of nurturing your relationships, especially in motherhood. Here’s why:

Healthy relationships are foundational to your well-being: Strong, supportive relationships help you feel seen, heard, and understood. When you are supported by your partner or loved ones, it reduces stress and helps regulate your emotions. It’s easier to manage anxiety and trauma when you have a safe space to process your feelings.
Connection fosters healing: Healing from trauma doesn’t just happen in a therapist’s office; it happens in the relationships we cultivate. When you feel emotionally safe in your relationships, you’re more likely to open up, seek support, and make positive changes in your life.
Breaking generational cycles: As mothers, we have a unique opportunity to break harmful generational cycles of trauma and unhealthy relationship patterns. Protecting your relationships means showing up for your family in healthier ways, fostering a home where love and understanding replace stress and conflict.
Modeling emotional health for your children: Children learn by watching the adults around them. By protecting and nurturing your relationships, you teach your children the importance of healthy communication, boundaries, and emotional regulation.

Tips for Protecting and Strengthening Your Relationships as a Mom

As a mother navigating the complexities of life, it's vital to have strategies in place to protect your emotional health and your relationships. Here are some practical ways to do so:

Set healthy boundaries: Protecting your relationships means knowing when to say no. Boundaries are about self-care and creating space for your emotional needs. This applies to family members, your partner, and even your children. Boundaries are not walls; they are bridges to connection and understanding.
Prioritize quality time with your partner: In the chaos of motherhood, it's easy to neglect your relationship with your partner. However, carving out intentional, meaningful time together is crucial. Whether it's a date night, a walk together, or just a few minutes of undistracted conversation, prioritizing your partnership can deepen your connection.
Communicate openly and authentically: Communication is the key to any healthy relationship. When you're honest about your feelings, needs, and struggles, your loved ones are better equipped to support you. If you're feeling overwhelmed or disconnected, speak up—your emotional well-being matters.
Practice self-compassion: Show yourself the same love and care you extend to others. When we are kinder to ourselves, we’re better equipped to show up for those we love. Self-compassion reduces stress, cultivates patience, and helps you be more present with your family.
Seek therapy when needed: If you’re struggling with trauma, anxiety, or relationship challenges, don’t hesitate to seek professional support. EMDR therapy can be incredibly effective in processing trauma and regulating emotions. Therapy helps you navigate difficult emotions and relationships, giving you the tools to protect your peace and nurture healthy connections.

How Therapy and EMDR Can Support Your Relationship Journey

As a trauma therapist, I offer therapy and EMDR therapy in Florida to help mothers like you build coping strategies and heal from past trauma. Whether you’re dealing with birth trauma, childhood wounds, or anxiety, EMDR can help you process and heal so you can show up authentically in your relationships.

The journey of healing is not easy, but it’s one that’s worth taking. You deserve the support, love, and connection that comes from healthy, thriving relationships. By focusing on your emotional health and healing, you’re not only protecting yourself—you’re protecting your family and the relationships that matter most.

You Are Worth the Investment

Protecting your relationships as a mom is an investment in your well-being and the well-being of your family. It takes courage to set boundaries, seek support, and break the cycles of trauma that affect relationships. As you navigate the challenges of motherhood, remember that you’re not alone. Together, we can work to create relationships that support, nurture, and empower you to be the best version of yourself.

If you’re struggling to navigate your relationships or need support in your healing journey, I’m here to help. Let’s work together to create the life and relationships you deserve.

Tisheila Justice 2/15/25 Tisheila Justice 2/15/25

From Adopted to Becoming a Mom: Understanding and Navigating Adoptee Trauma

How Do You Overcome Adoption Trauma?: *Pregnant Black Woman Holding Her Pregnancy Bump*

Becoming a mom is one of life’s most transformative journeys, but for adoptees, this chapter can also unearth complex emotions and unresolved wounds. Even if you have a strong and loving relationship with your adoptive parents, the transition to motherhood can bring up feelings and questions you may not have known were there. As a trauma therapist specializing in maternal mental health and adoption trauma, I’m here to help you understand these experiences and navigate this unique and deeply personal journey.

Understanding The Roots of Adoptee Trauma

The journey of self-discovery for adoptees often sparks a desire to learn more about their adoption story or even search for their biological family. While growing up in a loving home can provide a sense of security, the early separation from a biological mother can leave emotional imprints that influence your sense of identity, belonging, and relationships. Therapy can help you navigate these feelings, explore the complexities of your adoption experience, and empower you to make decisions that align with your values and needs.

How Motherhood Brings Up Old Wounds

Becoming a mom introduces a biological connection for the first time—a connection that adoptees may have never experienced before. This can bring up a range of emotions, including:

Grief for what was lost. Holding your baby may stir feelings of sadness or longing for the connection you didn’t have with your biological mother.
Heightened sensitivity to separation. You may find yourself deeply protective of your child or feeling triggered by the idea of being apart from them, even briefly.
Questions about identity. Seeing parts of yourself reflected in your child can lead to a mix of joy, curiosity, and confusion about your roots and who you are.
Guilt or fear of “messing up.” Adoptees often carry a fear of rejection or failure, which can amplify as they take on the role of a parent.

**How To Navigate These Complex Emotions in Motherhood**

The emotions that arise during motherhood as an adoptee are not a sign of weakness; they are an opportunity for growth, healing, and deeper connection—both with yourself and your family. Here are some ways to navigate this journey:

1. Acknowledge Your Feelings Without Judgment

Give yourself permission to feel the full spectrum of emotions—joy, grief, confusion, and even anger. Journaling can be a helpful tool to process these feelings. Remember, there is no “right” way to feel about your adoption or your motherhood journey.

2. Seek Therapy or Support

Working with a trauma therapist who understands adoptee experiences can provide a safe space to explore your feelings. Modalities like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) can help you process unresolved trauma and reframe limiting beliefs about yourself and your worth. EMDR is a powerful, evidence-based therapy that helps you heal from past wounds by targeting the root of your emotional pain and allowing you to move forward with greater clarity and peace.

3. Connect With Your Inner Child

Motherhood often brings your inner child to the surface. Take time to nurture and comfort the part of you that may still feel scared, abandoned, or unsure. Visualization exercises or somatic practices can help you offer that younger version of yourself the love and reassurance they needed.

4. Embrace the Biological Connection

Having a biological connection with your child for the first time can be both exhilarating and overwhelming. Focus on the beauty of this bond and allow yourself to celebrate it. Take time to notice the little things—a shared smile, a familiar trait—and let these moments ground you in the present.

5. Set Boundaries and Build a Support System

Navigating adoptee trauma while parenting can be exhausting. Set boundaries that protect your emotional well-being and surround yourself with supportive people who understand your journey. It’s okay to ask for help and take time for self-care.

6. Explore Your Adoption Story

If you feel ready, consider revisiting your adoption story or learning more about your biological roots. This doesn’t have to be a solo journey; therapy can offer guidance as you navigate this process. Understanding more about your past can help you make sense of your present.

Does EMDR Work for Adoption Trauma?: *Black Mom Holding Her Newborn Baby*

Breaking Generational Cycles

One of the most powerful aspects of motherhood as an adoptee is the opportunity to break generational cycles. By confronting your own wounds and working through them, you’re creating a new legacy of emotional safety, connection, and love for your child. You’re showing them—and yourself—that healing is possible and that it’s okay to feel all the messy, beautiful parts of being human.

You Are Enough

The journey from being adopted to becoming a mom is layered with complexity, but it’s also filled with profound opportunities for growth and healing. You may feel overwhelmed by emotions you didn’t anticipate, but remember: you are not alone, and you are enough.

As a trauma therapist, I’ve walked alongside many mothers navigating similar journeys. My goal is to provide a space where you can show up authentically, without the pressure to be perfect. Together, we can work through the layers of your story, build coping strategies, and create the emotional freedom you and your family deserve.

If you’re ready to explore how EMDR therapy can help you heal from adoptee trauma and navigate the challenges of motherhood, I’d love to support you. Let’s connect and discuss your needs in a consultation call.

You’re not just surviving—you’re breaking cycles and building a future where love, connection, and healing take center stage. And that is nothing short of extraordinary.

Tisheila Justice 5/28/19 Tisheila Justice 5/28/19

How to Heal Your Inner Child as a Mom: A Guide to Breaking Cycles and Nurturing Growth

Motherhood is a profound and transformative experience. It brings immense joy but also has a unique way of unearthing wounds you may have thought were long buried. If you’re a mom struggling with anxiety, guilt, or the weight of generational trauma, it’s possible that your inner child is calling for healing. As a Florida-based trauma therapist specializing in maternal mental health, I’m here to guide you through the journey of healing your inner child so you can break cycles and build a thriving, emotionally connected family.

What Is Your Inner Child?

Your inner child is the part of you that holds memories, emotions, and beliefs from your childhood. It carries the wounds of unmet needs, rejection, or trauma you may have faced growing up. These experiences often influence your adult life, especially as a mom, where old triggers can resurface in ways that impact your parenting style, relationships, and mental health.

Why Healing Your Inner Child Matters as a Mom

Healing your inner child isn’t just about personal growth; it’s about breaking generational cycles of trauma, shame, or unhealthy coping mechanisms. By addressing your own wounds, you can:

Model emotional resilience for your children.
Parent with intention and empathy, rather than from a place of reactivity.
Break free from guilt and perfectionism, allowing you to embrace the messy, beautiful reality of motherhood.
Create a home environment rooted in safety and connection rather than fear or control.

Signs Your Inner Child Needs Healing

As a mom, you may notice these signs that your inner child is seeking attention:

You’re overly critical of yourself or your parenting.
You struggle with people-pleasing tendencies or setting boundaries with others.
You’re easily triggered by your child’s behavior, especially if it mirrors your own childhood experiences.
You feel disconnected from your emotions or overwhelmed by feelings of guilt or shame.
You have difficulty trusting others, including your partner or support system.

Recognizing these patterns is the first step toward healing.

Steps to Heal Your Inner Child as a Mom

1. Acknowledge and Validate Your Inner Child’s Emotions

Healing begins with acknowledging that your inner child’s feelings are valid. Take time to reflect on your childhood experiences and how they might still impact you today. Journaling can be a powerful tool to explore memories and emotions.

2. Practice Self-Compassion

Give yourself the grace you deserve. You are not expected to be a perfect mom—perfection is a myth. When you find yourself slipping into self-criticism, remind yourself that you’re doing the best you can with the resources you have.

3. Set Healthy Boundaries

Many moms struggle with saying no, especially if they grew up in environments where their needs weren’t prioritized. Learning to set boundaries isn’t about shutting people out; it’s about protecting your peace and creating a space where you and your family can thrive.

4. Seek Professional Support

Therapy can be a game-changer in your healing journey. Modalities like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) are particularly effective for addressing childhood trauma and rewiring unhelpful beliefs that stem from it. As a therapist, I work with moms to help them process their pain and rediscover their inner strength.

5. Connect With Your Inner Child

Take moments to nurture the part of you that feels small, scared, or unseen. Visualization exercises can help you imagine yourself comforting your younger self. Engage in activities that bring joy or creativity—whether it’s painting, dancing, or simply playing with your kids.

6. Break Generational Cycles

Reflect on the parenting patterns you experienced growing up. What do you want to carry forward, and what do you want to leave behind? Healing your inner child allows you to consciously choose how you parent and interact with your children, ensuring they grow up feeling seen, heard, and loved.

The Importance of Authenticity in Motherhood

One of the most freeing steps in this process is letting go of the pressure to appear perfect. As moms, we’re often told to have it all together, but healing requires showing up authentically—messy moments and all. Your willingness to face your inner wounds doesn’t just heal you; it teaches your children the power of vulnerability and resilience.

Remember: You Are Breaking Chains

Healing your inner child as a mom is not a quick or linear journey, but it’s one of the most transformative gifts you can give yourself and your family. Each step you take—whether it’s seeking therapy, setting boundaries, or practicing self-compassion—is a step toward breaking generational cycles and creating a legacy of love, connection, and growth.

You don’t have to do it alone. If you’re ready to take the next step, consider reaching out for support. Together, we can navigate the path to healing and help you show up as the fearless, loving, and authentic mom you were always meant to be.