Gather Interviews Lauren Robbins, a Therapist in White Bear Lake and St. Paul, Minnesota
Lauren Robbins, Clinical Director at Wildtree Wellness
MS, LPCC, LADC, PMH-C
Lauren Robbins specializes in a wide range of topics, most specifically mental and emotional health during the pregnancy and postpartum time. At Gather, we know how important it is to have support to address the transition to parenthood. Perinatal mood disorders are so common. 10% of people will experience a perinatal mood disorder during pregnancy, while around 20% will during postpartum. Folks with birth trauma and issues with transitioning to parenthood will appreciate her positive, humorous, and hopeful approach to the therapeutic relationship. Being flexible in her approach and adapting to the unique needs of each person she works with are among her top priorities, and Lauren believes in optimism for the future while aiming to help you find balance and resiliency in your daily life. She is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Brainspotting, and trauma-sensitive yoga. Lauren is also certified in perinatal mental health.
Tell us about your journey as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor? How did you get started? I ventured into this field via in-home habilitation work. I actually came to this place by way of the addiction field. I had a client with whom I worked in-home with that left a particular impact on my world and when she entered addiction treatment, I started the education and internship path needed to become a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor. From there, I decided to go back to school for a graduate degree in mental health counseling. Before I graduated, I knew I wanted to focus on trauma work because it just made sense to me - treat the trauma and day to day life feels a bit less heavy and perhaps a lot less chaotic. So much of what is fueling addiction is mental health issues and past trauma. I got trained in EMDR as soon as I graduated and have used that trauma modality, as well as others, in my practice ever since. Now, I love working with clients to resolve childhood trauma experiences that impact our relationship with self, peers, partners and our own children. My interest in working with pregnancy, postpartum and parenting coincides with my own journey into motherhood. I encountered some trauma with the birth of my first child and experienced the general challenges of becoming a mother, but I was also amazed by the profound shift in my sense of self and purpose through birth and mothering. After four children and a loss, loving on a parent, in a nonjudgemental, supportive, non-advice, and posing challenges/alternative ways of looking at something way, with a trauma lens, in the therapeutic setting is really fulfilling for me (and hopefully helpful to my clients!).
What are some of the roadblocks you faced prior to getting to this point in your career? The first thing that comes to mind is the experience of being a woman in business and not always being taken seriously while pursuing a dream. However, one of the biggest challenges most of us probably face is that of second-guessing ourselves. When confronted with a challenge that feels like my experiences and education has not prepared me for, like building a private practice from scratch, I have to move through those thoughts of self-doubt, feelings of inadequacy, or worries about not knowing the answer. I have learned I am scrappy and through this journey, I have learned to absolutely believe about myself (and hope others can find it in themselves to know) this truth: "I have the tools within me and the resources around me to get through this." I use this reminder for myself any time a hard thing passes my path or when worry thoughts about the future get the best of me. Try it - it fits for every hard thing! (But remember to be kind to yourself, as it might still hurt like heck!)
What advice would you give to someone who wants to get started as a therapist, but doesn't know where to begin? Reach out to your resources.*see above.* Start asking questions and remember that none of us knew all the answers in the beginning. It's about humbly knowing you will be learning forever, and as you learn, you make changes for the better to become the best version to date.
What's something you're most proud of professionally? Serving as a mentor and leader to other therapists, hopefully lifting them up to believe in their own potential.
What's the most valuable advice you've ever received, either professionally or personally? It's ok to spend time at work away from my children, even if they are sad about it. I was reminded by a mentor that I am modeling for my children what it looks like to be filled up by many things and many roles beyond being their mom. Making choices that serve my own wellbeing is ok.
What's something about this work that shocked you the most, that you wish you'd known before you got started? The role that insurance has in making healthcare choices for their members without taking into account each unique individual's need.
What are your thoughts on life-work balance as a birth/health worker? Is it achievable? I just had a conversation with a colleague who asked, "is balance even a thing??" Haha. It's the pursuit of balance that we're all doing. Finding what's working for the time being and knowing there will always come a time when it changes. Being adaptable and willing to check in with yourself is what's achievable. Asking yourself what you need, particularly in times of stress or feeling over-stretched, and then making time to meet that need - that's not selfish, that's balance.
What is missing in your local birth community? What's a need that isn't being met yet? Parent connection and being real and honest about the hard ass journey!
What are your top five tips for someone who wants to have a positive and empowered birth experience? 1. Be flexible with your wishes and plan. While it's valuable to have an idea of what you'd like your birth experience to look like, the research tells us that the more rigid the expectation for the birth experience, the higher the likelihood of birth trauma.
2. Trauma is in the eye of the beholder; if it was traumatic for you, then it was trauma. That's not for anyone else to determine.
3. Clear out fear before you go into labor. If you had a challenging past birth experience, or are just feeling worried about your ability to bring your baby into the world, work through that. Fear is held in the body and can disrupt the progression of labor.
4. Be real with others about how you are feeling. If you are struggling with anxiety or depression that feels intense, overwhelming, heavy or out of your norm, see a professional. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) can show up in pregnancy and postpartum. They are very treatable and resolve rather quickly with treatment. You don't deserve to feel miserable.
5. Work on connecting with your baby in your belly. Talk or sing to them, speak to them in your mind, or journal to them. Your experience matters!
What are some of your favorite birth accounts/blogs/podcasts/etc right now? Birth Kweens podcast!
What are three things you can't live without lately? Coffee, chocolate, sleep.
What's next for you? Leadership with Pregnancy and Postpartum Support MN (ppsupportmn.org), enjoying my four littles, and hopefully settling into 2020 as a year to breathe and rest after five years of building a business!
