One of the greatest gifts of teaching is to watch a former student spread their wings in the world. Take the years of education, the life experience, the curiosity and passion they possess and find their place to shine. Today on the podcast we talk with former student, intern, colleague and friend Allison Murphy, someone I first met in the classroom more than 20 years ago. Allison is a clinician, founder and CEO of Mothers Care, a service provider for women during the prenatal and perinatal periods of pregnancy and delivery. In layman’s speak, Allison provides support during some of the most significant and extraordinary times in a woman’s life, when she is pregnant and in those first early months of motherhood.

The discovery that a woman is pregnant sets into motion a series of changes. For some, it is a time of great excitement and anticipation, for others, a time of anxiety, fear and worry. For many of us, a combination of all of these feelings and more. Yet society does not often create space for the latter, leaving the new mother feeling isolated and alone. Left untreated, these issues can cause serious problems. According to Mothers Care’s website, “Nationally, nearly 1 in 5 women struggle with maternal mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression, yet most go untreated (2020mom). Additionally, 1 in 10 Dads will experience depression postpartum (Postpartum.net). The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated mental health struggles. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) August 2020 findings, 40.9% of U.S. adults reported struggling with poor mental health.”

The mother of two, Allison recognized the need for support for women who struggle during this difficult time. In 2010 she began to work with a local OB/GYN, hoping to build a partnership and create a lifeline for those facing challenges. Her commitment and hard work paid off. Now, after years of diligence and dedication, Mothers Care is a thriving service provider in partnership with a host of local OB/GYNs, mid-wives, pediatricians and healthcare providers.

Allison received her Bachelor of Arts from George Mason University, her Master of Arts from Sonoma State University, and she completed post-graduate training at the Family Institute of Marin with a focus on Family Therapy. She has over 30 years of experience working in clinical settings with individuals, families and couples. She is an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) Interface Master Trainer and sits on committees for the Sonoma County Mental Health Services Act and Sonoma County Nurse Family Partnership. Allison’s experience includes instructing at Sonoma State University, consulting, training, and presenting to state and local organizations on the topic of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders; and co-hosting a community public radio program.

She is the proud mother of two children and the grandmother of a beautiful baby boy. Allison lives in Petaluma, California with her husband Jack.

You can listen to her episode here.

To learn more about Allison’s work, check out the Mothers Care website.

To learn more about Robert Maggio, the composer of our theme music, please check out his website.

To learn more about the inspiration for this podcast, please check out Suzanne's memoir,  Estrellas - Moments of Illumination Along El Camino de Santiago. 

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