428: Behind the Sessions: The Weight of the Mental Load

428: Behind the Sessions: The Weight of the Mental Load

Author: Katayune Kaeni, Psy.D., PMH-C July 10, 2025 Duration: 32:31
The end of the school year and the transition to summer bring different types of mental load for parents. There is a shift in schedule, priorities, and what you’re thinking about each day, and there can be more to manage, especially for the default parent who usually takes care of everything. It’s a different type of stress, but it is stress nonetheless. There can be a wide variance in the load you carry, depending on your partner and other supports you have in place. We must acknowledge that the mental load is an invisible load yet a significant burden; it’s a labor of thinking, remembering, organizing, and planning that keeps the family and household running smoothly. It can all be overwhelming! Join me in today’s episode for a closer look. Show Highlights: The constant hum in your mind of all that needs to be done The potential for contention between parents in remembering ALL the details (along with anxiety, depression, and disconnection) Remember that two things can be true at the same time! Partnership is essential in co-parenting and co-managing the household. Examples of how a partner can step in to help in meaningful ways: taking over specific tasks, being emotionally present, and having a weekly time for an honest check-in with each other Advice to moms and dads for communicating and validating each other Setting boundaries, saying NO, letting go of some tasks, and asking for help The importance of finding community, connection, and support groups Key takeaways from Dr. Kat: “Acknowledge your feelings, state them aloud, and share them. Only then can you start to change.” Resources: Call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA or visit cdph.ca.gov Please find resources in English and Spanish at Postpartum Support International, or by phone/text at 1-800-944-4773. There are many free resources, like online support groups, peer mentors, a specialist provider directory, and perinatal mental health training for therapists, physicians, nurses, doulas, and anyone who wants to be more supportive in offering services.  You can also follow PSI on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and most other platforms Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/ for information on the grief course.   Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today! If you are a California resident looking for a therapist in perinatal mental health, email me about openings for private pay clients! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by psychologist and perinatal mental health specialist Dr. Katayune Kaeni, the Mom and Mind podcast creates a vital space for conversations that are often left in the shadows. While postpartum depression is a critical starting point, this series explores the entire spectrum of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, from anxiety and OCD to the complex emotions that many new parents experience but feel unprepared to discuss. Dr. Kat, as she’s known to listeners, brings both professional expertise and deep empathy to each episode, sitting down with mothers, fathers, clinicians, and advocates to share real stories and practical strategies. You’ll hear honest dialogues about coping, managing daily life, and the nuanced path to recovery, all framed within the understanding that mental health is foundational to family health. This isn’t about quick fixes, but about building resilience and finding community through shared experience. The Mom and Mind podcast consistently goes beyond surface-level advice, delving into the raw, complicated, and hopeful realities of parenting’s early stages. It’s a resource that acknowledges the full picture of becoming a parent, offering validation and evidence-based guidance when it’s needed most. Tune in for conversations that are as informative as they are genuinely supportive.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Mom and Mind | Pregnancy and Postpartum Depression & Anxiety
Podcast Episodes
Birth Trauma: Gaps in Care and Advocacy for Change (Ep. 479) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:46
If you’re one of the many mothers who has experienced birth trauma, you’ve likely battled shame, anger, confusion, among other emotions. Today’s guest discusses her story of birth trauma, including the effects of the exp…
A Postpartum Psychosis Journey: From Healing to Advocacy (Ep. 478) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:24
Today’s guest shares her personal story of postpartum psychosis with an underlying bipolar disorder. Her experience has inspired her passion for advocacy on behalf of other mothers who need support and the assurance that…
Embodied Motherhood: Postpartum and Beyond (Ep. 476) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:06
Today’s episode takes a deep dive into learning to listen to your body and understanding how this knowledge can support you through motherhood. Trusting your body with a deep connectedness can help you heal your relation…
Perinatal Mental Health Risks: Using the HEAL MAMAS Tool (Ep. 473) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:26
Today’s episode focuses on the HEAL MAMAS advocacy tool and the importance of understanding risk factors for perinatal mental health. Women and their providers need to know the risks for PMADs and the screening process.…