Episode #59: Perinatal mental health with Catherine Mellinger and Lisette Weber

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Rhonda chats with perinatal mental health advocates, Catherine Mellinger and Lisette Weber about their non-profit work with Together Waterloo, how they got into it and WHY!Catherine Mellinger (she/they) is a queer femme birthing parent to two neurodiverse children, who identifies as living with an invisible disability. She is a certified Expressive Arts Therapist having graduated from the CREATE Institute in 2011, and continued on to gain training in Perinatal Mental Health from Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Trainings and Postpartum Support International. She began to specialize in working with Perinatal populations due to her own lived experience of pregnancy and postpartum mental health challenges, due to a pre-existing mental health disorder. Lisette Weber (she/her) is a mama of two, a certified postpartum doula, and a perinatal mental health activist. Her experience with postpartum depression and anxiety led her into her work with postpartum populations. She is a certified Full Spectrum Doula through Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings. Lisette has further education in perinatal mental health through CPMHT, PSI, and 2020 Moms. With a passion for helping others, she also became a certified GPS facilitator to provide peer support groups in her area. She currently juggles her volunteer work with two rambunctious kiddos at home.===============================If you liked this episode of Pelvic Health and Fitness, share it with a friend, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, or subscribe anywhere you listen to your podcasts!LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN EPISODE Together Waterloo WebsiteFollow Together Waterloo on IGDonate to Climb Out of the DarknessBecome a Star Supporter for Together WaterlooPODCAST LINKS & RESOURCESFollow Rhonda on IG Rhonda’s Website Check out Rhonda’s FREE Resource Library Pelvic Health and Fitness Podcast Book with Dayna(Rebirth Wellness)SHOW NOTES: (0:51) - Welcome and intro to our special guests: Catherine Mellinger and Lisette Weber!(3:00) - Catherine and Lisette tell us a little bit more about themselves and what got them into perinatal mental health(18:09) - What makes Lisette and Catherine so passionate about supporting folks in the perinatal mental health journey?(25:00) - Catherine and Lisette shed some light on the imbalanced access to perinatal health support in Waterloo region and how their work hopes to inspire change(29:50) - How do Lisette and Catherine get their name and business out there to find clients who need their support?(37:41) - How did Together Waterloo come to be, and how does it serve the community?(57:58) - What advocacy initiatives is Together Waterloo a part of that others can ge