Redefining Rest, Movement, and Healing as a Former Athlete and NICU Mom with Megan Williams, LCSW

In this conversation, Laura sits down with her friend and former soccer teammate, Megan Williams, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), to explore the unique mental health challenges female athletes face—navigating high-performance environments, identity shifts, and overriding the body. Megan shares her journey from collegiate athletics into the mental health field, offering insight into self-compassion, the importance of support systems, and what it really means to redefine success beyond achievement. The conversation also touches on Megan’s deeply personal experience as a NICU mom, and how navigating uncertainty, medical trauma, and the emotional complexity of early motherhood reshaped her relationship to rest, support, and deep listening. **CW: NICU and Traumatic Birth 57:55-1:09:30** Together, Laura and Megan explore the gaps in research and resources for female athletes, the power of mental health advocacy, and what it means to care for ourselves through life’s most demanding seasons. ABOUT: Megan Williams is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a passion for helping individuals navigate life’s complexities through a compassionate, eclectic therapeutic approach. Originally from just outside of Philadelphia, Megan now calls Warren County, New Jersey home—where she balances her professional life with the joyful chaos of raising two spirited boys and occasionally chasing a soccer ball on the weekends. Over the years, Megan has developed a wide-ranging clinical background, working with populations including older adults, individuals with severe and persistent mental illness, survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She believes deeply in the mind-body connection and works with her clients to understand how both past and present experiences shape their well-being. Her therapeutic style is rooted in meeting clients exactly where they are, drawing from a mix of modalities to create individualized care. Whether it’s processing trauma, building coping skills, or simply helping someone feel heard for the first time, Megan brings warmth, professionalism, and a touch of humor to each session. New Discoveries Behavioral Health Mentioned on the Show: The Brave Athlete: Calm the F*ck Down and Rise to the Occasion by Simon Marshall, Ph.D. and Lesley Paterson The Hidden Opponent Dr. Stacy Sims Michele Kang Midlife health crisis of former competitive athletes YOUR HOST: Laura Potter, Certified Menstrual Cycle Coach and Restorative Yoga Teacher My Website Instagram Work with Me: Book a Discovery Call