217: Managing a Physical Disability During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Today’s show gives us a unique perspective on pregnancy and the postpartum while managing a physical disability. Join us to hear our guest’s inspiring story. Rachel Brousseau is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Registered Drama Therapist, Drama Therapy Board Certified Trainer, and Perinatal Mental Health Certified Therapist. She has a private practice in Burbank, CA, where she specializes in helping highly sensitive mothers throughout their motherhood journey. She is the co-founder of the Creative Center for Motherhood, supporting moms through the use of group creative expression. Rachel has presented for Maternal Mental Health NOW, the North American Drama Therapy Association, USC School of Social Work, Cal State LA, and Heartbeat. She is also a Parent and Me class facilitator and teaches at the Drama Therapy Institute of Los Angeles. Through her personal experience, Rachel is driven to help mothers feel connected so that they never have to feel alone. Show Highlights: Rachel’s story of being diagnosed with a very rare autoimmune disease that affects her muscles at age five; as the progression happened, she had frequent falls and times when she couldn’t walk or navigate stairs How Rachel still played sports and performed in theater with adaptations Why Rachel struggled as an adult to get insurance, being forced to get creative with the medical system to get the services she needed How Rachel learned to advocate for herself and can now support and advocate for her clients How heavy steroids as a child led to eye problems like cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal detachment Why Rachel rejected the idea of parenthood because she overheard a doctor tell her parents that she would never have children How Rachel reconsidered pregnancy after her marriage, even though there was no research to go on for mothers with her condition When she became pregnant, things went well until her third trimester, when she began falling frequently After giving birth, she began having scary thoughts about falling and dropping the baby and her baby getting sick or inheriting her illness How she began attending a Mommy & Me yoga class about 2-3 months postpartum; there were a lot of stairs at the studio, and Rachel was told to “get in shape” when she inquired about an elevator How a similar experience at a second yoga studio left her feeling shut out, unwanted, and like she “couldn’t do motherhood well” How art therapy finally left her feeling acknowledged and made all the difference How Rachel handled going back to work with certain accommodations Why Rachel started researching perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, making sense of it all, and determining to help other moms Why Rachel stuck with strict criteria for her private practice office space to accommodate herself and her clients Rachel’s checklist to consider for disability and accessibility How support and telehealth help during the postpartum period Rachel’s advice for those with disabilities in dealing with “able-ist” attitudes, microaggressions, astonishment, and assumptions Why therapists and providers should take a support role and not an expert stance Resources: Connect with Rachel on her Website and Facebook.