348: Navigating Parental Leave and Being a Working Parent with Dr. Anne Welsh, Ph.D., PMH-C, RPLC, ACC

Parental leave is a confusing topic to most of us because there is no uniformity from state to state and company to company. Many parents are probably not getting all the benefits available to them in parental leave because it’s such a confusing system. Today’s guest works relentlessly to help people figure this out and make the most of parental leave benefits and balancing parenthood and a career. Join us to learn more! Dr. Anne Welsh is a clinical psychologist, executive coach, and consultant. She began her career at Harvard before opening her own practice with a focus on supporting working parents in growing their careers and families. As an expert on the transition from working person to working parent, Dr. Welsh has dedicated her life to unraveling the interplay between career aspirations, personal fulfillment, and women’s mental health throughout their lifespan. Being a mother of four allows her to draw from her own experience as a mother, her research career on the transition to motherhood, and over 15 years in practice to help parents feel less alone and more connected to themselves and their values, fully empowered to make their own choices.  Show Highlights: Transitions: times of growth and struggle Shifting priorities and identities in the transition to parenthood Pressures and difficulties in being a working parent Discrimination in workplaces against women who become, or want to become, parents Dr. Anne’s work in supporting people to balance work and parenthood The importance of communication and self-care An uneven division of labor at home makes the transition back to work even harder! Understanding parental leave coaching and its benefits Navigating a return to work after experiencing a perinatal mental health disorder–and knowing how much to share with others Flexibility for working parents makes all the difference–but some companies are too rigid and unwilling to work with new parents. Dr. Anne’s Five Leadership Lessons of Parenting: people skills, processing skills, productivity, perspective-taking/planning skills, and playfulness Reframing the challenge as something positive and good that’s adding to our lives rather than detracting from our work Thinking of balance as an ongoing process rather than some kind of permanent “magical state” Resources: Connect with Dr. Anne Welsh: Website, Instagram, and LinkedIn 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 better support people for whom they provide 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!