Blog contributors

Mara Applebaum

Mara Applebaum, PhD, is a psychotherapist in private practice in Seattle. Her research on the mother-daughter relationship recognizes the social and psychological pressures faced by mothers and the difficulties girls and women encounter in establishing their own identity. In her practice, she helps mothers recognize their unique personalities and needs, benefiting parents and children alike. Dr. Applebaum regularly lectures on mother-daughter issues for such organizations as Swedish Hospital, Postpartum Support International, La Leche League and Seattle University. For more information, visit www.maraapplebaum.com

Margaret Bergmann-Ness

I am a social worker with a private psychotherapy practice in Seattle. I have been fascinated by the complexities of family life since beginning my own family a few decades ago, and committed to providing understanding and support for this process – for mothers, fathers, infants and all family members. I have a Certificate in Parent–Infant Psychotherapy from the COR-Northwest Family Development Center, as well as my Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work. In addition, I have been a birth and postpartum doula and still train doulas for the Simkin School of Allied Birth Vocations. All of these sources of experience have created my firm belief that our earliest relationships and family patterns matter deeply for the rest of our lives. I also believe that we are always able to grow and develop our patterns of relationship and our understanding of life.

In facilitating Listening Mothers and Reflective Parenting groups, I hope to provide an experience where parents can explore the emotions of all family members and develop healthy expectations of themselves as nurturers, while lightening the unbearable and unrealistic expectations that are frequently placed on parents

Ashley Cooper

Ashley Cooper brings a playful and heart-centered presence into her work, supporting individuals, families and groups on their journey to experience more vibrancy and learning in their lives and systems. Dedicated to the social and emotional well-being of all people, she works with parents, children, teachers and school administrators, helping them to deepen their connections with themselves, each other and the world around them. As a consultant and a life and family coach, Ashley works collaboratively with her clients to shape environments where youth may flourish and the adults providing care also feel empowered, inspired and connected. Her practice has evolved from her experience as an educator, school counselor, play therapist, Social-Emotional classroom teacher, facilitator of parent and teacher groups, self-discovery mentor and organizational consultant. You can check out my websites: wovenessence.net/AshleyCooper.html and http://www.easilyamazed.com/blog.

Jason Goldstein

I am a licensed mental health counselor with a private practice in Seattle devoted to caring for children and adolescents who are experiencing mental health problems. I firmly believe that children have a biological imperative to grow, an innate curiosity to learn, and a psychological need to adapt and change. My job is to help influence the direction of change in ways that facilitate optimal functioning for the child, adolescent, and family. In my work, I take great pride in providing a safe, nurturing therapeutic environment in which kids can give voice to their concerns and learn ways to feel better about themselves. Together with the parents, family, or other caregivers, we work towards establishing a helping, healing process for everyone involved. I have worked with kids from diverse backgrounds with a range of mental health issues and concerns. I earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Columbia University and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from the Washington School of Professional Psychology. To learn more visit my website www.jasongoldstein.org.

Estee Lichter

Estee Dardik Lichter is the mother of four children, ages 5-14. She received her BA with honors from the Annenberg School of Communication at the University of Pennsylvania and studied for her Master’s at NYU’s Science and Environmental Reporting Program. Ms. Lichter lives in New York with her husband, children, and assorted pets. She is writing her first book in the field of science and health, but her heart lies with her family.

Amy Lundgren

I am a licensed clinical psychologist working in the Northgate neighborhood of Seattle. I specialize in the mother-child relationship and in adjustment issues in the first five years of life. I received my clinical psychology master’s and doctoral degrees at Fuller Graduate School of Psychology Pasadena, California. I have extensive postdoctoral training in child trauma recovery and family therapy. In 2003 I completed a year-long training program in infant mental health through the Cedars Sinai Hospital Interdisciplinary Training Institute. I have 15 years of experience serving mothers, their children, and families in a variety of settings, including community mental health, school-based milieu treatment, and in-home treatment. In June 2009 I completed the two-year professional training program at the North Pacific Institute for Analytical Psychology studying the work and theory of Carl Jung. Currently I am participating in Infant Observation at The Center for Object Relations Northwest Family Development Center

Yaffa Maritz

I am the co-founder and clinical director of the Listening Mothers program. I have a master degree in clinical psychology and am a licensed mental health counselor with advanced training in Infant Mental Health. I have been a strong advocate on behalf of babies and their families, believing that by supporting parents and creating a safe environment for them to explore emotional issues, we set the foundation for their kids emotional health. Click here to read my “Welcome Post” to this website.

Susan Nelson

Susan Nelson, MA LMHC is a Listening Mothers and Reflective Parenting facilitator. She is a psychotherapist in private practice in Seattle. She specializes in working with pregnant and post partum moms as well as parents adjusting to parenthood. She will regularly contribute to this website offering parenting support and answering questions. If you have a question you would like answered feel free to email her at smnelson21@comcast.net

Larry Nicholas

Larry Nicholas, a Psychotherapist and Parent Educator with an office on Capitol Hill, Larry works with individuals and couples. He specializes in work with fathers and new parents. Larry is also a part time stay at home dad. In addition he is also a Certified Gottman Educator and teaches the Bringing Baby Home program in the area. Larry teaches Reflective Parenting: Parenting from the Heart at various locations throughout the Sound. He is also a former teacher of the Conscious Fathering program and a facilitator of the Positive Discipline program. Larry teaches a class for fathers at Seattle Central Community College in the Parent Child Center on campus. A self proclaimed “Dadvocate” and proud of the work he does, takes the most joy from spending time with his three year old daughter and 1 year old son.

Jodilyn Owen

Jodilyn Owen is a student midwife, specializing in newborn assessment through the Brazelton Institute, a seasoned doula and childbirth and parenting educator. She has been published in Midwifery Today and Dr. Christiane Northup’s newsletter Women’s Wisdom Circle. Jodilyn lives at home with her husband of 16 years, her children and a dog. She loves the outdoors, boxing, reading, time with girlfriends and knitting. Visit Jodilyn online at www.seattlebirthnet.com.

Lelach Rave

Lelach Rave, MD, is board certified in Pediatrics. She received her medical degree from Washington University School of Medicine in 1999 and completed her residency training at St. Louis University Group Hospitals and Shaare Zedek Hospital in Israel in 2002. Dr. Rave did Pediatric Critical Care Transport for UCLA before moving to the Pacific Northwest. Her interests lie in attachment parenting, breastfeeding, postpartum mood disorders, mind-body connection in medicine and an integrated approach between conventional allopathic medicine and alternative therapies. She has two young boys and enjoys reading, hiking and being out on the water in her free time.

Valerie Tarico

Valerie is a psychologist and former director of the Children’s Behavior and Learning Clinic in Bellevue, Washington. She writes regularly for the Huffington Post on topics related to ethics, fundamentalism and church/state separation. For the past year, her primary focus has been the development of www.WisdomCommons.org, an interactive library of quotes, stories, proverbs and poems that showcase humanity’s shared moral core. Her book Deas, and Other Imaginings is a collection as stories described as “somewhere between Zen and folktales, somewhere between child’s play and wisdom, somewhere between dreaming the world and healing it.” In her own effort to heal a world that is being fractured by cultural and religious zealots, Tarico wrote a second book, The Dark Side about her personal encounter with religious fundamentalism and her spiritual journey in search of goodness, love and truth.

Michelle Terry

Michelle Terry, MD (graduate of Stanford University – AB and Baylor College of Medicine – MD) is an attending physician at Seattle Children’s Hospital were she cares for hospitalized patients and teaches, medical students and pediatric residents. In the community she is on the board of Child Care Resources, a local non-profit agency that helps families find, and child care providers deliver, excellent child care. At home, she is married, and is mom to three children ages 15, 12 and 5.

Beverly Pressey

Beverly Pressey is a Registered Dietician with Master’s degrees in Education and Nutrition. She is in her 9^9h year as a Nutrition Educator at Bellevue College and her 5^th with a community Parenting Center. Previously she was a nutritionist with the Seattle/King County Department of Health, working with child care staff and parents. Beverly has also worked with individuals, presented at conferences, taught continuing education and college classes, and presented at numerous parent groups. As an experienced counselor, cook, teacher, speaker and a mother of 2, she has a realistic understanding of infant/child eating patterns plus the perspective of a busy parent. Beverly lives in Seattle, Washington. You can learn more about Beverly and the work she does at www.creatinghealthyeaters.com

Nancy Weil

Nancy Weil is the mother of 3 children, age 5 and under, with one more on the way. She lives on Mercer Island and enjoys the challenges and joys of parenthood and perks of Northwest living.

Sara Weiss

Sara is a stay-home Mom of four fun and spirited children. They are ages 11, 9, 6and almost 3. Before becaming a parent she worked as a home-school teacher for a friend’s children. She absolutely loved the concept and tries to incorporate that philosophy in her own child raising (though she does send her children to school at age 4). She thinks that being a mindful parent means always being on your ‘mental toes’ and thinking before you act and speak. It is a great way for us all to behave.