We’re excited to kick off the third season of Talking Beyond Trauma, where Amanda Boquist will join our host Dr. Natalie Fikac to talk about maternal mental health. Last season, Mordecai Dixon was joined by Natalie to explore mindful self-compassion.
In season three, they’ll answer questions such as:
Listen to the season three trailer below for a sneak peek at Natalie and Amanda’s insightful conversations.
Each year in the United States, 1 in 5 women suffer from a mental health or substance use disorder during the perinatal period (the time spanning pregnancy and the year after birth).
Although perinatal mental health (PMH) conditions are so common, 75% of people never get the treatment they need. A few reasons why people don’t get help include limited screenings, a lack of maternity care resources (aka “maternity care deserts”), and feelings of shame.
Becoming a mother is described as one of life’s most beautiful experiences, but we don’t often hear about the substantial challenges that come with it.
What about the experiences that aren’t shared on social media? Behind the pregnancy announcement posts, edited photoshoots, and gender reveal parties there are sleepless nights, moments of doubt, and silent struggles.
As mothers who’ve gone through the ups and downs of pregnancy, Natalie and Amanda want to advocate for more authentic maternal mental health conversations. On top of that, they want everyone to remember that motherhood comes in all forms. Our team honors and respects everyone’s unique journey as a mother.
Natalie and Amanda are senior administrative program coordinators at the Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health (TIEMH).
Natalie’s educational experience began over 27 years ago as an elementary school teacher, reading interventionist, professional school counselor, campus administrator, and district level administrator. Previously she served at the Texas Education Agency as the Project AWARE State Coordinator.
Natalie holds a Masters in Education in School Counseling and School Administration from Sam Houston State University and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Lamar University. Her research interests include school mental and behavioral health, systems change, leadership, wellness, resiliency, and self-compassion.
Amanda received her Master’s in Forensic Psychology from Adelphi University in New York. She has over 15 years of experience working in clinical settings and most recently in schools and school districts, supporting school counselors across systems.
She joined TIEMH in 2022 and is continuously inspired and motivated by her peers. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, visiting new restaurants, or playing with her boys Joshua and Luke.
Natalie and Amanda have vulnerable discussions about motherhood that can help new moms, experienced parents, or someone supporting a mother. We hope you’ll join us this season.
Listen to the first episode, "Name It to Tame It - An Introduction to Maternal Mental Health."
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