About Chelsea

Hey, I’m

Chelsea

Mom, Motherhood therapist, Matrescence Coach, and Educator. I bring over ten years as a licensed clinical social worker to my work with mothers, utilizing my experience as a Clinical Director in the field of trauma, work as a college professor and years in private practice working with women in their healing journey.

Chelsea’s Story

Whilst I have been a Clinical Director, a College Professor, sat on community boards and run my own Private Practice, nothing could have ever prepared me for motherhood...

Like so many other birth professionals, it wasn’t until my own experience of birth and motherhood that I realized I wanted to be a part of the change. I was perplexed and quite honestly felt like I was having a soul crisis. Motherhood was rocking my world and I couldn’t put my finger on it.

Although I had this deep knowing inside of me that nothing was “wrong with me”, I was surrounded by social media and picture-perfect Instagram moms that just had me doubting myself and my abilities as a mother. I couldn’t rectify the two.

They were in opposition with one another and I was on a mission to better understand this soul-funk motherhood that I had been thrust into.

So with a little (a sh*t ton) personal digging through reflection and therapy (yes, I go too!), trusting my gut (this deep womb wisdom that materialized pretty much out of nowhere when my baby was born)...I came to a significant “aha” moment that changed everything for me.

It was almost as if I tapped into some crazy deep ancient motherhood collective of wisdom from the ages…

“You aren’t meant to do this alone, Chelsea”
“You need your village.”
“You need your wise women elders, sisters, and grandmothers.”
“Your husband can’t fill these buckets...so stop asking him to.”

My intuition and soul had spoken and I knew that I needed to build up my village, tap into my roots and do more research if I wanted to bring about change in the world of motherhood. Fast forward to Newborn Mothers Collective with Julia Jones. I trained up, got my postpartum doula certificate, and honed my skills in maternal mental health and here we are now.

I must add...I’m not out of the figurative “motherhood” woods yet, in fact, I don’t believe I’ll ever be. Instead, I see my motherhood journey as “seasons”. Sometimes the woods disappear and I find myself in a clearing surrounded by wildflowers and I feel more confident in my abilities. And other times, it's windy and unpredictable and I acknowledge my own naivety, need for growth and surrender to the unknown.

But in every season...I am constantly reassured that I am not alone in these metaphorical woods. That hidden behind an old grandmother tree...is indeed my grandmother...gently whispering encouragement and love. I feel it in my bones. And then, perking up behind the willow is my sister, reaching out her hand to me...offering me time for a nap or to cook dinner with me. I am not alone. These woods are home to all my ancestors and hold sacred seeds of future generations.

And these woods branch out to your woods, mama.
You see, they say that once you become a mother to one child, you become a mother to the world’s children. And I say...once you become a mother, you are mothered by all those splendid women who have come before you, all over the world, kin to you and otherwise. You are part of a sacred motherhood collective of which we all share.

And I am so glad you’re here. Welcome to my woods, mama.

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Chelsea’s Career

I graduated in May 2014 from The Catholic University of America with my MSW. (I chose that University for reasons outside of the religious component. I do not identify with any religion.)

I have spent the past years specializing in the field of trauma. Most recently, I held the title of Clinical Director of a domestic violence and sexual assault agency. I have worked with women, children and men, all who have experienced some sort of violence in their lives. I am a certified sexual assault counselor, trained in EMDR, B-CBT and TF-CBT.

I also was a crisis first responder to the Navy Yard shooting in Washington, DC in 2013. I have sat next to parents when they have identified their child at the morgue in DC too. I have been honored and humbled to bear witness to people's rawest human experiences. I also have had the privilege of sitting on the board of a mental health awareness non-profit, working diligently to end the stigma in the community.