Sydney McCall Patel
Bay Area - Marin Guide
Pronouns
she/her
Location
Mill Valley, CA
Education/Certification
CIIS Masters in Integral Counseling
LMFT
Mental health, postpartum adjustment, pregnancy loss
Specific Expertise
Postpartum adjustment and pregnancy loss.
What drove you to this work?
Parents, and in particular mothers, are not set up for success in our society by any means.
As soon as I became a mother I was confronted with this reality. The isolation, the huge amount expected of us and then how we are taken for granted can amount to our feeling overwhelmed and unappreciated. It can all feel like a bad joke. On top of it, the adjustment to parenthood is one of the most formative times for both our children and for us in terms of building a strong bond with our kids. This time is as critical as ever and I get a lot of gratification out of helping parents to address underlying obstacles so they can find their footing as parents.
What inspires your work?
The mothers/parents who come in and strive to get better are what keeps me lit up. It’s a moving process to witness and be a part of. The beautiful thing about supporting people postpartum is I get to help parents become even wiser as they learn about who they are and what they’re needing. This process helps them overcome the problems they are encountering and in this process the whole family benefits.
Self-Care ritual?
I live on a mountain and hike almost every day. I meditate in the mornings at dawn and I swim in the ocean. I work to sustain strong relationships and I talk to people I love daily.
What are you watching/listening to/reading right now?
Listening to Invisibilia and also WOW in the world with my kid. I just finished reading Amanda Ripley’s new book called High Conflict: How to break the spell? A critical book for these polarizing times and it will be released to the public April 6!