The Therapists of Heartship Counseling
Dr. Lauren Cook and Dr. Carissa
We are so inspired by the team of practitioners at Village Birth. We brought together a crew of women to support your fertility, birth, and parenting journey from all angles – mind, body, and spirit. One of the most impacted part of our wellbeing during the transformation into parenthood is our mental health.
Get to know the amazing team of Heartship Counselling, Dr. Lauren Cook and Dr. Carissa Gustafson, perinatal therapists.
Tell Us All About You!
From Dr. Carissa: I knew early on in life that I wanted to become a therapist after it became apparent to me how ubiquitous suffering is to the human experience. My mission is to help people find liberation from suffering. After becoming a mother myself, which included pregnancy complications, birth trauma, pregnancy loss, and other challenges, including perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), I decided to be a perinatal therapist.
From Dr. Lauren: When it comes to anxiety, it can take one to know one. After struggling with anxiety for much of my life and finding hope on the other side, I have found so much meaning in helping others heal their anxiety. Whether someone is struggling with panic, social anxiety, a phobia, or generalized anxiety, among other stressors, one of my greatest joys is helping people get their life back when they feel helpless and hopeless in their recovery journey. It can and does get better.
Full List of Services
- Individual Therapy
- Couples Therapy
- Group Therapy
- Hopeful Beginnings: Pathways to Parenthood (for women who are experiencing fertility challenges)
- Better Together: A Support Circle for Expecting and Postpartum Parents
- More Info: www.heartshipcounseling.com
How did you get to your practice? Was there a pivotal ”closing doors” moment when you heard the calling?
Dr. Carissa: Since becoming a mother, I developed a special interest in perinatal mental health and sought advanced training and perinatal mental health certification (PMH-C) from Postpartum Support International (PSI) in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs).
Dr. Lauren: I have always been fascinated by the perinatal experience but quite frankly, I never saw myself becoming a mother. I was so afraid of all of the “what ifs” and I nearly let my fear stop me entirely from embarking on this journey. Now, with a young son, I can honestly say that becoming a parent has been the most meaningful, challenging, and rewarding experience I have ever known. I give thanks every day that I didn’t let my anxiety stop me from ultimately making one of the most important decisions in my life. Now, as a therapist, I love helping others own their fears and see that they can still pursue their most aligned life, even with fear along for the ride. It’s amazing to see what can happen in a person’s life when anxiety is no longer calling the shots.
What’s your approach with clients?
Dr. Carissa: I strongly believe in evidence-based practice and specialize in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). ACT helps people learn skills, such as mindfulness and compassion, to handle difficult thoughts and feelings so they can find freedom from suffering and engage in their life. Overall my approach will help you become aware of your thoughts without attachment, open to your emotions without judgment, and engaged in your life in a way that reflects your values.
Dr. Lauren: I love incorporating a mix of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Ultimately, I am a forward-thinking therapist. While I think it’s helpful to understand what has happened in the past to connect how it is shaping the present, I also believe we have to be intentional with our future. This is where we can see real change play out. With this, I believe in helping my clients live with intentionality and purpose so that it doesn’t feel like life is “just happening to them.” I like to help my clients take ownership of their experience so that they can walk in their power and their purpose.
Best Tip For Postpartum
Dr. Carissa: Establish care with a perinatal therapist in pregnancy. Don’t wait until you are postpartum to try to find someone. Start seeing someone when you are pregnant or even when you are trying to conceive. Also, this is not the time to be independent and try to do it all on your own. In many cultures mothers are mothered for the first month or so to recover from birth so enlist support whether that is support from friends or family or paid support. This is not the time to do it alone and there is no doing it right, no matter how many courses you take or products you buy. It’s a huge transition and going to test your limits so practice patience with yourself as you figure it all out!
Dr. Lauren: Know that the shift in your identity as a mother is an evolution. It’s not that we just become a mother or parent overnight when our children are born. We are rebirthed in our own way and this takes time. We can feel our own resistances, edges, and frustrations as we feel the pain of this change, sometimes longing for the “old us” or the “way things used to be.” This doesn’t mean we don’t love our children mightily or that we’re not grateful for our new role. It’s more so that we’re integrating an entirely new sense of self and that’s an epic reckoning. Giving ourselves grace thorough our own growing pains is everything.
Favorite Family Activity in LA
Dr. Carissa: We love going to the LA Zoo, Long Beach Aquarium, Natural History Museum, Kidspace, the Clayton’s Children’s Museum, The Discovery Cube, Descano and Huntington Gardens, Underwood Farms, Malibu Farms, and Disneyland
Dr. Lauren: I’ll own it–I am a bit of a Disney mom! I love seeing my son’s eyes light up when he’s on a new ride. We also love going to the zoo, swimming in the pool, or going to Lacy Park to spot out the latest bugs (the other day we spied a preying mantis!)
As for a date night, we love the Tap Room at the Langham for live music and any time we can go to Bavel (especially to enjoy their dessert menu), it’s a real treat.
A Ritual or Practice For Your Wellbeing
Dr. Carissa: As a mother of a 9 month old and a 3 year old, my time to practice self-care is extremely limited, but I will occasionally get a massage, get my nails done, get an iced coffee, go for a baby wearing walk, or stay up late watching some reality TV.
Dr. Lauren: I am such a fan of Dancing with the Stars. I find that having something to look forward to is so important for my well-being. I also commit to a monthly massage. Lastly, while many people find it stressful, I love planning a fun party because you can get so creative with the theme. Pinterest is my happy place!
