Well-Adjusted Mama: Holistic Support for Mamas and Mamas-To-Be

In this episode of the Well-Adjusted Mama Podcast, Dr. Laura Brayton sits down with licensed clinical psychologist and perinatal mental health specialist Dr. Nicole Pensak to discuss her new book, "Rattled: How to Calm New Mom Anxiety with the Power of the Postpartum Brain." Motherhood is often portrayed as a joyful experience, but many women find themselves struggling with anxiety, intrusive thoughts, overwhelm, and uncertainty during the postpartum period. Dr. Pensak shares how understanding the unique changes that occur in the postpartum brain can help mothers navigate this transition with greater confidence, resilience, and self-compassion. Together, they explore common challenges new mothers face, the signs of postpartum anxiety, depression, and OCD, and practical tools to support mental and emotional well-being during the perinatal period. About Dr. Nicole Pensak: Nicole Amoyal Pensak, PhD, is a nationally recognized licensed clinical psychologist certified in Perinatal Mental Health. She specializes in the treatment of anxiety, depression, and OCD and completed her training at Yale School of Medicine, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Pensak owns a private practice in Monmouth County, New Jersey, and serves on the Expert Review Board for Parents magazine. Tune in for an empowering conversation that offers hope, education, and practical support for new and expecting mothers. More from Dr. Pensak: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DRNIKKIPENSAK/ Website: https://www.drnicoleamoyalpensak.com/ For more from Dr. Brayton: If you'd like to learn more about my virtual functional medicine practice, go to https://drlaurabrayton.com/virtual-functional-medicine/ and schedule a complimentary 15 minute discovery call with me. Help more people find our show - leave a rating and review by simply clicking on http://ratethispodcast.com/welladjustedmama. © 2014 - 2026 Dr. Laura Brayton

In this episode of the Well-Adjusted Mama Podcast, Dr. Laura Brayton sits down with Courtney Boylan, founder of Le Lolo, a postpartum empowerment brand dedicated to making postpartum essentials beautiful, functional, and meaningful for new moms. Inspired by her own journey through motherhood and raising three children, Courtney recognized a gap in the postpartum market. She set out to create thoughtfully designed, high-quality accessories that not only support new moms but also serve as daily reminders of their strength, beauty, and worth during one of life's most transformative seasons. Courtney shares her personal postpartum experiences, the inspiration behind Le Lolo, and why self-care and self-love are essential parts of the postpartum journey. Together, they discuss how we can better support mothers and help shift the conversation around postpartum wellness and recovery. Le Lolo's mission is simple but powerful: to revolutionize and beautify the postpartum experience while reminding every mother that she deserves to be cared for, celebrated, and empowered. About Courtney: Courtney Boylan is the founder of Le Lolo, a brand dedicated to making postpartum essentials beautiful, functional, and empowering for new moms. Inspired by her own experience as a mom of three, she created Le Lolo to fill a gap in the market—offering stylish, high-quality accessories that remind new moms of their strength, beauty, and worth. Le Lolo is on a mission to revolutionize and beautify the postpartum market. At its core, the brand is a reminder that self-care and self-love are essential during postpartum—because no one is more deserving of beautiful accessories than a new mom. More from Courtney: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearelelolo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563060912745 Website: https://wearelelolo.com/

Wellness architect and lifestyle designer Anna Finck joins the podcast to discuss the importance of preparing the body, mind, and soul before motherhood through a holistic, embodied approach to wellness. As the creator of Embodied Wellness, Anna blends science, spirituality, and personal growth to help women reconnect with their bodies, restore their health, and step fully into their power. After leaving medical school to heal her own hormonal, digestive, and reproductive challenges naturally, Anna developed a transformative approach centered around what she calls the "Preconception Era." In this episode, we explore the sacred season before motherhood, how lifestyle and wellness impact fertility and overall health, and why true healing begins with reconnecting to yourself. Key Takeaways: What the "Preconception Era" means and why it matters Holistic approaches to hormonal and reproductive wellness The connection between lifestyle, healing, and fertility How embodied wellness supports long-term health and vitality About Anna: Anna (Ah-nah) Finck (Fee-nck) is a Wellness Architect and Lifestyle Designer pioneering a new path in holistic health. As the creator of Embodied Wellness, she blends science, spirituality, and personal growth into a transformative approach for body, mind, and soul. After leaving medical school to heal from personal and family health challenges, Anna embarked on a deep, unconventional study of wellness — naturally reversing hormonal, digestive, and reproductive issues. She coined the term "Pre-Conception Era" to highlight the sacred phase before motherhood, helping women reconnect to their bodies, reclaim their health, and step fully into their power and potential. More from Anna: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamannafinck/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamannafinck Website: https://www.annafinck.com/ For more from Dr. Brayton: If you'd like to learn more about my virtual functional medicine practice, go to https://drlaurabrayton.com/virtual-functional-medicine/ and schedule a complimentary 15 minute discovery call with me. Help more people find our show - leave a rating and review by simply clicking on http://ratethispodcast.com/welladjustedmama. © 2014 - 2026 Dr. Laura Brayton

Naturopath and homeopath Nadja Röthlisberger joins the podcast to empower parents with safe, effective home remedies for common childhood symptoms — while also helping them recognize when it's time to seek medical care. Based in Switzerland, Nadja has been running her practice for over 16 years, supporting families with holistic pediatric care. With a background in naturopathy and homeopathy, along with years of teaching pediatric health courses, she is passionate about helping parents feel confident caring for their children naturally. In this episode, Nadja shares practical tools for managing everyday childhood concerns at home, the importance of integrating natural and conventional care, and how to identify red flags that require professional attention. Key Takeaways: Safe and effective home remedies for common childhood symptoms How to confidently support your child's health at home When to seek medical care vs. manage naturally The role of integrative, holistic pediatric care Book Mentioned: By Sefora Cuoco, La Brújula de la Intuición: Descubre tus habilidades clarividentes y fortalece tu intuición. (Spanish Edition) About Nadja: Nadja Röthlisberger is a naturopath and homeopath from Switzerland. She lives with her husband and their two children — both now teenagers — on a farm and has been running her practice in the same village for the past 16 years. The village has about 4,000 inhabitants, which is considered relatively small by Swiss standards. Before studying naturopathy for six years and homeopathy for another two years, she completed an apprenticeship at a bank. She then worked in youth marketing and later in project management and marketing for an international medical technology company. There, she was part of a multicultural team where the company language was English. After ten years of teaching pediatric health courses—both online and offline—Nadja wrote a book that has sold more than 3,000 copies through self-publishing. Although she loves her profession, she sometimes misses the multilingual and intercultural environment. For this reason — and perhaps also because she is a little bit crazy—she decided to have part of her book on children's health translated into English. Nadja also hosts a podcast in Swiss German, writes regular blog articles, works as a lecturer, and runs a busy practice. More from Nadja: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nadja.roethlisberger/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/www.nadjaroethlisberger.ch Website: https://nadjaroethlisberger.ch/ Book: The Natural Path - A Parents' Practical Guide to Natural and Homeopathic Remedies - https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Nadja-Roethlisberger/dp/3033116140 For more from Dr. Brayton: If you'd like to learn more about my virtual functional medicine practice, go to https://drlaurabrayton.com/virtual-functional-medicine/ and schedule a complimentary 15 minute discovery call with me. Help more people find our show - leave a rating and review by simply clicking on http://ratethispodcast.com/welladjustedmama. © 2014 - 2026 Dr. Laura Brayton

Body image expert and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor Anne Poirier joins the podcast to discuss the powerful connection between body acceptance and true healing. Anne Poirier, CSCS, is a nationally recognized body image expert, Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, and author of The Body Joyful: My Journey from Self-Loathing to Self-Acceptance. With over 30 years in health and wellness and a degree in Exercise Science, Anne has transformed her personal recovery from eating disorders and body shame into a mission to help others find freedom with food, movement, and self-image. In this episode, Anne explores how body neutrality can shift the way we think about health, why self-criticism can block healing, and how women can begin rebuilding trust with their bodies. Key Takeaways: Why body hatred can block true healing and wellness The difference between body positivity and body neutrality How intuitive eating supports long-term healing and freedom Practical steps to begin shifting self-talk and body relationship About Anne: Anne Poirier, CSCS, is a nationally recognized body image expert, Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, and author of The Body Joyful: My Journey from Self-Loathing to Self-Acceptance. With a degree in Exercise Science and over 30 years in health and wellness, she has dedicated her career to helping individuals heal their relationship with food, movement, and body image. A pioneer in the body neutrality movement, Anne's work has been featured in Shape, Women's Health, The New York Times, The Washington Post, HuffPost, ABC, FOX, CBS, and NPR. When she's not speaking, coaching, or writing, she can often be found barefoot on the beach, reading, or reflecting on her years coaching college soccer. Connect with Anne: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shapingperspectives/ Website: https://shapingperspectives.com/ For more from Dr. Brayton: If you'd like to learn more about my virtual functional medicine practice, go to https://drlaurabrayton.com/virtual-functional-medicine/ and schedule a complimentary 15 minute discovery call with me. Help more people find our show - leave a rating and review by simply clicking on http://ratethispodcast.com/welladjustedmama. © 2014 - 2026 Dr. Laura Brayton