I am Dr. Nicole Kumi, a wife, a mother, an author, and an advocate for maternal wellness services.  I became a mother in 2018 after delivering my amazing daughter.  About 5 months into the post-partum period, I began to experience symptoms indicative of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADS) and waited far too long to seek treatment.  As a behavioral health professional, I KNEW what was happening, and the steps I needed to take, and still did not do what was necessary.  I waited 4 more months before seeking treatment due to the stigma associated with mental health disorders and my own pride since I work in this field.  I was ashamed that it “happened to me” and spent a lot of time worried about “what it looked like” when I should have been focused on healing.  I did eventually climb my way out of the darkness that was diagnosed as post-partum depression and realized I would have had a better outcome if I engaged in treatment sooner or had an inkling about PMADs before the onset.

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My mission is to reduce the stigma associated with PMADs through prepartum educational courses and coaching for moms and their families, which will help to normalize the experience and promote continued conversations around maternal wellness.  Far too much responsibility is put on a mother's shoulders when it comes to identifying what is going on and finding services for it.  I couldn’t find what I needed so I created it in an effort to normalize it for other moms and reduce the isolation indicative of that period.  I work alongside new and expecting moms to provide them with a roadmap on this journey, share some lived experiences and approaches, and guide them toward the best possible outcome for all.  A healthy happy mom.