Today we’d like to introduce you to Mina Grigoryan.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Mina. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was about ten years old when someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up and I remember answering quite assuredly that I wanted to be a psychologist. My ten-year-old self took pride in giving an unexpected answer. I knew about the profession at a young age because I’d spend weekends with extended family members who were psychologists. My love for the profession was born at the dinner table as conversations flowed from social justice, philosophy into the ocean of psychology. I mean, I didn’t understand a lot of what was being discussed as a child, but it was consuming and I was fascinated. I knew I wanted to learn more.
It also helped that I grew up hearing my mother say, “we can feel how others feel.” The story was that all the women in our family had this talent and it was passed down to me. During my formative years, I considered this a superpower because it was true – I was/am really intuitive. I know now it has roots in: inter-generational trauma, which we know is transferred through generations (I am a descendant of survivors of the Armenian Genocide); my mother’s experience of immigration trauma; and family dynamics. These experiences amalgamated into an intuitive, empath-like quality. Sometimes psychology does that, it demystifies and mitigates some of the fun as you understand why you are the way you are, but with this comes a sense of liberation. I still consider it a superpower.
Has it been a smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, and actually my road has experienced many seasons of construction. I will share one part of my journey as it’s relevant to how I came to be the person I am at this moment answering these questions.
Upon graduating with my doctorate, I was employed at a non-profit in Los Angeles where I received evidenced-based training, the most substantial being: Child, Parent, Psychotherapy (CPP), a relational trauma-informed treatment for caregivers and birth to five kiddos. My world opened up to infant and perinatal mental health, neuroscience and attachment science. I initially worked predominantly in the child/family department prior to transferring to an inpatient program which served mothers in recovery and their birth to five children.
I was in a place in my life where my partner and I were ready to start a family. In my mind I was “prepared” because I had experience in working with mothers, parents, had just taken an incredible two-day training with Postpartum Support International, was utilizing baby massage during groups at the inpatient program and doing all the “stuff” I thought would be foundational to becoming a mother. And then motherhood happened.
My water broke early, I experienced birth trauma, and my son was born premature resulting in a few short weeks in the NICU. He is currently a thriving three-year-old. What ended up happening was that he was okay, but I was not. It was also during my son’s NICU stay that I experienced the comfort of baby massage. I remembered a study I had read about touch and infant massage benefits particularly with preemie babies. I started massaging him and this is how I was set on the path to certification in infant massage.
I share this story to spread awareness about post-partum PTSD and the far-reaching impact of birth trauma, which may occur if women perceive threat to their lives or to that of their infant’s life. Parents of premature babies often report limited to no access to psychological support while their babies are in the NICU. When it comes to perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADS), too many mothers and families are not being identified and linked to treatment. Unfortunately, one of the many reasons this happens is because of a lack of standardized postpartum care procedures. The one post-partum visit at six weeks is not enough – it doesn’t even meet bare minimum criteria. While dedicated organizations such as Postpartum Support International, Maternal Mental Health Now, and 2020Mom are revolutionizing perinatal mental health care, there is much work that needs to be done.
Motherhood has been quite the humbling experience. It’s transformed me in ways I could not have imagined. I owe a whole lot to my own therapist who was there for me during this journey.
Motherhood has also clarified my professional purpose. I started my practice a year after the birth of my son. I personally experienced the different ways the system in place is lacking. My current mission is to create inclusive, evidence-based spaces for moms, new families and babies to get their mental, social and emotional needs met, reduce risk factors, advocate and provide public education.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
My private practice is located in Pasadena, and LA Baby Massage serves the greater Los Angeles area. I am a licensed clinical psychologist and certified infant massage instructor. I am trained in both infant and perinatal mental health which allows for a more comprehensive, evidence-based, and deeper understanding of the complexities inherent in the many ways these two worlds intersect. When we take care of a mother’s mental health, we are also in many ways caring for her baby’s mental health and vice versa. This is what sets my practice and LA Baby Massage apart.
The following services are provided:
PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
I treat the mental health needs of pregnant, postpartum women and their families; women transitioning from pregnancy to parenthood; pregnancy loss; womens’ issues; and trauma exposure.
EMDR (PERINATAL FOCUS)
I recently completed the basic training portion of EMDR with a perinatal focus. EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a form of therapy that helps people heal from trauma or other distressing life experiences. EMDR therapy has been extensively researched and has demonstrated effectiveness for trauma.
MOM GROUPS
A weekly support group for moms to share and connect around the transition into motherhood.
POSTPARTUM CARE PLAN
A postpartum care plan supports the transition into parenthood by arming parents to be with tools and information which can be used as soon as baby is home.
BIRTH TO FIVE & CHILDREN
Child, Parent, Psychotherapy is the gold standard treatment for little ones who have experienced at least one traumatic event and/or are experiencing mental health, attachment, and/or behavioral problems. The treatment is based in attachment theory but also integrates psycho-dynamic, developmental, trauma, social learning, and cognitive behavioral theories. Therapeutic sessions include the child and parent or primary caregiver. The primary goal of CPP is to support and strengthen the relationship between a child and his or her caregiver as a vehicle for restoring the child’s cognitive, behavioral, and social functioning. Play and art therapy practices are also incorporated within the latest developmental, neuroscience and attachment science research.
PARENT COACHING & PARENTING CLASSES
My approach to parenting is based on research that shows that children thrive through connection. As a parent educator and mom of two, I incorporate neuroscience, attachment, and developmental knowledge to help parents learn how to use play, respect, and practical tools to navigate parenthood.
BABY MASSAGE
Baby massage is a bonding activity between parents and their babies. Baby massage is a process of stroking the muscles of an infant using a variety of specialized massage techniques. Each safe and inclusive class or individual session allows for discussion of topics such as: transitions into parenthood, infant/baby milestones, baby brain development, non-verbal communication, baby cues, behavioral states, attachment, bonding, sleep, breastfeeding (among others).
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Since my practice and LA Baby Massage are about two years old, I think I would be better able to answer this question down the line. So far, I have enjoyed starting these businesses in Los Angeles. There definitely is a need and there are many women and advocates of perinatal and infant mental health in LA doing amazing things. They have embraced me in many ways and it’s a wonderful experience to have women empower women!
Pricing:
- Free 15 minute consultation!
Contact Info:
- Address: Dr. Mina Therapy & LA Baby Massage
595 E. Colorado Suite 335
Pasadena, CA 91101 - Website: www.drminatherapy.com & www.lababymassage.com
- Phone: 818-473-0970
- Email: [email protected] & [email protected]
- Instagram: @mama_babyphd & @lababymassage
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drminatherapy/
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