Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Stevens.
Hi Rebecca, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
During college, I struggled with an eating disorder. For 3 years, I had days when I did not eat enough and nights when I binged. At 20 years old, I was 5 feet 8 and weighed 89 pounds. With my family’s help, support, and love, I got the help I needed. I knew that I wanted to help others with their mental health struggles someday.
In 2019, I realized I wanted to pursue a master’s degree in Psychology and start a family. Knowing that I would be overjoyed to have such an opportunity, I was stunned to begin my master’s degree at Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara, CA, while three months pregnant.
During my 3.5 years in grad school, I was lucky to have not one but two babies. I also was forced to face some demons in the form of Postpartum depression, Postpartum anxiety, as well as postpartum struggles with my body. I was a recovered anorexic/bulimic, but found that pregnancy and changes in my body fueled an old eating disorder voice. I worked hard with my therapist, was vocal about my struggle, and am happy to say that I did not succumb to the eating disorder that almost killed me when I was 20.
Currently, I am an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist with Life After Birth. I work with pre- and postnatal women and couples and help them navigate this transition. I am not afraid to discuss the hard things: rage, resentment, and a lack of identity.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Working with pre- and postnatal women has its challenges, but I am grateful to be here to help those in need. As a working mother, I understand firsthand how challenging it is to balance work and motherhood, including the guilt and sadness that can arise.
Working with couples is also challenging, but I make it a point to remain impartial and hold a neutral space for both partners. When couples become parents, it is easy to forget they were once lovers. I help my couples remember who they were, find empathy for each other, listen, validate, and work as a team.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Working as a mental health therapist specializing in prenatal and postnatal care for women and couples in Los Angeles is a dream come true. My past experience with an eating disorder, as well as being a married mother of two, has shaped me in ways that help me assist my clients in coping with and facing their problems.
My training at Pacifica Graduate Institute and Life After Birth has equipped me to be an active therapist who holds space for my clients and strives to do what is best for them. My favorite thing is when a client or couple who works with me gains the tools they need and no longer requires my assistance.
I am proud of my published Thesis, “Eating Disorders: The Shadow Over Pregnancy.” In this work, I draw on research and my own experiences to illuminate the pressures that many women face to maintain a thin physique during pregnancy and postpartum. I hope my words can help women know that they are not alone and that there is help available.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I have learned is that fixing my clients is not up to me. I am here to listen, support, and counsel them. I do not have the answers, but I do have an open heart and willingness to help them on the road to healing. Also, humor goes a long way. Life is hard, but there are moments of laughter, and I embrace the joys my clients share.
Pricing:
- Individual Therapy: $175-$200
- Couples Therapy: $175-$200
- Consult call: Free
- Group Support: $222/month
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ourlifeafterbirth.com/therapy
- Instagram: @RebeccaStevensTherapy
