Back to School: Why Routine Comforts, Why It Stresses, and How to Offer Grace in Transition
The Capital Elle Business Impact Award: Funding the Unfunded, Fueling the Future of Women Entrepreneurs in Canada
"The Journey Into Parenthood Begins Here" – Why Preparing Your Mind Matters More Than Packing Your Hospital Bag
Doula Duo Babymoon Retreat at Fern Resort (Ontario, Canada)
November 28–30, 2025
Looking for the perfect Ontario babymoon getaway before your baby arrives? The Doula Duo Babymoon Retreat is a 2-night, all-inclusive prenatal retreat designed for expectant couples seeking rest, connection, and expert support. Held at the beautiful Fern Resort in Orillia, just 90 minutes north of Toronto, this pregnancy-friendly weekend includes comfortable lakeside accommodations, nourishing meals, and calming activities to help you relax and recharge.
Led by perinatal mental health expert Amber Sperling (MSW, RSW, PMH-C, EMDR Certified), the retreat features a 90-minute workshop titled The Journey Into Parenthood Begins Here, guiding couples through value-based communication, boundary setting, and emotional preparation for postpartum life. You'll also enjoy access to yoga, nature, fireside chats, and evidence-informed conversations about infant sleep, relationships, and navigating the transition to parenthood.
Perfect for first-time parents or growing families, this babymoon retreat supports your mental, emotional, and relational wellbeing—so you can feel grounded and connected before your baby arrives.
Limited spaces available. Book your Ontario babymoon today!
Navigating the Challenges of New Motherhood
EMDR & Tapping for Anxiety: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide
Learn what EMDR and bilateral tapping are, why they help with anxiety, and how to use tapping at home to feel calmer and more grounded.
When the Law Doesn’t See Trauma: A Therapist’s Take on the London Hockey Verdict
You Might Need a 90s Summer… and Here’s How to Tell
Feeling overstimulated by modern motherhood? This blog explores why a 90s-style summer might be just what your nervous system needs to reset.
The Motherhood Mirror: What Your Triggers Might Be Trying to Teach You
In this new chapter of your story, triggers can be more than just discomfort—they can be clues. Clues pointing to old wounds, long-held beliefs, or the invisible mental load you carry daily.
This week on the blog, we’re talking about:
Why triggers in parenting feel so intense
What they might be trying to teach us
How to respond with curiosity instead of shame
Summer Survival Tips for Moms from the Nervous Systers
Summer can be chaos - which is why Amber and Victoria - both moms and therapists - came together to talk about the messy normal of summer and some tips to help you regulate your nervous system. Spoiler alert - this is part of a soon to be launched podcast!
Parenting a Child with ADHD: Why Support, Not Shame, Is the Game-Changer
You’re Not Broken—You’re Becoming
You Were Never Meant to Do This Alone: The Power of Postpartum Support Groups
When Self-Care Feels Like Another Chore: Why Stress and Fatigue Aren’t Just in Your Head
When Everything Feels Like Too Much: Understanding Emotional Overstimulation in Motherhood
Feeling constantly overstimulated, irritable, or like you’re about to snap? You’re not “just tired”—you might be emotionally overloaded. This post breaks down what emotional overstimulation looks like in motherhood, why it happens, and how to gently support your nervous system through it. You’re not alone, and you deserve care too.
5 Signs You’re Not Just Tired—You’re Emotionally Overloaded
<h2>5 Signs You’re Not Just Tired—You’re Emotionally Overloaded</h2>
<p>We often say “I’m just tired” as a way to brush off what we’re feeling. But sometimes, it’s more than that.</p>
<p>When you’re emotionally overloaded, your nervous system is working overtime to help you survive—but it comes at a cost. You're not lazy. You're not doing it wrong. You're maxed out.</p>
<h3>1. You finally get a break… but you can’t relax.</h3>
<p>You sit down, but your mind races. Your jaw stays clenched. Your body is stuck in high alert, even when you <em>want</em> to rest.</p>
<h3>2. Every little noise makes you want to scream or cry.</h3>
<p>It’s not “just being sensitive.” Overstimulation is real—especially when your nervous system has had no space to reset.</p>
<h3>3. You snap quickly or go numb.</h3>
<p>You’re either yelling or shutting down—and then feeling guilty about both. These are signs of emotional overwhelm, not personal failure.</p>
<h3>4. You feel disconnected from your body.</h3>
<p>You’re zoning out, forgetting things, maybe even feeling numb or foggy. These are clues your system is running on fumes.</p>
<h3>5. You constantly think, “I’m failing.”</h3>
<p>Even when you're doing your best, that inner voice won’t let up. Emotional overload makes self-compassion almost impossible—but it’s what you need most.</p>
<h2>The truth?</h2>
<p>You’re not broken. You’re tired <em>in every possible way</em>.<br>
Physically. Emotionally. Mentally. Nervously.</p>
<p>This isn’t something a bubble bath or “me time” can fix alone. You need real support that meets you where you are.</p>
<p><strong>Start small:</strong><br>
Put your hand on your chest and take a deep breath. Remind yourself:<br>
<em>“I am safe. I am doing enough. I am allowed to pause.”</em></p>
<h3>You know your body best.</h3>
<p>If you’re not feeling good… if something feels <em>off</em>, distressing, or just plain too much—you deserve support. Full stop.</p>
<p>Think about who’s in your life that you <em>could</em> lean on. What would you want them to understand about how you’re feeling right now?</p>
<p>You can write it down. Say it out loud. Practice it with your therapist.<br>
You don’t need to stay quiet.<br>
You don’t need to be told “this is normal” and have the door shut on your experience.</p>
<p>Because <strong>you’re not okay—and that matters</strong>.<br>
And no matter how it feels right now… <strong>you are not alone in this</strong>.</p>
<p>If you're ready to take a next step, we're here.<br>
<a href="#">Join us in <strong>EmpowHERed in Health</strong></a> or download our <a href="#">free postpartum support guide</a>—created by perinatal mental health therapists who truly get it.</p>
Meet Raylynn: Therapist, Beekeeper, and Guide Through Life’s Messy Middle
Breastfeeding Before Birth & Prenatal Power: What I Wish I Knew
When I was pregnant, the idea of “preparing to breastfeed” felt almost laughable. I figured I’d just see how it goes. But after attending a workshop with IBCLC Kathy O’Grady, I realized how much I wish I had known sooner. Breastfeeding isn’t just about instinct—it’s about informed choice, support, and practical skills. Whether you plan to nurse, pump, combo-feed, or use donor milk, feeling prepared makes all the difference. You deserve access to clear information and the power to make decisions that align with your values.
4 Grounding Tools Every Mom Can Try
Parenting by Instinct: How Emotional Awareness Guides Your Best Decisions
What if being a “good parent” isn’t about doing it all perfectly—but about trusting yourself to do what’s right for your family?
I’m so honoured to share that my latest article on parenting by instinct was recently published in [magazine name]! It explores how we can shift from chasing perfection to embracing our inherent worth—and why that matters so much when raising tiny humans.
This piece is for anyone who's ever doubted themselves, compared their journey to someone else’s, or wondered, “Am I enough?” (Spoiler: You are.)
| parenting by instinct | self-worth over perfection | breaking the comparison trap |
Three Years In: From Pandemic Mat Leave to a Practice That Feels Like Home
Amber Sperling reflects on building a trauma-informed private practice from scratch during pandemic motherhood—now a thriving clinic for women’s mental health.