As moms, it's hard to find and make friends. It's so different from when we were in school or college and friends were around the corner and not to mention, all the extra time we had then. Now, it's hard to know where to find friends, and if around possible mom friends, what to say to put feelers out there for friendship.

I just want to normalize this, you are not alone and there's nothing wrong with you if you get anxious about making new mom friends. If you get nervous meeting a new therapist, wonder what they think about you, don't want to upset them. We have been conditioned to feel this way AND friends and therapists are GREAT spaces to test out breaking some of these patterns. Your people are out there and I know you are a potential great friend for a mom who would love to know you.

Elena had the courage to show up to a mom's night, where she did not know who else would be there, VERY pregnant, because she knew, she wanted mom life support and she was making that happen for herself. She was caring for herself as the mom, so she could better care for her daughter (and also just because she DESERVES to feel cared for!!). Since the mom's night, she has come to the overstimulated moms club multiple times and deepened her connections with other moms. She said YES to an invitation that came her way to step deeper into relationship.

And that's how she shows up as a therapist. Deep, in the trenches and in the lightness with you. She shares she's often 3 minutes late to session as a therapist and I want to highlight the beauty of her sharing her humanity with us. Therapists are humans, and as therapists, as we practice accepting and modeling our own humanity, that helps our clients do the same for themselves. I also want to highlight that how a therapist's humanity shows up may be a great fit for you and may not be and as a client, you get to choose! Although I am not frequently 3 minutes late to session, my humanity may show up in sending you the wrong session location link, spilling my coffee all over the floor in session or forgetting to be at my office for an in person session. Yes these have all happened, fortunately the last one, only once!

Elena stated two things that I can't get enough of:

• Unearth the origin story - what a great phrase!! This came up when we were discussing anxiety and I just love the image of digging, gently, intentionally and lovingly to get to the root of what's driving the anxiety, shame, fear, etc. We all have little ones in us that are carrying narratives we learned at a young age to adapt to our environment, ie. I must be quiet, good, comply, to receive love. As Gabor Maté says, as kids we will always choose ATTACHMENT over AUTHENTICITY. We have to for survival. So, what origin stories did you pick up along the way, that were wise and protective at the time, and yet, no longer need to protect you as an adult who is no longer dependent on their caregivers? One for me is, that people have to like me for me to be ok, on the inside. I logically know that is not true, yet, my body can feel that it is true. Let's unearth those origin stories mamas!
• When in distress, no cognitive strategy is going to be the fix. Oooo, I could have jumped up and down when she said this, I was on the inside. Clap, clap, clap. Yes. We try to talk ourselves out of our distress, and what I most often find, is that (myself included), it ends up becoming more thought loops, more shame inducing, and the distress remains. INSTEAD, if we can use a BODY-BASED approach to send cues of safety to our body, the distress can shift.

Elena’s practice, New Leaf Psych, offers therapy for teens and adults in Ohio: https://newleafpsyc.org. They accept insurance and have evening and weekend spots!

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They also get real about parenting in 2026: too many books, courses and Reddit threads, and the belief that there has to be a solution or you're doing it wrong. Sarah shares the colicky nights she spent singing to her baby and mostly to herself. They talk about why showing up quietly can calm a meltdown better than problem-solving, and why "our presence is the magic." You'll also hear about the shame hiding behind a sink full of dishes, how a kid's struggle can stir up your own childhood, and how religious trauma can cut people off from trusting their feelings. If you've ever wondered whether you're doing this right, this one's a reminder that you're not alone.

Sarah said in our time together:
*Your presence is the magic*
*There's nothing to fix* (about our kids) (and ourselves!)
These are still stirring around in me!

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Laura Lewis of The Alchemy Room and Laura Moses Healing to talk about womb Reiki, touch therapy, ecstatic dance, and the deeper work of reconnecting with the body. Laura shares how her healing practice grew organically through her own spiritual journey, and why she centers the womb, heart, throat, and soul in her work. They also explore how shame, trauma, and overstimulation shape women’s relationships with their bodies, and why self-love, boundaries, and nervous system regulation are foundational to healing.

Key topics

• In this episode, Laura Lewis shares how she became a womb Reiki practitioner through lived experience, spiritual opening, and energy work rather than a rigid formal path.
• Laura explains that the womb is not just about reproduction—it is a space for intuition, wisdom, creativity, and energetic memory.
• April and Laura discuss how generational trauma, oppression, and body shame can live in the womb space and affect how women relate to themselves.
• They connect the womb, heart, and throat as an integrated system, especially for truth-telling, emotional expression, and embodiment.
• Laura breaks down the role of ego as self-protection formed early in life, and contrasts it with soul-centered living and remembering who we are beneath conditioning.
• They talk through feminine embodiment, including how women are taught to police their bodies, hide their shape, and fear being seen.
• Laura describes her wild feminine play shop, where blindfolded dancing and movement help participants release judgment and reconnect with their bodies.
• April shares how ecstatic dance helped her experience movement outside the male gaze and feel more ownership over her body.
• Laura tells a moving story about her daughter asking to be held after heartbreak, and how touch therapy can be nourishing, regulating, and deeply human at any age.
• The conversation broadens into meditation, self-care, and nervous system regulation through simple practices like rocking, crying, quiet time, coffee rituals, journaling, and pausing the to-do list.
• Laura explains how Reiki works for her as energy movement and release, often revealing physical or emotional holding in specific parts of the body.
• They close with the idea that healing is about remembering what is already within, not searching endlessly outside ourselves.

Laura's cell to text: 330-224-4801
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April Hankins talks with Brittany Stefan, massage therapist and creator of Sapphire Lotus Holistic Healing Center, about how massage therapy can support nervous system regulation, consent, and emotional release. Brittany also shares her own path into massage, how her practice has evolved from deep tissue to a more therapeutic, integrated approach, and why moms especially need permission to rest.

Key topics

• In this episode, Brittany shares how she found her office space in Canal Fulton and why she loves building a small-business life in a close-knit community.
• Brittany explains how she “fell into” massage therapy after originally planning on physical therapy assisting, and how that unexpected path became the right fit.
• She describes a formative community service experience at a domestic violence shelter, where she learned how touch can be approached slowly, safely, and with consent.
• April and Brittany discuss how trauma can live in the body and how massage can help people feel safe in their bodies again.
• Brittany reflects on her professional evolution from being known for deep tissue work to focusing more on breath, fascia, and therapeutic, integrated massage.
• She explains the difference between “making it hurt” and going deep in a slower, more responsive way that respects the client’s nervous system.
• Brittany shares that clients often cry during sessions, and that she sees tears as a normal release rather than something to apologize for.
• The conversation turns to moms, with Brittany naming tight necks, shoulders, chest, jaw, hips, and pelvic floor tension as common patterns she sees.
• Brittany talks about her own therapy journey, including EMDR, anxiety, perfectionism, and how therapy has helped her notice possible rumination OCD patterns.
• She also shares how intuition has guided major life decisions, including leaving her chiropractic job in 2019 to work full time in massage.
• The episode closes with Brittany’s advice to listen to the body’s signals, get rest, drink water, eat, and treat self-care as a necessity rather than something selfish.

Timestamps

00:00 - Meeting Brittany and the story behind the office space

02:52 - How Brittany got into massage therapy

06:08 - A shelter experience that changed her view of touch

09:16 - Growth goals for the holistic healing center

10:35 - Continuing education and orthopedic massage training

11:29 - From deep tissue to therapeutic, integrated massage

15:16 - Learning bodywork through school, clinics, and supervised practice

17:30 - “It’s not how deep you go, it’s how you go deep”

20:35 - Tears, emotional release, and holding space without forcing conversation

24:22 - Why moms need consistent self-care and support

27:01 - Common tension patterns in moms, including jaw and pelvic floor connections

29:31 - Brittany’s therapy journey and EMDR work

32:33 - What EMDR has brought up and how it helps reprocess old wounds

39:10 - Spirituality, intuition, and energy

43:22 - Leaving her chiropractic job and trusting her intuition in 2019

44:48 - Opening right before COVID and staying grounded through uncertainty

48:05 - How to be a better friend to your body

50:44 - Where to find Sapphire Lotus Holistic Healing Center

51:03 - The meaning behind “Sapphire Lotus”

Links:

Sapphire Lotus Site

Brittany on IG

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April Hankins shares a personal story about noticing a body-based nudge on a walk, then uses that experience to explain the Polyvagal Theory framework of the three C’s of well-being: choice, connection, and context. She also connects the discussion to Psalm 19 on inner guidance, and living more fully from the inside out.

Key topics

• April describes how an ordinary walk became a moment of clarity when she realized something internal needed her attention.
• She shares how tension and unease around a commitment prompted her to ask whether she truly wanted to stay committed.
• April explores the fear of disappointing people and how it can cause us to shut down choices before we fully examine them.
• She explains why making space, rather than rushing to solve a problem, can help us understand what feels difficult and what we may be drawn toward.
• April introduces the three C’s of well-being from Polyvagal Theory: choice, connection, and context, citing Deb Dana’s work.
• She discusses how a lack of context can contribute to confusion, dysregulation, and worst-case thinking.
• April connects the framework to parenting, encouraging listeners to consider where children may need more choice, context, or connection during stressful moments and transitions.
• She revisits her own story through the three C’s, showing how body awareness and self-connection helped her recognize she had more choice than she first thought.
• April reflects on Psalm 19 and how wisdom can come through silence, nature, intuition, and inner listening.

Key frameworks

• The three C’s of well-being: choice, connection, and context
• Body-based discernment: noticing physical cues such as tension, a tight jaw, or unease as information
• Inner relationship practice: nurturing a relationship with intuition, the inner self, or the sacred

April Hankins shares a reflective solo episode connecting lectionary texts from Exodus, Matthew, and Psalms with mental health concepts like nervous system regulation, attachment, and inner wisdom.

She also guides a grounding practice inspired by Dr. Lisa Miller to help listeners connect with an inner village of support.

In this episode, April explores how Moses and Jesus both faced questioning while following a deeper calling, and what that can teach us about handling criticism.

She also walks through practical ways to notice glimmers, use supportive inner figures, and turn inward when stress or doubt shows up.

Timestamps

00:00 — Welcome and setting the tone for a late-September reflection
01:00 — Moses, Exodus 17, and the pressure of following a calling under stress
03:26 — Why inner guidance does not prevent criticism or conflict
04:54 — Mismatched experiences and learning new possibilities through the body
06:20 — Correcting the double-bind example from Real Self-Care
07:17 — Jesus questioned by the Pharisees in Matthew 21
08:45 — How conditioning around silence can make disagreement feel threatening
09:56 — Attachment versus authenticity and the nervous system cost of belonging
11:06 — Introducing “the table” practice from Dr. Lisa Miller
12:49 — April’s examples of protective, nurturing, and wisdom figures
14:50 — Psalm 78 and passing glimmers to descendants
16:11 — Tracking glimmers as the nervous-system opposite of triggers
18:52 — How EMDR, IFS, polyvagal theory, and spirituality overlap
21:42 — IFS parts, protectors, firefighters, and self energy
24:37 — Connection mode versus protection mode in polyvagal theory
25:24 — Ego versus soul as another way to frame inner alignment
27:14 — Why going inside is hard, but often where the “magic” is
31:05 — Circle of Security and the idea of being bigger, stronger, wiser, kinder
33:33 — Setting up the guided practice and choosing a supportive place
34:47 — Inviting protective, nurturing, and wise figures into the scene
37:10 — Asking the inner village and higher self, “Do you love me?”
38:05 — Receiving guidance and taking the snapshot inward
39:16 — Closing reflection: when challenges arise, go to your source

Episode Mentions:

• Dr. Lisa Miller - The Table
• Ann Odom - Just the best healer
• EMDR
• IFS
• Deb Dana - Polyvagal Theory

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Virtual Overstimulated Mom's Club - Friday, 10/9 at 9-10:30am

👊🏼 ⁠Cheering you on Mamas!

Feeling stuck in the same emotional loops of blame, shutdown, and over-functioning?

This episode explores how to step off the drama triangle and reconnect with the kind of self-trust that can change how you mother, work, and live. April Hankins unpacks why so many of us move between the persecutor, victim, and rescuer roles without realizing it—especially under stress. She offers a more grounded way forward: not more self-fixing, but a return to internal wisdom, secure attachment, and what she calls the “unreasonable abundance of love.”

April shares how her own voice, identity, and therapist role have been shaped by the boxes she was taught to fit into, and why this podcast is an experiment in showing up as herself instead of performing a version of an “expert” or “good mom.”In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How to recognize when you’re acting as your own persecutor, victim, or rescuer
• Why stress narrows your options and strengthens these patterns
• How secure attachment can reduce the pull of the drama triangle
• A simple three-breath practice for accessing inner guidance
• What the parable of the vineyard workers can teach us about ego, scarcity, and unconditional love
• How to work through “double binds” when every choice feels like a lose-lose
• Why a “sacred third” may emerge when you make space for competing parts of yourself

If you’ve ever felt torn between two impossible choices, overwhelmed by motherhood, or exhausted by trying to rescue yourself into feeling okay, this episode offers a compassionate reminder:The love you’re searching for isn’t something you have to earn. It’s already here.Perfect for moms, therapists, helpers, and anyone who wants to stop living from reactivity and start responding from love.

She brings in ideas from Dr. Stephen Karpman, Dr. Hillary McBride, Nicola Jane Hobbs, Megan Watterson, Sarah Tacy, and Carl Jung to offer a more compassionate, embodied way of relating to yourself.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome to episode two and why sounding like yourself matters
01:29 - The undergraduate sermon story and the pressure to fit a box
03:24 - How therapist and mom identities become rigid roles
05:00 - Why this podcast format is intentionally unscripted
06:19 - Introducing the triangle of drama through recent reading
07:18 - The three roles: persecutor, victim, and rescuer
08:43 - Persecutor as blame, criticism, and self-attack
09:53 - Victim as helplessness, shutdown, and no-way-forward thinking
11:27 - Rescuer as swooping in, fixing, and managing discomfort
13:53 - Secure attachment as a way off the triangle
15:07 - Going inward for wisdom through soul voice meditation
18:00 - The Mary Magdalene Oracle card and the Matthew connection
20:16 - The parable of the vineyard workers explained simply
23:03 - Ego, scarcity, and the unfairness response
24:47 - Limitless love and why the ego resists it
26:50 - Bringing unconditional love back into self-relationship
31:15 - How stress narrows perspective and weakens problem-solving
33:43 - The double bind as a daily mom and client experience
36:17 - IFS conference room: letting both parts speak
38:15 - EMDR two-handed interweave for inner conflict
39:49 - Holding both truths so a sacred third can emerge
42:24 - Noticing double binds as a sign of growing awareness
43:06 - The exit ramp: go inside and trust limitless love

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In this debut episode of Over Stimulated Mom’s Club, April Hankins shares a deeply personal invitation to stop blaming yourself and start finding your way back to your body, your voice, and your internal wisdom.

April is a licensed counselor in Ohio and Pennsylvania, a mom of two preschoolers, a pastor’s wife, and a therapist specializing in spiritual trauma and maternal mental health.

She shares the story behind the podcast—from growing up in the church and later deconstructing her faith, to counseling, private practice, postpartum struggles, EMDR, somatic work, and finding a spirituality that feels honest, spacious, and alive.In this episode, April explores:

• Why so many moms internalize broken systems as personal failure
• How spiritual trauma, purity culture, and deconstruction can disconnect women from their bodies
• What it means to develop a secure attachment to yourself
• Why the “flock response” may be one of the most healing stress responses
• How small practices can help create a more grounded and compassionate experience of motherhood

If you’re an overstimulated mom, navigating faith deconstruction, or craving a more compassionate way to show up for yourself, this episode offers a place to exhale.

*Dr. Lisa Miller, The table, https://thethrivecenter.org/episodes/a-practice-dr-lisa-miller-and-your-table-of-spiritual-companions/