Most people expect the journey into parenthood to be filled with joy, but for many, mental health challenges strike unexpectedly, leaving them feeling betrayed by their own minds.

Olivia Gascoigne’s story of postpartum psychosis and her mission to change that narrative will inspire you to rethink how we support new parents. Her innovative project, Letter Beams, is a powerful movement transforming lived experience into a beacon of hope for birthing people during their darkest times. In this heartfelt episode, Olivia shares her own harrowing postpartum psychosis experience and how it fuelled her passionate drive to provide emotional support through handwritten and digital letters from those who’ve been there. You’ll discover how Letter Beams bridges the gap in perinatal mental health education, helping individuals recognise early warning signs and break the stigma around seeking help.

Olivia reveals the surprising ways writing and receiving letters foster healing, not just for the recipients but also for the letter writers themselves, turning trauma into strength.We break down the vital importance of trauma-informed, peer-to-peer support in perinatal mental health care. Olivia shares the protocols they follow to keep both writers and recipients safe, including the crucial role of clinical oversight by mental health professionals. You’ll learn how these personalised letters are now reaching birthing people on parent-baby units, in hospice care, and during other life milestones, creating a ripple effect of kindness and resilience.

This episode underscores the urgent need to educate, empower, and nurture individuals before, during, and after pregnancy. Olivia’s vision of expanding Letter Beams into a lifetime of support, covering grief, illness, and vulnerable groups, is a blueprint for a more compassionate, aware society. Perfect for healthcare providers, new parents, mental health advocates, and anyone passionate about fostering hope in the face of adversity, this conversation will leave you inspired to turn your own experiences into acts of kindness.

Olivia Gascoigne is the founder of Letter Beams, a peer support organisation dedicated to sending handwritten and digital letters of hope from those with lived experience to individuals facing mental health challenges. Her work has already touched countless lives and continues to grow, demonstrating the transformative power of community, empathy, and storytelling.If you believe in the healing potential of connection, or want to learn how simple acts like writing and sharing can impact mental health, this episode is essential listening. Join us as we explore how kindness and awareness can revolutionise support for those navigating the hardest moments of parenthood and beyond.

For immediate support, please reach out to the following helplines: Samaritans (116 123), Crisis Line (text SHOUT to 85258), NHS 111 for urgent medical advice, and PANDAS (0808 1961 776) for perinatal mental health support.

Most new parents feel the pressure to bounce back quickly, but Nikki Steele Osborne’s raw story reveals the hidden toll of perinatal mental illness that often goes unnoticed. In this deeply honest episode, Nikki shares her journey from the joy of pregnancy to the overwhelming postpartum depression and anxiety she experienced, exposing the societal myths about motherhood and mental health.

Discover how delayed support, societal expectations, and the stigma around medication can leave new mothers feeling isolated and misunderstood. Nikki discusses the power of vulnerability, the importance of authentic conversations around mental health, and her own healing through coaching, therapy, and self-acceptance.

You’ll learn about matrescence - the profound identity shift of becoming a mother / parent - and how it impacts birthing and non-birthing parents mental health beyond the birth. We break down practical insights on recognising early warning signs, overcoming guilt, and the importance of a support system that respects your experiences. Nikki’s story highlights the critical need for better mental health education and accessible resources for all parents, regardless of background or circumstances. Her honesty sheds light on the unspoken emotional landscape parenthood, emphasising that you are not alone in your struggles - and that healing begins with acknowledgment.

Perfect for anyone navigating the complexities of parenthood, mental health professionals, or those supporting loved ones through postpartum challenges. If you believe in breaking the silence and advocating for real conversations, this episode is a must-listen. Tap into Nikki’s journey of resilience and learn how embracing vulnerability can be a powerful step toward recovery.

You can find Nikki at www.theschottishsoulsister.com and her book 'Homebird' is available on amazon.

UK Perinatal Mental Health Support If you or your partner are struggling, you are not alone.

* NHS: Contact your GP, midwife, or health visitor.

* Urgent Support: Call NHS 111 (Option 2) or 999 in an emergency.

* PANDAS Foundation: Specialist support for perinatal mental illness and partners.

* Samaritans: Call 116 123 for 24/7 emotional support.

Connect with OT Intuition:

* Instagram: @ot_intuition and @perinatalmh_burnoutot

* Linktree: https://linktr.ee/ot_intuition

* Website: otintuition.co.uk/home

Health Anxiety & the Identity Shift: Jonno’s Story of Paternal Mental Health

What happens when the transition to parenthood is immediately shadowed by a perinatal mental health illness? In this deeply honest conversation, I am joined by Jonno, who shares his experience of navigating sever mental health anxiety following the birth of his firstborn son with his wife, Hayley.

Jonno speaks honestly about how a physical diagnosis triggered a disproportionate nervous system response, creating an internal illness that made it incredibly difficult to be emotionally and physically available for his new family. Through the lens of OT Intuition, we explore the unspoken pressure on parents and carers o remain stable while struggling with their own mental health and the challenge of reclaiming a sense of safety during such a massive life pivot.

Sharing these stories reduces shame, builds connection, and reminds us that even the most capable parents need support.

UK Perinatal Mental Health Support If you or your partner are struggling, you are not alone.

* NHS: Contact your GP, midwife, or health visitor.

* Urgent Support: Call NHS 111 (Option 2) or 999 in an emergency.

* PANDAS Foundation: Specialist support for perinatal mental illness and partners.

* Samaritans: Call 116 123 for 24/7 emotional support.

Connect with OT Intuition:

* Instagram: @ot_intuition and @perinatalmh_burnoutot

* Linktree: https://linktr.ee/ot_intuition

* Website: otintuition.co.uk/home

Guest Jonno Butler, husband of wife Hayley Butler - Co-Founder of The First years UK: https://www.thefirstyears.co.uk/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQXBOZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETB2VkhsVjQxWUx4eEdFNmFkc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHi63XJkG0Xpgu8XnW5iMI1gf5f7ISip13BcnQE9H9MVTfHcSAbxN1GOS771E_aem_ekLqkHblSlZFFG4Poc0BNw

In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, I’m joined by Charlotte, also known as The Smart Doula (Instagram: @the. smart.doula Website: www.thesmartdoula.com

Charlotte shares her personal experience of perinatal mental health challenges, lifting the curtain on what can feel invisible, confusing and incredibly isolating in pregnancy and early parenthood. As a doula supporting others through birth and the postnatal period, she brings a unique perspective, both as a professional holding space for families and as a mother navigating her own mental health journey.

We talk openly about the emotional realities that often go unspoken: intrusive thoughts, identity shifts, expectations versus reality, and the quiet pressure to “cope.” Charlotte speaks candidly about what helped, what didn’t, and how support, understanding and self-compassion became essential parts of her recovery.

She also shares her deep passion for helping parents and birthing people set firm boundaries and clear expectations around their birth experiences. We explore how advocacy, informed choice and feeling truly heard can shape not only birth itself, but the mental health outcomes that follow.

Charlotte speaks movingly about her husband’s experience of trauma alongside her during their first birth. We reflect on how birth impacts partners too, and how, together, they processed what happened, strengthened their communication, and felt more prepared and equipped for the arrival of their second child.

This episode is for parents, birthing and non birthing individuals and parents-to-be, birth workers and anyone wanting a more honest conversation about perinatal mental health. It’s for those who have struggled silently, and for those who may not yet have the words for what they are experiencing.

Sharing these stories matters. It reduces shame. It builds connection. And it reminds us that you can be knowledgeable, capable and still need support.

UK Perinatal Mental Health Support

If you are struggling, you are not alone. Support is available.

You can contact your local NHS perinatal mental health team via your GP, midwife or health visitor.

For urgent mental health support in England, call NHS 111 and select Option 2.

In an emergency, phone 999.

You can also access specialist support through:PANDAS Foundation – helpline and support for perinatal mental illnessMind – information and local servicesSamaritans – call 116 123 for 24/7 emotional support

To connect with me about this episode or enquire about support through OT_Intuition, you can:

Email: OT_intuition@outlook.com Follow and message via Instagram: @ot_intuition

Subscribe here: https://linktr.ee/ot_intuition

Website: otintuition.co.uk/home

If this conversation resonates, please follow, share and help us continue bringing honest, life-changing discussions into the light.

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You cannot regulate without first entering a place of safety and connection.

If you're stuck in fight, flight, or freeze mode, your body isn’t in a state where true regulation and rewiring can occur. The brain is misreading the moment as danger. An intrusive thought can trigger panic or shutdown. You spiral, trying to solve or escape the thought, but your nervous system is locked in survival mode.

Let me share a quick story about my rescue dog, Dolly.

When Dolly first came home, she was hypervigilant. A sudden movement, a loud sound, even a gentle touch could send her into freeze or flight. Her body didn’t yet know safety. But over time, through consistent connection, gentle cues, and co-regulation, she began to soften. Her tail wagged more. Her eyes relaxed. Her body learned: “I am safe now.”

Humans aren’t so different.

To begin healing, we must speak to our nervous system in a language it understands—safety, connection, presence. Here are a few ways to do that:

🌿 Orient to your environment Look around. Name five things you see. Let your body know: “I am here, and I am safe.”

🫱 Touch with intention Place a hand on your heart or cheek. Gentle touch can signal safety faster than words.

🎶 Use sound to soothe Hum, sing, or listen to calming music. Vibrations help regulate the vagus nerve.

👥 Connect with someone safe Even a brief moment of eye contact or a shared laugh can shift your state.

This is how we begin to rewire. Not through force, but through safety. Through connection. Through repetition.

Your body is listening. Let’s speak to it with kindness.

With warmth, Jen @OT_Intuition The Intuitive Living Collective

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Visit NoOCD for advice, treatment and signposting

Phone your local crisis line if you need support now! Emergency? Phone 999. Otherwise call NHS 111 Option 2

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🎙️ OT_Intuition | The Intuitive Living Podcast

Series 1: Perinatal OCD

Episode 5 – Katie: From Prison to Parenthood

⚠️ Content Warning:

This episode includes discussion of traumatic events, including the loss of loved ones and systemic failure in mental health services. While no graphic details are shared, some listeners may find aspects emotionally triggering.

Please take care while listening. Feel free to pause, skip, or return at a later time. Support resources are listed in the show notes.

In this deeply moving and honest episode, I sit down with Katie, a fellow queer occupational therapist whose path into the profession was shaped not only by her psychology background, but also by profound personal loss. She witnessed first-hand the positive impact OTs had on those struggling with their mental health.

Whilst starting her initial training in clinical psychology, Katie experienced a traumatic event involving the devastating loss of people she considered family. A tragedy connected to systemic failures in mental health services.

This heartbreaking chapter became the seed for a purpose-led journey, and the unexpected decision to return to university and undertake another degree, this time, in occupational therapy.

We explore:

🌱 Navigating trauma and finding meaning through a career shift into OT

🔒 Her work in forensic medium secure and prison settings

👶 The raw identity shift into parenthood — including intrusive thoughts and hallucinations

❤️‍🩹 Choosing self-employment and eventually accepting the need to reach out for therapy to support her own growth and recovery

This episode is about what happens when systems fail, and how we slowly begin again. It’s a story of emotional labour, identity, quiet strength, and the rebuilding that follows trauma.

Whether you’re an OT, a parent, or someone navigating your own season of change….this conversation is for you.

💚 Follow @OT_Intuition – The Intuitive Living Podcast for grounded, real-world conversations about identity, regulation, and intuitive living.

#OTIntuition #IntuitiveLivingPodcast #OccupationalTherapy #PerinatalOCD #TraumaInformedCare #ForensicOT #ParenthoodAndPurpose #MentalHealthMatters #NeuroaffirmingCare #AuthenticLiving

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Visit OCD ACTION for advice, support and online groups and webinars

Visit NoOCD for advice, treatment and signposting

Phone your local crisis line if you need support now! Emergency? Phone 999. Otherwise call NHS 111 Option 2

Send us a text

Parenthood: From Overwhelm to Intuition - A Personal Journey

In this deeply personal episode, I (Jenna – founder of OT_Intuition) step out into the spotlight to share my own lived experience of Perinatal OCD. As a queer, neurodivergent parent and professional, I know what it’s like to feel like you’re losing yourself during the perinatal period. To be both a professional and someone navigating the crushing intensity of intrusive thoughts, compulsions, and shame.

This episode is a love letter to anyone who’s ever felt:

• Afraid to name their thoughts
• Buried under guilt and ‘shoulds’
• Desperate for peace, purpose, and permission to be human

I share how I moved from hiding my pain to honouring my intuition. Using ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), regulation strategies, and radical self acceptance to come home to myself.

Listen in NOW to hear about:

Living with Perinatal OCD as a parent and a professional

How intuition became my compass

Embracing authenticity from a place of lived healing and purpose

If you’ve ever whispered “Is this normal?” in the dark, this episode is for you.

You are not broken. You are not alone. You are welcome here.

Perinatal OCD is more than just an obsession with cleanliness or order. It manifests through intrusive thoughts and compulsions that can be debilitating. For me, it began with intrusive thoughts linked to trauma, spiraling into a cycle of anxiety and self-doubt. The shame and fear associated with these thoughts often made it difficult to seek help or even acknowledge the problem.

The Impact on parenthood is a profound experience, but when coupled with mental health challenges, it can become a source of anxiety. My journey involved grappling with thoughts that targeted my deepest values—my love and care for my children. The fear of causing harm, despite knowing it was irrational, was paralyzing. It affected my ability to be present with my children, leading to feelings of guilt and inadequacy.

Therapy played a crucial role in my recovery. Through exposure response prevention and acceptance and commitment therapy, I learned to unhook from intrusive thoughts and reconnect with my true self. These therapies helped me embrace uncertainty and focus on what truly matters—my values and the love I have for my family.

Balancing parenthood and mental health as a queer neurodivergent professional is an ongoing journey. It requires patience, self-compassion, and a willingness to seek help. By sharing my story, I hope to shed light on the realities of perinatal OCD and encourage others to seek support. Remember, you are not alone, and healing is possible.

Subscribe now to stay updated on more stories and insights into everything OT and my passion of living intuitively.

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Visit OCD ACTION for advice, support and online groups and webinars

Visit NoOCD for advice, treatment and signposting

Phone your local crisis line if you need support now! Emergency? Phone 999. Otherwise call NHS 111 Option 2

Send us a text

A quick hello from your friendly OT and Coach - Founder of OT_Intuition Intuitive Living Podcast - Jenna Anderson-Frost. HELLO! :D

Listen for a weee round up on what’s to come. Get in touch if you would like to be considered as a guest to share your stories. Maybe it’s related to OT and how it may have supported you to live authentically. A journey you have had with your own identity and finding a way to embrace your authentic true self. A mental health crisis that you feel could shed light on an under discussed area, and/or just help others in relating to someone going through the same thing, someone who may not even have a name for what they’re experiencing yet. Sharing our journeys, insights and support tools can save lives. DM me or email: OT_intuition@outlook.com

Hi and thank you for spending time with me and listening to all the exciting and hopefully supportive (I like to think life saving or at least life altering) for many. If you like what you hear please do follow, share and continue to support me. I value your input and feedback. Requests for topic suggestions you want to hear about can be considered. So I am always a DM away. Otherwise Subscribe

Here ➡️ https://linktr.ee/ot_intuition?utm_source=linktree_admin_share

Support the show

Visit OCD ACTION for advice, support and online groups and webinars

Visit NoOCD for advice, treatment and signposting

Phone your local crisis line if you need support now! Emergency? Phone 999. Otherwise call NHS 111 Option 2