January 2026

As we move deeper into a new year, I want to begin by saying thank you. Thank you for reading, reflecting, responding, and walking alongside me through 2025 as we explored what it means to become.

While January often arrives with pressure to reinvent and resolve, February invites something different—space to exhale, to settle into the year, and to move forward with presence, gentleness, and trust.

Over the past year, through my writing on juliemlane.com, across @redeem_thyself and @7_pedals, and with the launch of the Redeeming Hope YouTube channel and the Redeeming Stories podcast on Apple and Spotify, I’ve shared reflections on living honestly in seasons of uncertainty—without rushing toward answers or demanding arrival.

The work has remained quiet by design. Rooted in nature. Spacious enough to hold complexity.

One of the most meaningful aspects of this community is the wisdom that emerges when lived experience meets compassionate expertise. Today’s featured reflection comes from a fellow voice in our circle whose work centers on women navigating some of life’s most tender transitions - pregnancy, postpartum, and perimenopause.

In the piece that follows, Dr. Heidi McBain offers grounded insight, reassurance, and practical care rooted in both clinical knowledge and deep empathy. Her words remind us that healing during seasons of hormonal, emotional, and relational change is not about doing more, but about being supported, understood, and met with dignity.

I’m grateful to share her work with you as we begin this new year—especially for anyone who may be quietly carrying more than they expected in this season.

Healing Through Pregnancy, Postpartum and Perimenopause
(Article by Heidi McBain, LMFT, LPC, PMH-C, MMHPC)

Healing takes courage, and we all have courage, even if we have to dig a little to find it.

-Tori Amos 

As a therapist, I help moms who are struggling during pregnancy, postpartum and perimenopause to feel better and back to themselves again. Although women may start treatment for many different and deeply personal reasons, there is often some crossover between what women are struggling with and why they are reaching out for help.

During the perinatal period (pregnancy and postpartum), many women struggle with relationship issues during this time. According to the Gottman Institute, marital satisfaction decreased in 67% of couples during postpartum, and this may last through the first three years of your child’s life.

During pregnancy and postpartum, women may struggle with mental health disorders like anxiety and/or depression. These symptoms may be caused by a lot of different factors like hormonal changes, family history, sleep issues, emotional disconnection in relationships, etc. Also, according to Postpartum Support International (PSI) 75% of new moms experience the baby blues during the first two weeks of postpartum which may include crying spells, moodiness, and sadness.

When it comes to anxiety, according to Postpartum Support International (PSI) 93% of new moms experience intrusive thoughts. These may cause a lot of distress. These thoughts and images may feel very real to the new mom.

Postpartum depression often shows up with symptoms like anger, rage, irritability, agitation, and moms just not feelings like themselves. More research is starting to come out about women who have struggled with postpartum depression, PMS (premenstrual syndrome) and/or PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) may also experience similar symptoms during perimenopause. This may be because of hormones, sleep disturbances, stress, family history, etc.

So, how can we start to heal during pregnancy, postpartum and perimenopause? I like women to start by focusing on their basic needs first and then building from there. This would include: sleeping well, eating a healthy diet for your body, emotional connection with others, staying hydrated, and getting some type of exercise or gentle movement like stretching.

Once these basic needs are met, then women can add in different types of self-care that work for them. Everyone’s list might look a little different here, but some of my self-care favorites are: journaling, meditation (quiet or guided), focusing on mindfulness and your five senses (“being where your feet are”), having a daily mantra to remind you of what’s most important in life (like “be here now” or “be still”), doing something creative like drawing or coloring, snuggling with your pets or under a soft blanket, reading something that brings you joy, etc. Do any of these self-care ideas resonate with you?

Finally, I think for so many of us, therapy is often part of our healing journey. It’s someplace safe where you can talk without judgment or criticism from others. It’s a place where you can process your emotions and gain emotional support at the same time.

I also recommend letting your doctor know if you’re struggling during pregnancy, postpartum or perimenopause, so they can take care of the medical side for you. This may include blood work and possibly a medication evaluation to see if medication may be helpful.

If you’re struggling right now during pregnancy, postpartum or perimenopause, know that you’re not alone. Many of us struggle during these times of transitions in our lives, and with help, you can feel better and back to yourself soon!

You can reach Dr. Heidi McBain at www.heidimcbain.com or on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and YouTube: @mentalwellnessformoms

Dr. Heidi McBain is a Texas Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Texas Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). She holds a Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C) through Postpartum Support International as well as a Menopause Mental Health Provider Certification (MMHPC) through BRIA. Along with being a trained therapist, she is  an author, blogger, speaker, podcast guest and coach, and has been featured as an expert in 350+ articles. Dr. McBain been married for 23 years, has two children, and a cat (Sylvester).

Looking back, this year’s writing formed a quiet but cohesive narrative; one centered on identity, worth, healing, and living thoughtfully through uncertainty. Rather than offering instruction or diagnosis, the work leaned into metaphor: forests after storms, gardens in winter, rivers mid-course. Nature became a mirror for inner experience, reminding us that growth does not require force.

Early reflections explored how trauma and lived experience can scatter a sense of self, creating patterns of doubt and mistrust. Healing was never framed as fixing or erasing pain, but as recognition—walking gently through what remains after a storm and trusting regeneration to come in its own time.

Other pieces examined silence, privacy, and family legacy; how unspoken rules shape identity long into adulthood. Silence was held as both protector and constraint, raising questions about what privacy costs when it eclipses voice.

As the seasons turned, the writing softened into generational reflection; motherhood, daughters, grandchildren, and the deepening rhythms of life. Parenting was not portrayed as something that gets easier, but as something that grows richer. Gardens, perennials, and rest cycles underscored continuity, gratitude, and care across time.

A pivotal shift came with a reaffirmation of inherent worth. Moving beyond trauma-centered framing, the work claimed a foundational truth: women are born worthy, equal, whole, and entitled to exist fully. Worth was not something earned, but intrinsic; mirrored in nature’s unapologetic presence.

The final reflections of the year lingered intentionally in the in-between: uncertainty of place, direction, and timing. Seeds waiting for soil. Rivers mid-journey. Winter landscapes that appear dormant but are anything but. Becoming, it turns out, is already underway.

A Quiet Announcement — The Cloud Collective

As we look ahead, I want to share a gentle preview of something new.

On March 1, 2026, a new space will quietly open—one created for healing, creativity, faith, and belonging.

The Redeemed Collctive is a trauma-informed digital sanctuary for those navigating life after domestic abuse, sexual abuse, emotional neglect, and complex trauma. It brings together story, sound, and community care in one thoughtfully designed place—not to rush healing, but to honor it.

Inside the collective, members will find:

• A moderated Slack community for peer connection and support

• Gentle faith-inclusive spaces rooted in grace, not judgment

• Music and sound healing through harp and creative expression

• The ongoing Healing Diary and reflections from JulieMLane.com

• Redeeming Stories, the podcast on Apple and Spotify

• Hundreds of curated, trauma-informed resources—research-based and survivor-centered

The Redeemed Collective will be available by subscription at $10/month, designed to be accessible, safe, and deeply supportive.

This is not therapy.
It is not a program.

It is a place for peer support; to rest, rebuild, and rise—together.

More details will be shared soon. For now, simply know this:
You are not alone, and healing does not have to happen in isolation.

Below you will find my four latest Redeem Thyself Blogs. My blogs are typically posted each Sunday on the Redeem Thyself webpage. I do hope you find encouragement, strength, and resilience in reading the blogs. We can learn from one another and know that it is possible to heal, recover, and move forward in a more healthy way of simply doing life day to day.

Blessings on your journey ~

Website: j. m. lane

Instagram: @redeem_thyself

Instagram: @7_pedals

Facebook: Redeem Thyself

Email: info@juliemlane.com

209.336.5566

Note: JM Lane is NOT a mental health professional, nor does she carry a license to practice medicine. Posts, blogs, and content are based on JM Lane’s personal experiences, perceptions, and reflections. By no means does any material convey what others should or should not do.

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