I left the church in 2015 after more than 10 years of wrestling with doctrine that I did not agree with. I was depressed, anxious, irritable, and moody. I knew there were times when I was overwhelmed and out of control - and I vowed to start taking inventory of my life to make some changes. I realized that when I left the church, I was also giving up the built-in support and roadmap to raising kids. I had to figure out how to raise them in a different way - a way I had never seen or experienced. This was terrifying. I was free of the church's rules and never felt so unhindered - but I was terrified that I would do it all wrong!

At first I leaned on what I had learned in a parenting class that I enrolled in at my daughter's preschool several years ago. That gave me a new starting place. Then I relied on my education in child development, and that helped me navigate my children's behaviors and emotions . I also realized that I had spent all my energy doing what the church told me to do as a woman - make my kids and my husband happy - and had forgotten what brought me joy. I no longer knew who I was - there was only a memory of the woman I was before I had children. I had to re-create my identity. Who was I without the church? What were my core beliefs and values that would inform my every decision and pass on to my children?

As I started on the long path of self-discovery and re-learning how to be a mom, I began to feel empowered to stand in my truth with confidence.

I am Board Certified through an independent review board at the International Board of Clinical Practitioners, member number 12733. You can call the IBCP at 888-731-8376 to verify their credentials.