The Sisterhood BloGWhere Mental Health Support Meets the Perinatal Village — Across Seattle, Kitsap & Washington State.
Therapist-created resources for moms navigating the complex and often invisible parts of modern motherhood — plus everything you need to know about the local village that helps. →
Overwhelmed by the Mental Load? Here’s What to do.
The stress of caring for the household should be a shared task between all of the adults (and kids!) in the household, but it often falls to mothers. The invisible and unpaid labor of caring for the family leads many moms to unnecessary burnout and overwhelm. Learn Dr. Julie’s tips for talking to your partner about this part of the mental load & how to use the strategy of delegation to get your partner’s practical support with the tasks you want help with.
How to Keep Yourself Calm During a Toddler Tantrum
Tantrums are part of toddlerhood, but they can leave you feeling overstimulated and stuck in survival mode. This post shares practical tools to help you stay calm and grounded—even when everything feels like too much.
Is Being Called a Control Freak a Red Flag for Maternal Anxiety?
Feeling like you have to be in charge all the time? It might not be a personality flaw — it could be anxiety. This blog explores how control can be a coping strategy for moms navigating postpartum and maternal anxiety, and offers tools to help you interrupt the cycle with clarity and compassion.
Journaling for Moms: Boost Confidence and Self-Compassion in Just Minutes a Day
Here are 5 easy ways you can try journaling as a mom — plus a free printable to help you build confidence, reflect on your day, and feel more grounded.
How to Calm Down Fast When You’re a Stressed-Out Mom
Are you struggling when the stress hits? Learn how to calm down quickly & effectively using this the simple “1-2-3, Brand New Me" technique. It’s perfect for busy moms who need a simple way to reduce stress and improve well-being in less than 60-seconds.
Curate Your Social Media Feed: 10 Instagram Accounts to Support Your Motherhood Journey
There are many upsides to social media use for moms, but only when the social media accounts you’re following don’t make your mom stress and anxiety worse. Learning to “curate your feed” with supportive and qualified mom influencers who align with your parenting values and improve your mom community. Plus, get Dr. Julie’s recommended list of the 10 Instagram accounts every pregnant woman or new mom needs to follow.
How to Find the Right Therapist for New Moms (Questions to Ask + Where to Start)
Feeling overwhelmed as a new mom? Learn how to find a therapist who truly gets it—from postpartum anxiety to burnout—with questions to ask and tips tailored for moms in Washington State.
Lifestyle Changes to Lower Mom Anxiety: What Every Overwhelmed Mom Needs to Know
Anxiety isn’t just a personal issue - it’s also about lifestyle. Lifestyle changes are essential to manage anxiety in moms. Learn the lifestyle factors that make mom anxiety worse, why moms don't consider lifestyle changes, and how to make sustainable changes to reduce mom anxiety.
5 Helpful Affirmations for Anxious Moms
Learn how to create a positive mindset with these five helpful affirmations that are just for anxious moms. Find out how easy it is to get started with empowering affirmations that will help you feel more confident and capable in every part of your life.
Reduce Mom Stress - 20 Benefits of Starting a Gratitude List
Starting a gratitude list helps mothers reduce stress and cultivate a positive outlook. Learn the 20 unbelievable benefits of a gratitude practice and how to start your own list today!
Don't Tell a Mom to "Just" Take a Break: Understanding the Challenges of Alone Time
Don't tell a mom to "just" take a break: why this advice feels hurtful; the challenges of finding time away as a parent; simple ways to care for yourself without an extended break from your kids. Get tips and solutions here.
It’s Ok if You Don’t “enjoy every moment” with Your Child
“Enjoying every moment” of motherhood is NOT a thing, but it’s common advice that hurts moms in a multitude of ways. It is very normal to have stages & phases of motherhood that you do not enjoy - and it DOESN’T mean that you’re doing it wrong.
January Journal Challenge for Moms: Pause & Reflect
It’s all too easy to get caught up in the stress & overwhelm of mom life. Sometimes, we forget to pause, reflect, and take notice of the ways we care we need for ourselves. My free 30 Day Journal Challenge for Moms is a simple and effective way to start your new year with a journal practice that will transform your self-care practice.
The 21-Day Anxiety Reset for Busy & Stressed Out Moms
The 21 Day Anxiety Reset is designed for busy, full plate moms who need lasting stress & anxiety relief but don’t have the bandwidth for a major time commitment or elaborate coping strategies. Every technique in the 21-Day Anxiety Reset is designed to fit right into your everyday routine without a major time investment. And the best part? The skills and habits really work!
Is Mom Anxiety Keeping You Up at Night? Tips for Coping with Anxiety-Induced Insomnia.
If your lack of sleep goes above and beyond waking up to care for your child overnight, you may be experiencing anxiety-induced insomnia. Read for tips that help you manage your mom anxiety during the day so you can get more restful sleep at night.
Micro-dosing with Self Care: An Absolute Lifeline for Busy Moms
As moms, we don’t have time for elaborate self care activities, but we also need to find ways to fit this essential part of taking care of ourselves into our everyday lives. Enter the power of micro-dosing with self-care, a little known yet effective strategy for full plate moms.
It's Ok to Ask For Help, Mama: Here’s How to Do It
If no one told you, it's ok to ask for help! The demands of motherhood can get overwhelming, and sometimes you just need to ask for help, here’s how to do it.
What Is “Mom Anxiety”? Understanding, Recognizing, and Getting Support
Anxiety in motherhood can feel invisible, but you’re not alone. This post unpacks what mom anxiety really looks like—and where to find support that helps.
How to Put Yourself First Without Feeling Guilty: A Guide
Figuring out how to put yourself first without feeling guilty is challenging as a mom. If you think that putting yourself first is selfish, time to change that!
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Hi! I’m Dr. Julie Franks
Licensed Clinical Social Work Therapist in Seattle and Bainbridge Island, WAAnd I’m here to help you deal with the overwhelming status of having a baby and becoming a mother, whether it’s your first time or you’ve been here before.
I specialize in supporting women who are in the trying-to-concieve, fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and early motherhood phase of life. Motherhood changes the way you respond to stress, anxiety, and overwhelm + navigate old wounds that resurface in ways you weren’t expecting.
Most importantly, I’m a mom who is right there with you in experiencing the social pressures and demands related to motherhood… and all the stress it creates.As a postpartum anxiety survivor who had a difficult start to motherhood, I get the way social pressures and expectations make it hard to understand + focus on your values and identity.
I created Nurturing the Sisterhood to give women and mothers in our local community a dedicated space to grow and bloom in motherhood. I believe that you can experience the kind of motherhood you always imagined with support - and I’m here for you when you’re ready.
The Sisterhood Blog includes:
Therapist-written articles by Dr. Julie Franks, DSW, LICSW, on mom’s mental health — including postpartum anxiety, burnout, boundaries, and the emotional labor of early motherhood
First-hand interviews with the incredible doulas, lactation consultants, sleep coaches, and other perinatal professionals serving families across Seattle, Kitsap, and Washington State
Real Providers. Real Stories. Real Support for Washington Moms.
Because no mom should have to navigate this alone.