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. →
Toddler Suddenly Hates the Bath? Here’s What Might Actually Help
Your toddler loved bath time—until they didn’t. This guide offers calm, compassionate tools for parents facing sudden bath refusal, with tips grounded in emotional safety and playful support. Written by a therapist for moms.
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.
Can I Tell My Therapist (or Doctor) I Cosleep? What Every Bedsharing Mom Needs to Know
Afraid to tell anyone that you cosleep—including your therapist or pediatrician? You’re not alone. Bedsharing is more common than it seems—and talking about it safely can ease the fear, guilt, and pressure so many moms carry around baby sleep.
7 Completely BS Judgments that Hurt New Moms
As a new mom, you get bombarded with judgmental feedback about the way you care for your child. It seems like someone ALWAYS has something unhelpful & hurtful to say. Here’s my list of the 7 BS judgments that hurt moms most and what you can do about it. .
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.
Top Tips for Navigating the Stress Around Holiday Gatherings with a Food Allergy Toddler
Having a food allergy toddler adds a whole new level of stress and worry to the many food-forward gatherings during each holiday season. Learn to navigate holiday invitations, create allergy safe environments, and determine if your attendance makes sense during the toddler years.
Parenting is Hard: Tips for Managing the Unsolicited Advice as a New Mom
As moms, we can’t leave the house without being bombarded with unsolicited advice about the ways we care for ourselves and our children. And this advice hurts moms in ways that might surprise you. Here’s your guide to dealing with the advice no matter where it comes from (scripts included!).
🎧 PODCAST EPISODESRather Listen?
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.