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Listen to Nicole's Latest Podcast: Sex, Trash, and Neuroplasticity: What They Don’t Tell You About New Parenthood
Nicole Amoyal Pensak PhD, PMH-C
Clinical Psychologist | Author | Researcher
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Sex, Trash, and Neuroplasticity: What They Don’t Tell You About New Parenthood
Why does the trash matter more than sex? Why do new moms feel like they’re drowning—and new dads feel helpless? And is “mom brain” actually… genius? Erin and Abe go deep with psychologist Dr. Nicole Pensak on what nobody tells you about postpartum life—and how couples can stay close through the chaos.
Jun 91 min read
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The Joys, Challenges, and Realities of Motherhood Today
Maria Shriver's, The Sunday Paper 9 writers, policymakers, and big thinkers on what women really want and need from their village right...
May 168 min read
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BDA Baby (Before, During and After Baby)
In this episode, I’m joined by clinical psychologist and author Dr. Nikki Pensak to talk all about the postpartum brain—what’s really happening neurologically after birth, why it can feel so overwhelming, and how we can shift the narrative from “mom brain” to one of strength and growth. Dr. Nikki breaks down the science behind the brain’s transformation in motherhood, explains why this time can leave us feeling so emotionally rattled, and shares practical tools for calming ne
May 151 min read
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The Brilliance of the Postpartum Brain
Dr. Nicole Pensak is on a mission to rebrand the mommy brain. As a clinical psychologist, author of “RATTLED: How To Calm New Mom Anxiety With The Power Of The Postpartum Brain,” and mother of two, Dr. Pensak knows how difficult the postpartum period can be. She joins Danielle and Simone to dive into the profound changes that occur during matrescence, and how to leverage them to your advantage.
May 141 min read
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The Hardest Developmental Phase? Motherhood
Today I knelt on the floor, changing my son’s diaper. I placed my index finger along the ridges of indentation on his skin, just below his hip, as I loosened the tape. My brain instantly cued me to comfort him, anticipating that he might start to cry. It’s one of the many essential tasks on my unending mental to-do list.
May 94 min read
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Neuroscience of a New Mom: Understanding the Postpartum Brain
This week Dr. Kim is talking with Dr. Nicole Pensak. Dr. Nicole Pensak is a Harvard and Yale-trained Clinical Psychologist certified in Postpartum Mental Health and the Author of RATTLED, How to Calm New Mom Anxiety with the Power of the Postpartum Brain.
May 51 min read
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Opinion: Back from the future and cultivating digital literacy together
I thought I was alone navigating this Scylla and Charybdis of modern life—utter surrender to technology on one side or massive resistance on the other-until I talked with fellow psychologist and motherhood expert Nicole Pensak.
Apr 225 min read
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Postpartum Depression is a Mental Health Epidemic- Here's How We Can Change That- Nicole Amoyal Pensak PhD
I used to treat women suffering from postpartum depression — then I became one.
I hadn’t slept for five days when I dropped to my knees and curled up in the fetal position on my newborn son’s nursery room carpet. Maybe on the floor, I’d feel safe.
Mar 261 min read
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RATTLED: How to Calm New Mom Anxiety with Nicole Amoyal Pensak PhD, PMH-C Mom and Mind Podcast
So many changes happen in the transition to motherhood, and these shifts run the gamut from physical, mental, emotional, and social...
Mar 262 min read
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Dr. Nicole Amoyal Pensak on The Courageously You Podcast- All Things Maternal Mental Health
Today we are creating a much-needed conversation about maternal mental health with the wonderful Dr. Nicole Amoyal Pensak. Dr. Pensak is...
Mar 261 min read
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The Monmouth Moms Podcast: Episode 72: Dr. Nicole Pensak
We're diving deep into motherhood, mental health, and so much more with the incredible Dr. Nicole Pensak on this week's episode of The Monmouth Moms Podcast! 🎙️ Dr. Pensak is a mother of two, owner of Atlantic Coast Mind & Body, and a clinical psychologist dedicated to supporting women through the challenges of postpartum life.
Feb 171 min read
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Nicole Pensak PhD, PMH-C Mental Health Consultant + Mom of 2
Clinical Psychologist and Author of RATTLED. Academic Research Background in Health Behavior Change (e.g., exercise, smoking cessation, alcohol usage, substance abuse, healthy diet, HPV vaccination uptake, intervention development and dissemination).
Jan 12 min read
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Countering the Mommy Brain Stigma
Rather than a deficiency, “mommy brain” is an asset—and therapists can help their clients embrace it in the workplace.
Aug 1, 20241 min read
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I'm a Parent And a Psychologist: This Parenting Style is the Opposite of Helicopter Parenting
By Emily Edlynn, PhD, Parents Magazine, September 14, 2023 Medically Reviewed by Dr. Nicole Amoyal Pensak Overprotective parenting can be...
Sep 14, 20234 min read
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Are You An Anxiety Cleaner? Here's Why You Do It
By Adrianne Webster, June 21, 2023 Dr. Nicole Amoyal Pensak Quoted As surprising as it sounds, when you dive into it, there’s actually a...
Jun 21, 20233 min read
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Becoming A Mom Caused Me To Start Anxiety-Cleaning — And I Can’t Stop
By JESSICA BOOTH, June 20, 2023 Dr. Nicole Amoyal Pensak Quoted Every night since my second daughter was born, I’ve done the same exact...
Jun 20, 20235 min read
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Is motherhood a glass ceiling? 46% of women say co-workers treat them unfairly for having kids
by Chris Melore, StudyFinds.org, September 22, 2022 Dr. Nicole Amoyal Pensak Quoted NEW YORK — Two-thirds of working moms believe between...
Sep 22, 20224 min read
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Newsweek Feature | Opinion | Moms Want it All this Mother's Day. Give it to Them
In March of 2020, I planted my face in my son's bedroom carpet and sobbed. How could I possibly care for a newborn with a deadly virus...
Jun 13, 20224 min read
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Let the kids in the bed? 7 in 10 parents OK with co-sharing, think it should be ‘normalized’
by Chris Melore: View Full Article NEW YORK — A majority of parents feel no shame in sharing a bed with their little ones. In fact, seven...
Jun 5, 20223 min read
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Moms Want it All This Mother's Day. Give it to Them | Opinion
NEWSWEEK, NICOLE AMOYAL PENSAK , CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST ON 5/6/22 AT 8:00 AM EDT View Full Article In March of 2020, I planted my face in...
May 6, 20224 min read
24 views
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