Episode 31 | Pandemic Mamas Group

The Group Work Podcast. Find out what happens in the space where group therapy takes place.

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Summary 

Heather Janz joins Katie to discuss her group: Pandemic Mamas. They discuss why becoming a mom during the pandemic was a unique experience and how that inspired the creation of the group.  The Pandemic Mamas group is for moms with children aged 0-2. It is a 12-week program. 

Tune in to learn why you shouldn’t spend too much time worrying about the perfect time and price for your group. 

Heather Walker Janz is a licensed marriage and family therapist in California. She runs Janz Family Therapy - a group practice that she established in 2019. 

⭐ Fun fact: Heather went to high school with Colin Kaepernick!

Timestamps

[00:00] Who is Heather Walker Janz (Pandemic Mamas)? 

[05:59] Ideal clients for the group: the unusual experience of becoming a mother in a pandemic

[09:26]  What inspired the creation of the Pandemic Mamas group. 

[11:13] Group format: why they ONLY teach coping skills for the first four weeks of the group. 

[15:10] How they are making a difference EVEN to group members who don’t show up.

[16:39] Bringing graduated group members back as mentors.

[17:46] Creating a group curriculum from scratch. 

[19:22] Stop trying to pick a perfect time and price for your group (here’s why). 

[20:46] The screening process for the Pandemic Mamas group. 

[21:50] Tips for therapists who want to work with moms. 

3 Key Takeaways 

1. Moms who gave birth during the pandemic may have had more stressful experiences. Their expectations of how giving birth would be are likely quite different from how things unfolded in 2020. For example, pregnant mamas could not go to doctor’s appointments with their spouses because of COVID restrictions. 
2. The first four weeks of the Pandemic Mamas group are centered around teaching moms coping skills. People need to learn coping skills before they are able to process trauma and grief.
3. Don’t fuss too much about setting the perfect time and price for your group. Pick a time and price that works for you (and any co-facilitators you maybe be working with). People will find a way to make it work if they really want to be there. You can’t please everyone. 

Links

Connect with Heather Walker Janz: Personal Website | Pandemic Mamas | Janz Therapy Group

Tools mentioned in the episode: Canva | MailChimp