Out of the Fog

Registered social worker and trained counsellor Kristina Grace speaks to parents Jade, Ami and Kristjana - parents to autistic children.  In this episode, they speak about what the specific challenges are and what their day-to-day life is like.  They talk about how the daily challenges, stress and anxiety has had an impact on their mental health.  This is part 2 of a 2 part series.

CW:  A brief mention of suicide, and some st...

Registered social worker and trained counsellor Kristina Grace speaks to parents Jade, Ami and Kristjana - parents to autistic children.  In this episode, they speak about what the specific challenges are and what their day-to-day life is like.  They talk about how the daily challenges, stress and anxiety has had an impact on their mental health.  This is part 1 of a 2 part series.

CW:  A brief mention of suicide, and some strong l...

In this episode registered Social Worker & counsellor Kristina Grace continues her conversation with Elanor, an autistic woman who was not diagnosed until the age of 35.  Elanor explains how reaching out for help and not being heard or taken seriously had an impact on her mental health.  She identifies ways in which professions and the general community might be more inclusive, and where autistic people can find help. This is P...

In this episode registered Social Worker & counsellor Kristina Grace speaks with Elanor, an autistic woman who was not diagnosed until the age of 35.  Elanor explains how reaching out for help and not being heard or taken seriously had an impact on her mental health.  She identifies ways in which professions and the general community might be more inclusive, and where autistic people can find help.CW: mentions of suicide and s...

Registered Social Worker and trained counsellor Kristina Grace talks to Gabrielle Hogg about her experience of significant delays in being diagnosed as Autistic.  Misdiagnosed multiple times before she finally discovered her diagnosis as a teenager, Gabrielle experienced bullying, loneliness and isolation.  This had a huge impact on her mental health and self-esteem.  Gabrielle gives advice to teachers, parents and to Autistics wh...

Registered Social Worker and trained counsellor Kristina Grace talks to Gabrielle Hogg about her experience of significant delays in being diagnosed as Autistic.  Misdiagnosed multiple times before she finally discovered her diagnosis as a teenager, Gabrielle experienced bullying, loneliness and isolation.  This had a huge impact on her mental health and self-esteem.  Gabrielle gives advice to teachers, parents and to Autistics who...

Registered Social Worker Kristina Grace speaks with Rebecca Tom who discovered her 16yo daughter had an eating disorder at the same time as the Covid-19 hit in 2020.  Rebecca shares some of the signs to watch out for and some of the steps towards recovery from this complex and life-threatening illness. Book recommendation: "8 Keys to Recovery from an Eating Disorder" by Carolyn Costin and Gwen Schubert Grabb.

For more i...

Social Worker and Founder/Manager Kristina Grace continues her conversation with her social work staff at Mothers Helpers, Gena Orpwood and Leah Nausbaum. In this conversation they talk about the lack of family and community support and the reasons for that; how families are often put in a position where they either struggle on their own or ask for help.  They then discuss help that is available and how it can be accessed.  This c...

Social worker and Founder/Manager Kristina Grace talks to her social work staff at Mothers Helpers Gena Orpwood and Leah Nausbaum.  As mothers and clinicians working with mothers they discuss this idea of a "good mother," where it comes from and how we measure ourselves constantly against it.  They then discuss what being a "good enough" mother looks like and what a difference that can make in our experience of ...

In part 3 of a 3 part series, Registered Social Worker Kristina Grace speaks to Kate Hicks, founder of mybirthstory.org.nz and Birth Trauma Aotearoa.  They discuss the gaps in Aotearoa New Zealand regarding birth trauma - from the lack of awareness about birth trauma from individuals to families to clinicians - what it looks like, what contributes to it, how to prevent it and where to get help.  Kate also speaks to what we can do ...

In part 2 of this 3 part episode, Kristina Grace continues her story as an "activist" for Maternal Mental Health, what she sees would be ideal for supporting new parents and preventing perinatal depression/anxiety as well as helping them to become well quickly and effectively.  She talks about why she is stepping down as "activist" but calls for others to take up the baton.

We would LOVE your feedback on this ...

Kristina Grace talks about a time where she was described by the news media as an "activist" for Maternal Mental Health and about how and why that happened.  In this podcast special she shares part 1 of a 3 part story of what has happened and is happening in Maternal Mental Health in Aotearoa, New Zealand and why we should care. We would LOVE your feedback on this episode - please comment on our social media platforms o...

 Part 2 of a two-part interview.  Kristina (a Registered social work/counsellor) talks again with Zelandia.  In Part 1, Zelandia has shared her challenges with reduced support and the impact that had on her birth and feeding experience.  In this episode, Zelandia talks about her feelings as a new mum, identifies some of the changes that are needed in the maternity sector, what she did that really helped her, and although she is st...

Continuing the theme of Maternal Mental Health this week, Kristina talks with Zelandia who shares her birth and aftercare struggles in a health care system in the midst of a Covid crisis. Zelandia talks about her traumatic birth experience and struggles with breastfeeding and the impact this had on her mental health. This is Part 1 of a two-part interview.

For professional help and advice in NZ with baby-related issues click here

T...

In part two of this two-part episode, singer-songwriter of the podcast’s theme song “Fog and Fire” Jasmine Brett AKA Aethel speaks with podcast host Kristina Grace.  She speaks to the lyrics of “Fog and Fire” and shares some of her journey coming out of depression, and about music, motherhood, faith and being her true self. 

To learn more about Kristina's "Out of the Fog" programme, click here

Thanks to Aethel ...

In part one of this two-part episode, singer/songwriter Aethel AKA Jasmine Brett (of podcast theme song “Fog and Fire”) speaks to show host Kristina Grace about the pressures and expectations of motherhood and postnatal depression.

To take the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Questionnaire, click here: Edinburgh Post Natal Depression Scale

For more information about the Out of the Fog programme, click here: PNDA Recovery Course

To le...

Counsellor & Registered Social Worker Kristina Grace speaks with Emma (not her real name) about her experience of miscarriage and the impact this had on her – especially with her next pregnancy.  She talks about the traumatic birth experience she had with her youngest child and how this all contributed to her experience of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

CW:  Discusses miscarriage and traumatic birth.

For birth...

Counsellor & Registered Social Worker Kristina Grace continues the series on trauma and mental health, speaking with Emma (not her real name) about the impact of being in a relationship that undermined her self-worth and self-esteem and how that ultimately contributed to her experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  Emma shares how she was able to leave the relationship and where she went for help.  She off...

Counsellor/Registered Social Worker Kristina Grace talks to USA Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Debra Wallace in Part 2 of a two-part episode on trauma and how it impacts our mental health.  Debra has extensive training in trauma and in this episode she talks about the keys to preventing trauma in our children and how we can recover from trauma ourselves.

There is no content warning for this episode.

What is trauma-in...