Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Theresa Roman.
Dr. Roman, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am a Florida native and graduated with a Doctorate in Psychology degree in 2015 from Nova Southeastern University. My training during graduate school was focused on forensic psychology and I have always had an interest in family forensic mental health work. While in undergraduate school, I had completed a thesis that examined social opinions on maternal filicide/infanticide. We studied some of the core reasons why mothers kill their children and in an interesting twist, I ended up working in a forensic inpatient unit as a doctoral intern- working with high profile cases that were mothers who killed their children. It was an intense learning experience to work with these women and hear their stories. It was during my doctoral internship that I began to experience my own fertility challenges, making it even harder to work with this population. I had my first miscarriage in 2015 and felt very alone, shameful, and anxious about being able to have my own family.
I completed my doctoral program and was geographically reunited with my active-duty spouse so that we could focus on growing our family and marriage. I went on to have 3 more miscarriages and we struggled as a couple to navigate such heartache. It was then that we decided to foster and adopt our (now) eldest son. Becoming an adoptive mother was a rocky experience in that no one prepared you for the attachment issues and struggles of parenting a child who was not born into your family. I again felt alone and anxious and discovered how little support there is for a mother on this atypical journey to parenthood. I had significant PAL (pregnancy after loss) anxiety with my first biological son both prenatally and postpartum. Through my own healing and growing of my family, I learned to prioritize community, self-care, and self-validation for what I was experiencing. It was then that I decided to start my own career path toward maternal mental health.
I opened Balanced Wellness in 2017. Balanced Wellness is a private practice mental health clinic focused on providing well-rounded support for moms (and families) during their journey into parenthood. We serve families who are facing fertility challenges, suffering from pregnancy or infant loss, experiencing pregnancy or postpartum mood disorders, and families who are parenting special needs or adoptive children. Currently, thanks to Telehealth capabilities, we serve moms across NC, SC, and FL. We are physically located in Bluffton, SC, and are able to see moms in person at our office space. We have a team made up of a doula, several interns, and a couples’ therapist.
In addition to clinical and birth/postpartum support, we also lead various events to raise funds and awareness for maternal mental health. Our biggest event, the Climb out of the Darkness is a national event sponsored by Postpartum Support International in which we meet as a community to support our local moms and raise funds for our state PSI chapter.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As you can see from my introduction, the road to where I am today and where my business is, has not been an easy one. It has come with both personal and professional roadblocks and a lot of tears. Professionally, as a military spouse, I have faced challenges in career discovery and job placement due to frequent moves. I have experienced difficulty in transferring my professional license to the 3 states we have lived in since I completed school. Balancing work and home life has been the most recent challenge given how important both of these roles are in my life.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a clinical psychologist who is professionally trained in maternal mental health. The training my team has received from Postpartum Support International aids us in adapting our treatment approaches to the specific needs of moms and families. I am trained in perinatal-focused EMDR, which is a trauma processing intervention that targets PTSD and other anxiety symptoms in the perinatal population. I am known for being a provider who is easily accessible and who has open communication with my clients at all times. I respond to all of my client messages within 4-6 hours at most which I think sets me apart from experience with other providers. I operate under the “it takes a village to raise a mom” philosophy and I aim to become part of that village, not just check off a box once a week for an hour. I also provide comprehensive case management services so that the moms that I work with receive well-rounded care, not just individual therapy. I am very proud that my caseload remains full so that I can help as many people as possible and that my peers trust me with their referrals of friends, family, and clients.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Professionals no matter what degree or level of certification, need a professional community. I would not be where I am without the support of my colleagues, my Balanced Wellness team, and community. I am actively involved in the local Chamber and have found that networking with other disciplines has been an enriching experience for me professionally. Sometimes I get the funny “oh you are a psychologist, are you analyzing me?” remarks from other professionals, but I know that my services are valued and respected by others.
Contact Info:
- Email: dr.roman@balanced-wellness.org
- Website: www.balanced-wellness.org
- Instagram: @balancedwellnessofthecarolinas
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/balancedwellnessofthecarolinas
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