Podcast
Misconceptions
Misconceptions is a groundbreaking podcast dedicated to inspiring and empowering women across the globe. We focus on motherhood, maternal mental health and women's reproductive health often through the cultural lens of the Jewish woman. We dispel myths and challenge misconceptions with solid science, data and education.
Perfect for mothers, aspiring mothers, health professionals, or anyone interested in understanding the often complex and highly misunderstood world of women's maternal and reproductive health.
Your host, Dvora Entin, is a licensed therapist, trained sex therapist and specialist in perinatal mental health. With an unwavering dedication to sharing evidence-based information, Dvora explores intriguing topics, guiding women through the intricate landscapes of mental health and reproductive struggles with resilience and empathy.
Let's dispel these Misconceptions together!
- Episodes
- 80
- Releases
- Every two weeks
- Typical length
- 52 min
- On air since
- 2023
- Latest episode
- 1 week ago
Episodes
80 episodes, newest first
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47 min
82. D-MER and Lactation: I Never Knew!
Episode 82
Show notes
Ashley Hanna-Morgan is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) certified in perinatal mental health (PMH-C). In addition to her work as a psychotherapist, she writes about mental health to advocate for change and inspire hope. In 2016, she wrote The Afterglow, a mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy curriculum that supports parents with postpartum depression and anxiety. In 2017, she published I Gave Birth to My Heart, a collection of poems about the secret anguishes and innumerable joys of reinventing oneself after postpartum depression.
When she isn't counseling clients or volunteering with Postpartum Support International, Ashley loves to experiment in the kitchen and spend as much time outside as possible in San Diego, where she resides with her family. In Her Own Backyard is her first novel.
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43 min
81. Trauma in the Body: Exploring What We've Learned
Episode 79
Show notes
Mara Tesler Stein, Psy.D., PMH-C Mara Tesler Stein, Psy.D., PMH-C, is a clinical psychologist and an EMDRIA Approved Consultant and Trainer working in North America and Israel. A child and adolescent psychologist by training, she is the founder and director of The Touchstone Institute for Perinatal Training, where she offers foundational and advanced EMDR trainings that examine the intersections of EMDR and perinatal mental health in depth.
She is the editor of the forthcoming EMDR for Reproductive, Perinatal and Infant Mental Health (Springer, in press) and, with Deborah Davis, Ph.D., the co-author of Parenting Your Premature Baby and Child: The Emotional Journey (Fulcrum, 2004) and Intensive Parenting: Surviving the Journey Through the NICU (Fulcrum, 2013). She has also contributed book chapters on perinatal loss, EMDR treatment, and trauma-focused care for NICU families.
Her perinatal work grew out of her own perinatal journey, which began in 1995 and carried her through infertility, twin pregnancy, prolonged hospital bed rest, the NICU, and years of raising NICU graduates. Her mission is to bridge the gap between child psychotherapy and perinatal-focused psychotherapy, and to bring effective trauma-focused treatment to families.
Her workshops and trainings are listed at www.touchstoneinstitute.org. She can be reached at mara@touchstoneinstitute.org.
Short version (approx. 110 words)
Mara Tesler Stein, Psy.D., PMH-C, is a clinical psychologist and an EMDRIA Approved Consultant and Trainer working in North America and Israel. A child and adolescent psychologist by training, she is the founder and director of The Touchstone Institute for Perinatal Training, where she offers foundational and advanced EMDR trainings at the intersection of EMDR and perinatal mental health.
She is the editor of the forthcoming EMDR for Reproductive, Perinatal and Infant Mental Health (Springer, in press) and, with Deborah Davis, Ph.D., the co-author of Parenting Your Premature Baby and Child (Fulcrum, 2004) and Intensive Parenting (Fulcrum, 2013). Her work bridges child psychotherapy and perinatal-focused psychotherapy, bringing effective trauma-focused treatment to families.
www.touchstoneinstitute.org | mara@touchstoneinstitute.org
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58 min
80. Fertility Preservation: Understanding Choices for Future Fertility
Episode 80
Show notes
Ilana B. Ressler, MD Double Board-Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist & Infertility Specialist, Illume Fertility Dr. Ilana B. Ressler is double board certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility. She earned her medical degree at Case Western Reserve University and completed her residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago. During her residency, Dr. Ressler was awarded the Professional Dedication to Residency Award in 2009 and the Overall Excellence in Gynecologic Care Award in 2010. In 2013, she completed a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Cincinnati. In 2016 and 2017, Dr. Ressler was chosen by her peers at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine to receive the Fertility and Sterility Star Reviewer Award. She is consistently named a Top Doctor by Castle Connolly and is also a former member of the editorial board of Fertility and Sterility, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine's premier international journal for those who treat infertility and reproductive medicine. She has also been an expert reviewer of the latest gynecologic surgical studies and has written literature reviews for the Society of Reproductive Surgeons. Dr. Ressler launched the Pies for Prevention program in her Westchester community to benefit Sharsheret, in support of women and families facing breast and ovarian cancer. She also serves as Medical Advisor for Yesh Tikva, which was established to create a Jewish community of support for those experiencing infertility.
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50 min
79. Managing Menopause
Episode 79
Show notes
Dr. Elissa Hellman is an experienced board-certified OBGYN. She received her medical degree from NYU School of Medicine and completed her residency at Northshore University Hospital in Long Island in OBGYN. Dr. Hellman has been in clinical practice for 15 years with a recent move from Milwaukee, WI to Israel. She is also the physician at her self-named telemedicine gynecology practice focused on the health needs of Jewish women (www.drelissahellmanmd). Through this platform, she offers one on one consultations to address gaps in knowledge and education many Jewish women face as they go through their reproductive years. She also developed two educational courses Girls Growing Up, a puberty course for Jewish girls and The Kallah Curriculum, for Jewish brides who want to feel as prepared as possible in all aspects of women's health and reproduction as they can. Instagram (@drelissahellmanmd) is where she hangs out and tries to have a little fun spreading evidence-based information about all the stages of womanhood- with a Jewish twist!
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53 min
78. Infertility and Modern Medical Options
Episode 76
Show notes
Dr. Braverman is a Clinical Professor with a joint appointment in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University. Dr. Braverman is the Associate Director for the Educational Core for OB/Gyn. She is a health psychologist with a specialty in medical health management, infertility counseling, and third party reproduction issues. She received her M.A., M.S. and Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Braverman has lectured internationally on treatment issues and reproductive medicine before medical and patient audiences. Dr. Braverman has published in medical journals about the psychological aspects of infertility, issues involved in the decision to end treatment, and psychological issues involved in using third-party donors. Dr. Braverman received the Timothy Jeffries Memorial award in 2011 for outstanding contributions as a health psychologist from the American Psychological Association and the 2021 Suheil J. Muasher, M.D., Distinguished Service Award from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
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1 hr 3 min
77. Special Edition: Postpartum Psychosis: What We Know And What We Are Missing
Episode 74
Show notes
Dr. Esther Rollhaus is an adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrist in private practice in Riverdale, NY and via telepsychiatry to New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Florida. She has a particular interest in women's mental health, infertility and pregnancy loss, and pregnancy and postpartum mental health. Esther received her medical degree from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She completed general adult psychiatry residency and child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Montefiore Medical Center. She has pursued post-graduate training in reproductive and women's mental health via Postpartum Support International, Project Teach, and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.
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50 min
76. A Mother's Role in Nutrition: Shaping a Healthy Narrative
Episode 76
Show notes
Eling Tsai (she/her) is a Registered Dietitian, New York State Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist, and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. In her work, Eling creates a nonjudgmental space to help people find peace in their relationship with food. Using a Health at Every Size® (HAES®) and Intuitive Eating informed approach, she works with her clients to improve their well-being, body image, and outlook around food while working towards nutrition-related goals and managing a range of medical conditions. She has a special interest in disordered eating, eating disorders, and diabetes, as well as helping families create a positive feeding environment at home. Eling believes a positive and energizing relationship with food and body should be a right for all people.
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49 min
75. Sleep: It's All It's Cracked Up To Be
Episode 75
Show notes
Dr. Davoudian is a board-certified Health psychologist with expertise in reproductive mental health. She provides psychotherapy to patients who are pregnant, postpartum or seeking fertility treatment. Dr. Davoudian also offers psychological consultations for individuals utilizing third-party reproduction as well as assessments of gamete donors and gestational surrogates. Her research interests include psychological aspects of third party reproduction and has served as a principal investigator on a study examining posttraumatic stress among fertility patients.
Glorisel González Viera, MD, is double board-certified in Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She is an Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine in the Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, where she practices as a Reproductive Psychiatrist at The Women's Place at Texas Children's Hospital Pavilion for Women. Originally from Puerto Rico, she completed her Psychiatry residency at Ponce Health Sciences University, serving as Chief Resident, followed by fellowships in Sleep Medicine at the VA Caribbean Healthcare System and Women's Mental Health at Baylor College of Medicine. Her clinical and research interests center on the intersection of sleep and women's mental health across the reproductive lifespan, with a particular focus on perimenopause and menopause. She also conducts research in reproductive loss and atypical forms of grief. Dr. González Viera is passionate about advancing evidence-based care, educating healthcare professionals, and improving access to specialized mental health care for women.
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51 min
71. Envisioning What's Next: When It's Time to End Infertility Treatment
Episode 71
Show notes
Julia T. Woodward, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and Obstetrics & Gynecology in the Duke University Health System. She has directed the Patient Support Program at the Duke Fertility Center for over 20 years. Clinically, she specializes in working with patients facing infertility, pregnancy loss, third-party reproduction, fertility preservation, and perinatal mood disorders. She trains Clinical Psychology PhD students, Predoctoral Interns, and Postdoctoral Fellows as well as REI Fellows and OBGYN residents in the psychosocial aspects of reproductive medicine.
She has held multiple committee leadership positions in the Mental Health Professional Group of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, is the current Chair of the Scientific Development Committee and previously served on the Executive Council for the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART). She serves as an Associate Editor for Human Reproduction. She publishes regularly and lectures internationally on the psychosocial aspects of reproductive medicine, integration of mental health services into fertility care teams, and later-life parenting.
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57 min
70. A New Look At Suicide: What We Need To Change
Episode 70
Show notes
Elan Javanfard, M.A., LMFT is a licensed psychotherapist, professor, author, and thought leader in the fields of mental health, mindfulness, and crisis care. He currently serves as Senior Director at Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, where he focuses on behavioral health redesign and systems-level transformation to improve care for individuals experiencing mental illness, suicidal ideation, and emotional distress.
With over a decade of experience, Elan has provided clinical services in diverse settings, including community-based clinics serving individuals with chronic and severe mental illness. His integrative therapeutic approach emphasizes present-focused discovery, mind-body awareness, and the reintegration of the whole self. He has completed extensive clinical training in multiple evidence-based modalities such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), Seeking Safety, Crisis Oriented Recovery Services (CORS), Narrative Family Therapy, and PEERS® (Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills).
He holds advanced certification in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), and Recognizing and Responding to Suicide Risk. Elan is also an Adjunct Professor of Psychology at both Pepperdine University and Touro University, where he lectures on a wide range of topics including evidence-based clinical practices, mindfulness, and suicide prevention.
In addition to his academic and clinical work, he is a national speaker and educator, regularly presenting to mental health professionals, faith-based communities, and leadership groups. He is a published author and the creator of Psycho-Spiritual Insights: Exploring Parasha & Psychology, a weekly blog that bridges Jewish thought and psychological wisdom. A respected voice in both clinical and spiritual spaces, Elan blends his expertise in psychotherapy with deep cultural and religious understanding. Elan is a member of the Board of Directors of the Crisis Residential Association, helping shape policy and innovation in alternatives to hospitalization.
He lives in the Pico-Robertson community of Los Angeles with his wife and three children.
To learn more or get in touch, visit www.elanjavanfard.com, email Elan.Javanfard@gmail.com, or call 424-256-6546.
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53 min
69. Andrea Wetterau Therapist Edition: It's Not About The Food
Episode 68
Show notes
Andrea is a mother of two and a therapist with 11 years of experience. She specializes in working with people in pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenthood, specifically in using EMDR and IFS to help empower them on their journeys toward healing from trauma and finding peace in their relationships with food and body. Andrea has her own private psychotherapy practice, Wetterau Wellness, provides IFS-informed EMDR consultation to fellow therapists, and loves spending her free time with friends and family.
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53 min
68. It's Not Too Late! Disrupted Attachment and PMAD Recovery
Episode 67
Show notes
Ruthie Arbit, LICSW, MA is a seasoned therapist, educator, and national leader in the treatment of perinatal and pediatric mental health. She is the Founder and Director of Arbit Counseling — a psychotherapy and pharmacology practice based in Washington, D.C., with specialized expertise in family mental health. Ruthie teaches, writes, and contributes to mental health research; she has been published in a number of acclaimed publications and presents at national conferences. She is also on the Board of Washington DC's Postpartum Support International Chapter. Arbit Counseling offers trauma-informed, evidence-based care for families navigating a range of mental health challenges and parenting concerns. The team consists of award-winning authors, clinicians, and researchers who bring extensive expertise in gold-standard, evidence-based modalities—including CBT, ERP, EMDR, Circle of Security, SPACE, and more.
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55 min
67. Transgenerational Trauma: Exploring The Family, The System, and Resilience
Episode 66
Show notes
Karen Simms, MAMFT, LMHC, is a seasoned consultant, trainer, facilitator, and coach with over 30 years of experience in building trauma-informed, healing-centered, and equitable systems and communities. She is the founder of Trauma & Resilience Initiative, Inc. (TRI) a not for profit that trains, educates, advocates for, and promotes resilience and justice for individuals, families, organizations, and communities. TRI works to reduce the impact of adverse community experiences by healing and repairing those who have been impacted by trauma; and equipping organizations, communities, and providers to be trauma and justice informed.
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59 min
66. The Aftermath: NICU Trauma Part II
Episode 65
Show notes
Part II of NICU Trauma. Toby Tabak is a mother and nonprofit leader whose work is shaped by lived experience and deep community engagement. She serves as a director at Yad Rachel / Project Ima, supporting maternal mental health through education, advocacy, and compassionate care. She is a co-founder of WeeCare Preemies and WILLPOWER, a coalition of women in leadership roles in Lakewood
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43 min
65. Communication In Grief: Finding Each Other In The Darkness
Episode 65
Show notes
Naomi Rosenkranz is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in grief and reproductive mental health, including perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, infertility, perinatal and infant loss, birth trauma, and pregnancy after loss. She earned her B.A. in Biology from Yeshiva University, along with an M.S. in Neuroscience and an M.S.Ed. in Marriage and Family Therapy, both from the University of Miami. Naomi has facilitated support groups for families who have suffered perinatal and infant loss through Postpartum Support International and The Children's Bereavement Center, as well as a general grief support group for Temple Beth Am. Additionally, she provides bereavement care consultation for volunteers working with NICU families.
Naomi has also served as the lead Florida coordinator for Postpartum Support International. Currently, Naomi runs a private practice in Miami, where she continues to support families through her expertise in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, infertility, and bereavement care.
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54 min
64. Military Service and Mental Health: Permission to Speak Freely
Episode 66
Show notes
Patience Riley, LPC, PMH-C, is a perinatal mental health specialist who bridges the gap between clinical expertise and somatic wellness. With 14 years of experience as a Licensed Professional Counselor, Patience offers a multifaceted approach to healing by weaving together her roles as a therapist, RETAIN Parental Leave Coach, and 200 HR Registered Yoga Teacher specializing in prenatal care. Patience's career is defined by her work in high-impact settings, including psychiatric hospitals, crisis intervention, and military installations.
As a military spouse, she brings a deeply personal understanding of the unique challenges facing service members and their families. Patience channels this dedication into her roles on the PSI Georgia Board and PSI Military Task Force, working to ensure every family—military and civilian alike—has access to the specialized support they deserve. In her private practice, Patience primarily supports clients during the perinatal period through individual therapy, yoga, and mental wellness workshops in her community.
Her commitment to accessible mental health services and somatic healing is further reflected in her role leading PSI's Yoga for Pregnant & Postpartum Parents and her work as a member of the PSI Training Faculty and PSI's Alliance for People of Color. Patience has spoken for organizations such as the Wall Street Journal Podcast, the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, the Service Women Action Network, and the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance. Her insights have been featured in Vanity Fair London and Vogue Singapore, and she was the cover story of Military Families Magazine. She has also contributed to the CDC's #HowRightNow campaign, Military Spouse Magazine, and Wounded Warrior Project. Outside of her advocacy and clinical work, Patience is a creative, foodie, and ""plant mom"" who loves a good festival. She loves doing life with her college sweetheart and their two sons.
Her Website Individual therapy: GA & NE residents Yoga: National & international www.whoamamas.com email: info@whoamamas.com
Military Resources: Military OneSource: Support for Military Personnel & Their Families Military OneSource Counseling New Military Parent Specialty Consultation Military Family Life Counselor Program
Postpartum Support International Military Resources and support group Telemynd: virtual mental health care MMHLA: Military, Veteran Women, and Maternal Mental Health Fact Sheet Military Reach: accessible and practical research for military families
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34 min
63. Longings In The Long Game: A Conversation About Singlehood and Sexuality
Episode 63
Show notes
Rachel Hercman, LCSW is a psychotherapist, educator, and mental health content creator specializing in relationships, intimacy, and trauma. She has a private practice in Manhattan and Monsey, as well as telehealth. She brings depth, clarity, and real conversation to the topics we don't talk about enough.
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55 min
62. Disordered Eating and Pregnancy: Exploring the "Limiting Beliefs"
Episode 62
Show notes
Andrea is a mother of two and a therapist with 11 years of experience. She specializes in working with people in pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenthood, specifically in using EMDR and IFS to help empower them on their journeys toward healing from trauma and finding peace in their relationships with food and body. Andrea has her own private psychotherapy practice, Wetterau Wellness, provides IFS-informed EMDR consultation to fellow therapists, and loves spending her free time with friends and family.
CONNECT WITH DVORA ENTIN:
Website: https://www.dvoraentin.com/
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49 min
61. When Intimate Touch Is Complicated
Episode 61
Show notes
Rikki Spivak MS, OTR/L is a Columbia University–trained occupational therapist, graduating with her master's degree in 2002. For more than two decades, she has served children, adolescents, and adults with a specialized focus on emotional regulation, safety, and trauma healing. She maintains a thriving private practice in Monsey, where her work integrates a polyvagal-informed lens, somatic principles, and practical therapeutic tools to help clients build resilience and re-establish a grounded sense of safety in their bodies and relationships. Rikki is also a kallah teacher, trained by Rochel Goldbaum with additional trauma-informed training from the Eden Center. She specializes in teaching kallahs who are trauma survivors, those navigating religious differences, and kallahs coping with OCD, anxiety, or sensory processing challenges. She uniquely blends clinical expertise with deep sensitivity to the Jewish Orthodox community's needs, ensuring that education around intimacy remains safe, supportive, and empowering. A sought-after educator, Rikki has delivered classes and professional trainings to kallah teachers, clinicians, and mental health professionals on the centrality of safety in intimacy and the intersection of trauma, the nervous system, and sexual well-being. Her work bridges clinical insight with compassionate, practical guidance—helping individuals and couples step into relationships with greater clarity, confidence, and connection.
CONNECT WITH RIKKI SPIVAK
LEARN WITH DVORA ENTIN:
Upcoming training for therapists January 14th at 12:00pm EST - register at
https://www.dvoraentin.com/trainings
CONNECT WITH DVORA ENTIN:
Website: https://www.dvoraentin.com/
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55 min
60. It's the Little Things: The Trauma Of NICU parenting
Episode 60
Show notes
Toby Tabak is a mother and nonprofit leader whose work is shaped by lived experience and deep community engagement. She serves as a director at Yad Rachel / Project Ima, supporting maternal mental health through education, advocacy, and compassionate care. She is a co-founder of WeeCare Preemies and WILLPOWER, a coalition of women in leadership roles in Lakewood.
CONNECT WITH DVORA ENTIN:
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