Perimenopause is a major life transition that affects both the body and mind. While it’s often recognized for causing irregular periods and hot flashes, its impact on mental health can be just as significant. In this conversation, Wildflower’s co-founder Aga Grabowski, LCSW, PMH-C, CST, interviews Dr. Vesna Pirec, MD, PhD, a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in…
I am a co-founder of Wildflower, a psychotherapist, a presenter and a consultant in the area of perinatal and reproductive mental health. Many other aspects of my personal identity shape my clinical work: chief among them is the family and immigrant background which has informed my attunement to the psychological upheaval that accompanies major life transitions and to the many sociocultural forces that impact our lived experience. In my clinical work, I am focused on helping people thrive and cope during periods of significant change, and particularly during journeys towards and through parenthood which may involve infertility, losses, depression, anxiety, and conflict. I work with people from all walks in life. Clients I work with are some of the strongest, most resilient folks I know. They don’t always feel this way, and they come to therapy feeling raw, maybe lost, and certainly quite vulnerable. It takes courage to confront your pain and struggle. I view psychotherapy as a deeply collaborative process that aims to help you discover and tap into your strengths and resources. You already have what it takes to feel better, be happier, face challenges – good psychotherapy basically helps you access all that. This can only happen if your therapist genuinely cares about and respects you and is invested in their own ongoing professional development and personal growth. I have extensive training in perinatal and reproductive mental health, evidence-based treatment of mood and anxiety disorders, sex therapy, and trauma. I earned my bachelor’s degree in international studies at the University of Chicago and obtained my master’s degree in clinical social work at the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration. I often present on topics related to mental health. I am an AASECT-certified sex therapist and a certified perinatal mental health clinician. My most valuable learning experiences come from my clients: their experience, wisdom and perspective have shaped my clinical practice the most, something I am deeply grateful for. LCSW License Number:149016046 Type 1 NPI Number: 1841631132 Accepts: BCBS PPO and BlueChoice plans, Lyra, self-pay and out of network clients Pronouns she/her/hers Selected training and affiliation AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist Certified Perinatal Mental Health Clinician Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Training Bringing Baby Home Educator Training, Gottman Institute Circle of Security Parent Educator Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) training Gottman Method Level 1 training Dialectical Behavior Therapy Training Key beliefs People are stronger and more resilient than they often realize. Our culture teaches us to be fiercely independent. To thrive, we need to embrace being interdependent -- deep connection with others is essential for happiness. More about me I love the outdoors and hiking, camping, kayaking. I can’t live without chocolate. I feel grateful every day for getting to do the work I love.
You Are Not Broken: Rethinking the Path to Sex Therapy
As an AASECT-certified sex therapist, I often hear people describe themselves as ‘broken’ when they walk through my door. ‘What is wrong with me?’ is a common refrain, spoken with shame, often through tears. Therapy can feel like a last-ditch effort to “fix” yourself. I understand why you might feel that way. But let me…
Something Better Than New Year’s Resolutions
As the new year rolls in, many people embrace the tradition of setting New Year’s resolutions, often aiming to lose weight, exercise more, or quit troubling habits. These goals initially feel like an empowering way to start fresh, but can prove stressful and difficult to maintain. Most people abandon them by the end of January.…
End-of-Year Message from the Wildflower Founders
Dear Wildflower Community, As the year draws to a close, we reflect on the many moments that have shaped the journey of this past year. There is something deeply poignant about this time of year – a natural pause for renewal and reflection. It is a time when many of us look back on what…
Psychotherapy at Wildflower: 15 Ways It Can Make You a Better Person
Psychotherapy is not only about dealing with the negative and painful parts of your life. If you are willing to put in the work, psychotherapy can make you a better person in more ways than we can count. Here are 15 of them: We invite you to learn more about the myriad way psychotherapy can…
May Your Days Be Merry and Bright: A Therapist’s Take on Navigating the Holiday Season
The holiday season has arrived like an unexpected snowstorm, announcing itself with a burst of shopping frenzy and festive chaos, sweeping us up before we can catch our breath, pack away our summer sneakers, and button our coats. Every November, like clockwork, I’m surprised by how swiftly this time comes. ‘It was just September!’ I…
National Suicide Prevention Month: Shining a Light on Maternal Mental Health Crisis
September is here, and with it comes the National Suicide Prevention Month – a time when we shine a critically important spotlight on mental health and work to raise awareness about preventing suicide. Suicidality affects people from all walks of life and at various points of their lives. As this article will show, tragically it…
There Is No Health Without Mental Health: Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month
The transition to parenthood is often described as a journey, yet this word does not sufficiently capture the dramatic and profound nature of change and transformation that takes place during this time. A more appropriate term might be “odyssey.” There are very few, if any, other life experiences that match the physical, emotional, mental, relational,…
The Language of (Emotional) Pain and the Case for Expanding Our Vocabulary
[Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash] “I feel melancholy sometimes, especially lately” said my friend as he leaned back in his chair. We were sitting in my backyard. The sun had just set and the sky had that lovely deep blue hue that appears for just a few brief moments as the day and…
Demystifying Psychotherapy: What Is the Essence of Psychotherapy?
A dizzying array of theories, modalities, and approaches makes up the vast field of psychotherapy. Humans have counseled, supported, and reassured other humans since the dawn of humanity. We are social beings who are not only capable of extraordinary empathy, but also derive comfort and joy from meaningful connection. The formal discipline of psychotherapy was…
