Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Bossert.
Maria, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have been an occupational therapist (OT) since 2009. My first job was in an out patient pediatric clinic where I worked with kids of all ages and collaborated with other OTs, speech therapists and a physical therapist. I loved learning about and using sensory integration theories and interventions with the pediatric population. After my daughter Elsie was born, I made a switch to school-based OT. This was another area of OT that I had wanted to explore and was excited to work in the school environment. I in a variety of charter schools for 9 years, and over that time I had a miscarriage and my son, William. My experiences with pregnancy, grief, birth trauma, breastfeeding, returning to work and transitioning into motherhood highlighted the need for OT in the area of maternal wellness. We don’t know what we don’t know. I found that there was so much that we don’t discuss in regard to becoming a mother. This lack of preparation and loss of wisdom coupled with inappropriate expectations of motherhood set women up to struggle, rather than thrive, through their journey into motherhood. So, in 2020, I opened my practice, Happy & Healthy Therapy, to serve moms and babies during this unique, transformative and sensitive period of life.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been easy to reach new moms. There seem to be layers of barriers from societal expectations for mothers, namely self-sacrifice and putting others first, to a general lack of awareness and education around postpartum and the standard of care that is currently offered. The status quo is 2 postpartum visits with your birth provider and that’s it. We are just recently approaching normalizing of referrals for things like pelvic floor therapy and mental health. So, services that focus on putting the mother first and supporting her through her interpersonal journey is a new concept.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an occupational therapist serving moms and babies. Occupational therapists guide and support people of all ages to participate in the activities (i.e. occupations) that are most important to them. We work holistically and individually by seeing each person for who they are and what is important to them. We consider daily routines, habits, identity, roles, abilities and desires. With new moms, I am supporting the woman who is adding motherhood to her life experience. I am guiding her to enhance her understanding of her experience, of who she is as an individual, and then how to navigate this transition with intention and on her own terms. I also work with infants from birth through age 1, as there are many common (but not normal) challenges that arise during this time. Many infants experience things such as digestive issues, colic, postural restrictions (e.g. torticollis) and feeding challenges. I work with the infant and parents to alleviate these issues, and educate and empower the parents. What sets me apart from others is the occupational therapy approach to the transition into motherhood and services that meet both mom’s and baby’s needs. Many services are focused on either mother or baby. And services for mother are often focused on either her physical experience or her mental experience. Mother and baby are transitioning together and so I am excited to offer a place where both can be supported and thrive together.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I absolutely couldn’t have done this or could continue to do this on my own. My husband is one of my biggest supporters. He believes in my potential and quietly holds space and a foundation within our family for me to keep going. My parents have cheered me on and celebrated milestones from me starting out to successes along the way. My closest friends mentor me, listen when things are really hard and share their love and confidence in me. And my friend and colleague, Amelia Tallen-Whited, has been an advocate for my services with infants. She is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and Nurse Practitioner who saw the benefits the infants she referred to me where getting from therapy. We became close collaborators and now share an office space together in Saint Paul.
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