Today we’d like to introduce you to Cristine Steele.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I suffered from antepartum and postpartum depression with two of my three children. Honestly, there were not enough resources for moms 15 years ago and the stigma was still prevalent. After being a stay at home mom for nearly a decade, I decided to go back to school and become a maternal mental health therapist. I wanted to help new moms in the way I needed back then. After graduating, I opened my own practice in Brentwood, and my focus has always been supporting moms in the perinatal season. I thoroughly enjoy working with cycle-breaking parents (those who do not want to repeat the same patterns as they grew up with). I love helping couples transition well into parenthood and not lose one another in the perinatal season. My practice is all virtual in Tennessee, which works well for parents to not have to navigate extra time away.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Being an entrepreneur is in my genes, so I do have that determination and drive to make things work, despite the challenges. I wouldn’t say that it has always been smooth, as there are always new things to learn or keep up with. Specifically, as a maternal mental health therapist, there are predictable seasons when new clients seek therapy and then the inevitable times when moms are busier and they tend to let other things take priority (December and May-August). There is a cadence that one has to accept in the world of private practice.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
MWC is a private practice that virtually supports parents and couples in the states of TN & WA. I specialize in perinatal mental health, cycle-breaking parents, sex & intimacy issues as well as working with other helping professionals. Instead of the standard 50 minute weekly session, I offer 90 minute and 3 hour sessions, which are designed to be depth-oriented, efficient and allow for meaningful change. I’ve found that if clients have a targeted focus, and are ready to dive in, it’s more beneficial for them to come less frequently, but for more time. I use brain-body models of therapy that help clients get to the root of the issue.
I lead with humanity and invite my clients to accept their humanity. You aren’t broken. “Made Whole” is a nod to my own therapy work back in the day when I accepted my own humanity for the first time and gave up trying to be perfect. I realized I was “made whole” and I invite others to make their way back to wholeness (whatever that means to them!).
In addition to the depth sessions I offer bi-weekly and monthly, I offer tailored intensives, which are 3+ days. These are great for parents transitioning to parenthood, cycle-breaking parents who want to deal with their own stuff before or in the early years of parenthood, a desire reset intensive for those having a difficult time with intimacy or those who suffered from birth trauma or pregnancy loss.
MWC also offers a variety of support groups: Perimenopause, Divorce, Mom Rage and Helping Professionals who Parent.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
You can’t do this alone. Community and fellow cheerleaders are EVERYTHING. A couple years ago, a friend and I started going on quarterly work retreats and she has been the BEST gift and fellow entrepreneur to bounce ideas off of. Find your people.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.made-whole-counseling.com
- Instagram: @made_whole_counseling
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madewholecounseling
