We recently connected with Gina Nercisian, LCSW, PMH-C and have shared our conversation below.
Gina, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
As a child of immigrants and the first in my family to be born in the United States, I was privileged to witness my parents always trying their hardest to provide in a country where they barely spoke the language. When I was twelve, a very close relative of mine passed away tragically. At the time, I didn’t have the ability to express grief or the profound impact loss may have had on my life. Through the years, as this grief continued to show up and shape the way I viewed the world, I knew I wanted to be someone who can sit with others and support them through the hardest parts of life.
After I became a therapist, I worked with individuals experiencing a variety of struggles at different stages of life. However, this work took on a much deeper meaning when I became a mother. I experienced complications in my spontaneous twin pregnancy, birth trauma, pre-eclampsia, a NICU stay for my premature twin girls, and an extremely difficult postpartum period. I felt overwhelmed, completely disconnected from self, and difficulty experiencing the joy I so desperately wanted to feel. Living through this season changed me. It showed me how isolating postpartum can be and how support for mothers is often absent during this time. I learned firsthand that you can love your children deeply and still feel suffering. I now knew firsthand there was a gap in the therapy world when it comes to caring for a mother in this unique season of their life.
My purpose grew from that place of lived experience: to create the kind of support I have needed throughout my years and struggles. Now, I don’t just help people heal in theory, I walk alongside mothers in the moments I once needed support myself. Being present for women as they find their way to a version of themselves that feels like home; that’s my true calling.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
The Mindful Mama Therapy was born out of my own lived experience. I opened my private practice with the intention to support mothers through some of the most vulnerable seasons of their lives, particularly pregnancy, postpartum, and early motherhood. The work is deeply relational and grounded in both clinical and lived experience. I work with many mothers who appear “fine” on the outside but are feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, anxious, or isolated internally.
I bring a trauma-informed, nervous system focused approach that helps mothers understand their systems are responses to immense change. Therapy in my practice is about creating a space where mothers can exhale, feel seen, and begin to come home to themselves. My goal is for every mother who trusts in my practice to feel less alone, deeply validated, and supporting in building a version of motherhood that feels true to who they are.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I believe that the most important skill is the ability to sit with discomfort, whether that be my own or others’. I learned early on, both through personal loss and later through motherhood, that healing doesn’t come by fixing or rushing. It comes from the willingness to be present in it. For anyone early in their journey, my advice would be to slow down and stay curious instead of trying to solve right away. I usually refer to this as “space and grace” with my clients.
Second, being fully present with a client is often much more impactful than having the “right” thing to say. Being truly present, listening to what’s underneath the words, has shaped how I show up as a clinician. This is something that’s developed in my years of experience through practice, supervision, and humility.
Third, going through postpartum anxiety, depression, and identity shifts myself deepened my understanding in ways no class could. My advice is to honor your experiences without feeling like you need to be perfect or fully healed to help others. Stay connected to your values and trust that showing up authentically matters more than anything.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My ideal client is a mother who is doing a lot and feeling a lot at the same time. She is deeply invested in being a good parent, but may be struggling with a sense of losing herself to anxiety or overwhelm. Many of the women I work with are high-achieving, high-functioning, and used to being the one who holds everything together, which can make it especially hard to ask for help.
Most of all, I believe this is someone who is a mother who wants to not only feel better, but to feel more like herself. Therapy works best when there’s trust and a shared commitment to growth. That’s the foundation I strive to build with every client.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.themindfulmamatherapy.com
- Instagram: @themindfulmama.therapy
- Linkedin: Gina Nercisian
Image Credits
Ani Esmaili Photography
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