Meet Dr. Alyssa Berlin

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dr. Alyssa Berlin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Dr. Alyssa, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

It was developed alongside my husband. I was super young when I got married and Elliot and I were both in graduate school together. He set up our office with two desks back to back because we would need to have a place to do our work when we had kids. I would work part time while he set up the organization and structure around our practice and created a great model for me to learn from and follow. It was powerful to see how much he cared about his patients and how far he would go to support them. This is something we share.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am a clinical psychologist focused on the perinatal period. I work with couples and individuals in my practice. I am a postpartum mental health expert and I love helping new parents navigate this special time that can also be fairly difficult and different for everyone. I created The After Birth Plan, a program that prepares couples for what to expect after a baby is born. The workshop teaches couples how to prepare for a healthy postpartum transition for the baby, for each partner, and for the evolving relationship. This course is available online and you can take it at your own pace. Exclusively offered on Informed Pregnancy Plus, a new streaming platform that my husband and I created, just start your free trial to check it out. Informed Pregnancy+ (IP+) is like Netflix for pregnant people. We include documentaries, iconic birth world films, yoga and meditation, wellness and exercise, online courses, and more, all available with your subscription. The site is informedpregnancy.tv and you can download the app on Roku or the App Store.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Empathy, resilience, and continuous learning have been extremely impactful in my journey thus far.

Empathy: Understanding and connecting with others on an emotional level has been crucial. Working on cultivating empathy has allowed me to support my clients effectively and build strong, trusting relationships. To develop empathy, we must be good active listeners, engaging in reflecting on interactions and behaviors and participating in activities that expose us to diverse perspectives. Empathy helps us relate to others and understand each others’ stories better.

Resilience: The ability to bounce back from setbacks and maintain a positive outlook has been essential. Building resilience has helped me navigate the challenges of balancing a demanding career with family life. To build resilience, focus on self-care so you can always present your best and strongest self, set realistic goals and celebrate when you achieve them, and cultivate a support network of family, friends, and colleagues. I know that when I was a young mom and feeling pulled in all different directions with career and kids, I was able to be resilient because of the people around me who provided motivation and encouragement.

Continuous Learning: Staying updated with the latest psychology research and therapeutic techniques have been vital for my professional growth. This commitment to learning has enabled me to provide the best care for my clients and remain curious and passionate about my work. For those early in their journey, I suggest seeking out mentorship, attending workshops and conferences, and engaging in lifelong learning through reading and professional development courses. Every day is a new chance to self educate, try something new, or indulge your curiosity about the world and the people around you.

By working on developing these qualities, you can create a strong foundation for a fulfilling and impactful career in psychology (or simply a fulfilling and impactful everyday life!)

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Yes! Aside from my practice, I am the co-author of a cookbook called Plated (available on Amazon). I have a passion for health and wellness and I believe that food is medicine and can greatly affect our mental health. I would love to collaborate with creators on delicious recipes that are also good for our mood and brains. I recently wrote an essay called Food for Mood for an amazing perinatal wellness and supplement company called Needed (thisisneeded.com). I enjoy content creation in the health food space. I’d love to connect and work with other doctors, chefs, home cooks, and writers.

Contact Info:

• Website: informedpregnancy.com, informedpregnancy.tv, doctorberlin.com
• Instagram: @dralyssadberlin

Image Credits

Camarie McBride (Dr. Elliot Berlin is in the couples photo with me)