NDF’s Emotional Wellness Director Carol Gelbard, LCSW, participated in the RARE MAMAS RISING podcast by Nikki McIntosh. The Mother’s Day special was released on May 4th and presented as a gift to all mothers.
“In this episode, Carol slows us down, guides us through understanding our current state of well-being, helps us discover ways to create a care plan that suits our individual preferences, and offers strategies to allow our families to process emotions. What a Mother’s Day gift!” said Nikki McIntosh, Founder of Rare Mamas.
You can listen to the complete podcast here.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
● Grief triggers and how to cope with them in the moment
● Ways to manage stress responses and restore a sense of balance
● Finding and implementing personalized care practices to promote well-being
● Making space for families to process the highs and lows of living with a rare disease
EPISODE DESCRIPTION
Rare Mamas Rising Episode 15
In honor of Mother’s Day, this special episode invites rare mamas to reflect on our motherhood journeys and explore our emotional wellness. Guest Carol Gelbard stewards these explorations and provides insightful techniques and strategies from her 20+ years of experience performing individual, family, and group therapy in hospitals, schools, and private practice settings. Carol is the Emotional Wellness Director at the Neuromuscular Disease Foundation (NDF). NDF works to enhance the quality of life for those living with the rare muscle disease GNE Myopathy. NDF funds critical research focused on treatments and a cure and provides advocacy, education, and outreach. Carol was a member of the NDF Foundation board for eight years. She has led patient and caregiver groups covering various topics, including grief and loss, adjusting and implementing self-care plans, adopting effective coping skills, and helping manage stressors with a chronic progressive disease. Carol has also facilitated podcasts on stress management, promoting and supporting wellness, problems with ableism in our culture, and breaking the taboo of disability. She received a bachelor of science degree in psychology at UC Davis and a master’s degree in social work at UCLA. In this episode, Carol slows us down, guides us through understanding our current state of well-being, helps us discover ways to create a care plan that suits our individual preferences, and offers strategies to allow our families to process emotions. What a Mother’s Day gift!
ABOUT RARE MAMAS
Rare Mamas is an online blog offering tips, tools, community and a podcast for mothers of children with rare diseases (rare mamas). The goal is “to empower rare-disease moms from distress to prowess.” The platform was created by Nikki McIntosh, a writer, speaker, advocate and rare-disease mother.
“I help transform mothers of children newly diagnosed with a rare disease, into brave and capable fighters ready for battle. I do this through practical tips, tactical tools, honest stories, how-tos, a bit of cheerleading, and a good kick in the pants when necessary. My writing serves as a catalyst for rare mamas—igniting the fire in their belly, propelling them into action, and marching them forward with hope. I am creating a community where rare moms can encourage and support one another.”
To learn more about Nikki McIntosh and Rare Mamas Rising, click here.
