Introducing...Me!

Hi, my name is Traci Ferris. This is my first attempt at a blog. My most obvious feature for anyone upon first meeting is that I am clearly an introvert and I find that not only does this translate to face-to-face interaction but also face-to-computer interaction. I am notorious about second-guessing what I write, going back and trying to reword things rather than taking a stream of consciousness approach. Therefore, it makes keeping up with a blog seem like a tedious chore.

I am almost 30...my birthday is in a couple of months, so I might as well just embrace it and say that I am 30.  I grew up in Georgia and earned my Master's degree and license in Marriage and Family Therapy there.

I have a wonderful husband named Greg who I have been married to for almost 10 years. Our anniversary is in a few months and its so amazing to say that we have been together for a decade! So yes, we got married young - that seems like such a scandalous idea these days, even to me. Getting married at 20?!? But why?!? Well, we were in love and he was in the military and I did not take a very optimistic view of the long distance relationship. So here we are. He is my best friend and my true love. We have made it through some of the best times and the worst times.

I have two handsome and amazing sons. My oldest is three. He is very much like his mommy - emotional, quick-tempered, and internally-focused. And emotional. :) He is so intelligent and when he is thinking, I can almost see the wheels turning in his head as he processes his environment and his place in it. Oh, I forgot to mention that he is stubborn. When he digs his heels into something, he either gets his way or kicks and screams himself into cooperation.

My youngest son will be eight months old soon. He is so laid-back and loves to smile. He was a preemie, born at 36 weeks, but you could never tell that now. He knows exactly what he wants when he wants it, and then he is sure to let us know. I think he's going to be more like his daddy in personality. When he was born, I declared that my babymaker was closing its doors for good, but now I am reconsidering. I love watching these little guys grow up and grow together. Why not keep things interesting and grow the family a little more?

I have recently begun a postpartum doula business. I am a Marriage and Family Therapist with five years in the field, including my training years, and I feel that my own personal struggles through postpartum depression are leading me down a path to help other new mothers and families transition into new parenthood. My goal is to offer therapy to women in the postpartum stage while also providing logistical support through traditional doula care. I also want to work with women dealing with antepartum depression, emotional issues dealing with fear of childbirth, grief and loss, as well as infertility/trying to conceive. Basically, all things that have to do with child-bearing.

My biggest hurdle right now is that I am waiting for approval from the Texas MFT Licensing Board to transfer my Marriage and Family Therapy license to Texas from Georgia. I have a boatload of complaints about that, but I'll leave those for another day.

I am pleased to meet anyone who is interested in postpartum issues and in the journey to and through parenthood. It is the most life-changing, life-enriching experience there is, it allows people to look at themselves through a new lens and really define themselves in new ways. Enjoy!