Local therapist Avery Neal manages mental and emotional health of mothers and survivors

THE WOODLANDS, TX – Since its original inception by loving daughter Anna Jarvis in 1908 and its official recognition as a national holiday six years later by President Woodrow Wilson, Mother’s Day has been one of the most popular days every year in the United States. The holiday generates approximately $33.5 billion in spending in the U.S., with greeting cards and flowers being the most popular gifts; this single day alone is responsible for one-quarter of national flower sales each year, and is recognized as the busiest day of the year for phone calls and restaurant dining.

There are, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, an estimated 85 million mothers in America, out of a global total of 2.2 billion. Additionally, there are roughly 9.8 million to 15.18 million single-mother households in the nation, with 80% of one-parent family groups maintained by a mother.

Though primarily celebrated and commemorated with love for those who birthed us, sometimes the holiday can also bring up painful emotions if we’ve lost a loved one, or if there are strained relationships across the generations. Not all are happy celebrants or celebrators on the third Sunday of May.

Dr. Avery Neal, PhD, LPC a practicing psychotherapist, international author, and speaker based in The Woodlands, stresses the importance of proper mental and emotional balance when it comes to the topic of motherhood, whether you are a mother or the child of one.

Since 2012 when she opened the Women’s Therapy Clinic, Neal has offered psychiatric and counseling support to women, specializing in treating depression and anxiety at all stages in a woman’s life. She has worked extensively with females suffering from prenatal anxiety and postpartum depression in addition to helping them recover from divorce and healing from psychological abuse.

“I like working with women,” she told Woodlands Online. “It’s vital that people get what they need out of our time together. Communication and the ability to ‘unload’ are beneficial, especially when undergoing significant life events. It’s important for patients to be in an environment where they can relax their nervous system, because then their mind can begin to recover.”

Her therapy is dialogue-driven, with no formulated questions or cookie-cutter answers. Absent from her office are stereotypical shrinks’ couches and cliches such as “How does that make you feel?” She stresses a strong mind/body connection is necessary for proper mental and physical health.

When it comes to the topic of Mother’s Day, Neal was recently part of an event for women recovering from loss, and she recognizes the pressure and stress placed on many people to celebrate or commemorate the day ‘properly.’

“Ideally, Mother’s Day is a day of unconditional love, of remembering mothers, to celebrate with yours if she is living, or to connect with her through memories if she has passed away,” she said. Celebrating with living mothers in a firm relationship is relatively easy, but when there’s been a significant loss, the loss of a mother or the loss of a child, this day can stir painful emotions. Neal suggests options like visiting memorable places, or writing letters (even if unsent), or getting close to nature to honor your loved one.

“We’re strong because we have to be; we can’t control what life throws at us, so it is vital to acknowledge conditions beyond our control, and to have nurturing and restorative practices at hand to help move through difficult times.”

In almost every language, the word for mother begins with the sound ‘ma,’ a vocalization babies make first. Practically from conception on, the bond between mother and child is ubiquitous.

“Motherhood is undoubtedly one of the greatest joys. And, at the same time, women can experience a wide range of challenges at any point in their journey. Infertility, miscarriage and loss, juggling children and work, teen challenges, and becoming an empty nester are just a few of the many times when women might need more support. It is important for mothers to stay connected to their support systems; they shouldn’t disconnect from the outside world. By keeping lines of communication open, both mother and child can benefit,” she said.

“Even mothers who are generally happy can be overwhelmed and feel underappreciated. Mothers need to soak up the honor that is associated with this day of celebration, and to allow themselves to fully receive the love shown to them.”

Besides her innovative, Woodlands-based sessions at the Women’s Therapy Clinic, Neal is also the author of If He’s So Great, Why Do I Feel So Bad?: Recognizing and Overcoming Subtle Abuse. This book has been translated and published in twelve languages. Her articles and interviews have been published by Oprah.com, American Counseling Association, Counseling Today, BookTrib, Best Self Magazine, Hitched Magazine, Bustle, POPSUGAR and PKWY Magazine, and her courses have been taken by more than 20,000 people worldwide. The International Association of HealthCare Professionals nominated her as one of the top psychologists in Houston.