Welcome to DrCBTMom.com. I’m Ilyse Dobrow DiMarco, Ph.D., a Clinical Psychologist specializing in working with stressed moms. I received my B.A. from Yale University and my Ph.D. from Rutgers University. I have received extensive training in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and am a Diplomate of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy.
I am also the mom of two young boys, a role for which I received absolutely no training whatsoever.
As a new mom, I got the message that I was supposed to relish every minute of parenthood, that it was all sunshine and flowers and damn it, I’d better appreciate it. But the truth was, I was stressed. I had plenty of books to tell me how to care for my child, but I couldn’t find much information about what I should do to care for myself. Books and blogs that were aimed at moms were often written by fellow moms who, while humorous and reassuring, could not provide expert stress management advice.
As I continued to navigate my own personal parenting journey and work with other moms in my practice, it occurred to me that I had the tools—cognitive-behavioral therapy strategies—to help myself and other moms face the everyday challenges of motherhood. I also came to understand that moms often won’t make time to see a therapist, but will make time to read their favorite mom blog on their phone. So I decided to create DrCBTMom.com, a site combining the expert advice of a CBT self-help book with the warmth and readability of a mommy blog. Since starting the blog, I’ve written a book, Mom Brain (see here for details!). I’ve also written shorter pieces for numerous publications (including The Washington Post, Parents.com, Today Parents, Motherwell, Scary Mommy, Psychology Today, The Week, and Motherly).
In my writing, I discuss strategies for managing all kinds of motherhood stresses, from how to cope when you feel like a hot mess to how to cope with your neighborhood “hot moms;” from dealing with pressure from overzealous PTA reps to dealing with pressure from meddling in-laws. I talk about my own parenting stresses, too (highlights include: son bites me on the a$$ for no apparent reason; son covers self, entire room in baby powder). I hope other moms will be able to benefit from my expertise, and learn from my mistakes!
– Ilyse Dobrow DiMarco
