Meet Dr. Olivia Wedel | Specializing in Prenatal, Perinatal, & Maternal Mental Health

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Olivia Wedel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Olivia, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I came up with the idea for my business years ago before I went back to school for my PhD, but I knew it would take some time for it to come to fruition. I’ve worked as a counselor and licensed therapist in several different areas, including non-profit and residential treatment, higher education, and a group private practice, but I always knew I wanted to open my own business and offer therapy and support to people in different ways. The idea for my business really expanded when I was pregnant with my son in late 2019. I saw so many gaps in care for women, and I realized there is so much we don’t know that we don’t know (that sounds a bit like Monica and Phoebe from ‘Friends!’) during pregnancy and postpartum. That fueled my desire to not only become certified in perinatal mental health, but to also work with parents and caregivers during the prenatal period and beyond to enhance and support all aspects of maternal mental health I was visiting a local cranial sacral therapist in 2021 and he said “When Mama gets better, everyone gets better.” I felt a rush in my head and my heart, and I knew at that moment what I was meant to do – help mamas get better and feel better. I wanted to be able to offer flexible scheduling and do things like ‘walk and talk’ sessions where the benefits of movement are included with traditional talk therapy. Doing sessions outside (when weather permits) also allows parents to bring their babies, and since I work with a lot of mothers, this is an ideal offering. My business is now evolving from simply offering therapeutic support to providing parental support services, specialized services for dads, parenting classes using Circle of Security, prenatal and postpartum planning and support, and classes for grandparents and other family members.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I opened my counseling practice, Olivia Wedel Counseling & Consulting, PLLC, in January 2020 before we knew the world was about to shut down due to Covid-19. I had my son in March 2020 and wound up having a much longer than planned maternity leave, but looking back, I think the experience of having a baby and experiencing parenthood for the first time during a pandemic helped my practice become something even better than I planned. Through the various challenges of opening a business and having a baby during Covid-19, I found my passion for helping mothers and families, and I haven’t looked back! I overcame some of the business challenges by attending and investing in trainings on record keeping and HIPAA compliance, and writing the copy for my website in order to speak to my potential clients. It was very helpful to be involved in the aspects of building my business because I never want to ask my employees to do things I haven’t done myself. I’ve continued to build a support system through having a business coach, my own therapist, and several friends who are also in the business. The tag line for my brand is “Helping navigate the unique terrain of women’s mental health” and I chose that because we are all different…no two experiences with motherhood and mental health are the same. My practice tailors approaches to care and support based on the individual and their needs. No sessions are exactly alike! The consulting side of my business allows me to work with others in the community on promoting ‘soul care’ and parenting education and support; I also work with businesses to facilitate a culture of wellness and reducing stigma around mental health.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Wow, this one is hard, because for me, it depends on the time of year. I love the cooler months in Texas! If my best friend visited for a week in the fall, we’d begin with a train ride from Grapevine, Texas to the Stockyards in Fort Worth where we’d enjoy delicious Mexican food at Los Vaqueros or a steak at Riscky’s. before walking around to all of the stores and seeing the sites. We’d visit Billy Bob’s for some line dancing lessons and enjoy a football game at TCU. At some point during the week, we’d go to one of the harvest events at Nash Farm, also in Grapevine, and enjoy brunch at Mason & Dixie on Main Street. I would also take them to Dealey Plaza and the Sixth Floor Museum with a stop by La La Land Kind Cafe while in Dallas. We’d spend at least one evening walking around downtown Fort Worth and have coffee in Sundance Square. For quieter time, I’d make sure we enjoyed some of the trails around either Eagle Mountain Lake or Grapevine Lake to soak in nature and see a different side of the city.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
It’s really hard to think of one person for a shoutout because there are so many people who have impacted my success and continue to inspire my journey. Dr. Mary Dainty, my supervisor during my counseling licensure process, is my earliest influence on the possibility that I could own and operate a counseling practice. I learned so much from her about the ethics of business and working with people from a caring, supportive framework. Even though my supervision wrapped up five years ago, Dr. Dainty has remained one of my biggest supporters and encouragers as I finished my PhD, became a mother, and opened my own counseling practice. I also have to give credit to two of my professors at TCU; Dr. Becky Taylor and Dr. Frank Thomas. I met them in 2004 and 2005, respectively, and the impact they’ve had on my life, both personally and professionally, can’t be put into words. They have seen me at my worst and lifted me up; they’ve also seen me at my best and cheered me to keep going. Finally, I have to mention my mom. She was my original cheerleader and supporter for pursuing higher education and setting the example that it’s okay to ask for help. She passed away in 2006 but her legacy and influence lives on in my work.

Website: www.oliviawedelcounseling.com

Instagram: @droliviawedel

Linkedin: Olivia Scalf Wedel

Facebook: Olivia Wedel Counseling & Consulting, PLLC

Image Credits
Cara McCarty Anna Walker