Guided in Nature LLC

10/19/2026

Quick imagination check-in, parents! 💭

As grown ups we get so used to planning, executing, rinsing, and repeating, that we forget how to engage with our imaginations. Sometimes it might feel like we “don’t need that anymore,” or “there’s no time,” but that’s actually not true! Here’s why:

We need our imagination (creativity) to help us stay open minded, curious, flexible, and adaptive. A lot of times we get “stuck” when we only see one way. There’s almost always at least one other viable option. But, if we don’t practice seeing things differently (using our imaginations), we lose it. Literally. We can become more rigid in our thinking and have more difficulty adapting when things shake up. And, parent life kinda likes shaking things up, you know?

Today our son was playing in the stream in rain boots, which quickly became knee-deep wading on a brisk October day. A part of me used to very quickly feel the urge to interrupt this, translating it to something else that would be added to the to-do list. (You know the one!) I would have felt tense and mildly irritated and maybe rushed him along out of the water.

Today, I genuinely just let it happen and felt the joy he experienced as a kid using his imagination. He came up with a story about this image in real time. It was so sweet and pure. It was like I could feel the moment from his perspective. With fresh, younger eyes.

We literally rewire our neural pathways as grown ups when we practice this kind of imagination. This translates not only to being more present with our kids, but also to our ability to adapt as parents, and that has so many benefits.

So, it’s your turn, what story can you write about this moment in nature when you imagine being here?

Share a word, phrase, or a whole story and let’s see what we can come up with! 👇

P.S.- Want to practice more of these real life techniques to bring more ease into your life as a parent? Come join one of upcoming groups or reach out to book a consultation for 1:1 nature-based therapy. Virtual options also available throughout Maryland! Lauren Bathgate, LCSW-C | Perinatal Mental Health Therapist

Grown Up Life / Nature Heals / Stay Curious / Neuroplasticity in Nature / Parenthood

10/16/2026

How do we stay ahead of seasonal change blues?

As parents, seasonal changes can shift the rhythm of the whole household. Earlier sunsets, changing schedules, less time outside, and disrupted sleep can affect how we feel and function. Sometimes the best place to start is noticing what is changing and making a few small adjustments.

So how can we stay ahead of seasonal change dread?

1. Follow the light. ☀️Open your blinds in the morning or get outside for a 20-minute walk within a couple of hours of waking. Scale this to fit your family’s needs and schedule, and notice what difference it makes.

2. Look for small glimmers. ✨Try sensory mindfulness in nature: notice the color of a leaf, the sound of birds, the feeling of cool air, or something that sparks your curiosity. Children can be wonderful guides because of their natural zest for exploration.

3. Take the family outside. 🥾A short walk or outdoor ritual can create opportunities for movement, connection, and noticing the season. This might be an evening stroll after dinner, a weekend hike, or a few minutes outside together.

4. Talk with your healthcare professional. ❤️‍🩹If you notice recurring or significant seasonal changes in your mood or functioning, reach out for support. Ask whether light therapy or another treatment approach may be appropriate for you.

As a nature-informed perinatal mental health therapist who takes clients outside for therapy, I’ve noticed a profound shift with increased exposure to nature. Spending more time outside gives us more opportunities to know the changing seasons.

Here in Maryland, I experience seasonal transitions as gradual. One season doesn’t simply turn off while another turns on. You notice a cooler morning, a few changing leaves, an earlier sunset.

Wherever you live, paying attention to seasonal changes can help us reconnect with our environment and ourselves.

Parenthood can be like that, too. We don’t have it all figured out before the next season begins. We transition, adjust, and figure things out as we go. 💜🍂

10/13/2026

You're a new parent trying to make sure your baby is getting the right nutrition (i.e., breast milk or formula), and you're sleep-deprived while simultaneously knee-deep in information about latching, bottle brands, pacifier or no pacifier, cluster feeding, reverse feeding, triple feeding, pumping, allergens, tongue ties, fl**ge sizes, burping methods, spit-up, paced feeding, gas drops, bicycling baby legs...

You want support from someone who knows baby feeding really well, right? You don't want to wait until you've tried every trick in the book that was patched together on Google, Reddit, Facebook moms groups, from the neighbor and the well-meaning stranger in the pediatrician's waiting room...

But then there's the matter of finding a specialist—and which specialist. You're navigating:

"Is it a tongue tie?"
"Is there an allergy?"
"Is it a latch problem?"
"Is it just developmental?"

These questions can all lead to different specialists, and you'll get more info from well-meaning folks about which specialists to consult with. It can be exhausting.

Now, you're a new parent who's trying to make sure your baby is getting the right nutrition, AND, you have an undiagnosed perinatal mental health disorder. You can tell something's "off" and you don't feel quite like yourself, but you have to focus on this feeding issue and it's all consuming. You're restless, on edge, snapping at the people who care, and feeling guilty to your core. Plus, you're not sleeping even when the baby is. You’re always “on” and you desperately need a break.

What do you do when you're concerned about your mental health as a parent? Especially when it’s happening at the same time as feeding difficulties for your baby? Search Google? Reddit? Ask the well-meaning stranger at the pediatrician's office who they recommend?

Finding the right specialist for perinatal mental health is just as vital as finding the right specialist to support feeding issues. Feeding issues and perinatal mental health concerns frequently happen together. That's not to say that one's the chicken and one's the egg. It is to say that getting the right kind of support at the right time can make a world of difference in the outcome you experience.

Perinatal mental health disorders, like Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Anxiety, Perinatal OCD, PTSD related to birth trauma or other perinatal trauma or loss, and others, do not just go away on their own. This is not meant to scare you. It’s meant as your “check engine” indicator. If something feels off, check in with a specialist who can help you pinpoint it and make a plan that works for you and your family.

If you're having a hard time, it's okay to say so. The right support is available and it's worth shaving down the time you spend jumping through mental hoops to skip straight to working with who you feel can truly help. That’s the thing that feeding problems and mental health challenges have in common: you deserve help now. From an expert.

To meet with an expert Perinatal Mental Health Specialist who is well connected with local Baltimore area and Maryland resources and will walk with you through the uncertainty to a clearer path, reach out today.

Lauren Bathgate, LCSW-C, PMH-C, CNIT
Founder + Therapist | Perinatal Mental Health Author + Speaker
Guided in Nature LLC

10/09/2026

Some of life’s greatest teachers don’t give us answers. They change our relationship with not knowing.

Nature and motherhood have both done that for me.

10/08/2026

Just another day at the office. 🤍🦌

10/08/2026

YOUR GUIDE TO ASK FOR WHAT YOU NEED
(In Parenting & Partnership) 📝

It’s natural to have needs, and, it’s human to have a hard time expressing them sometimes. This is often magnified in parenthood with increased demands and wearing multiple hats. 🎩 👒🧢

Here’s a short guide to start working through it.*

1. START WITH WHAT’S HAPPENING

Name what you're experiencing without turning it into blame:

“I’ve been feeling really overwhelmed lately.”
“I’m noticing I haven’t had much time to myself.”
“I’m feeling touched out.”

2. NAME WHAT YOU NEED

Ask yourself: What would actually help right now?

Maybe you need:

REST
“I need an hour where I’m completely off duty.”

PRACTICAL SUPPORT
“I need you to handle bedtime tonight.”

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
“I don’t need solutions right now. I just need you to listen.”
(Asking if the other person has capacity to listen at that time is key here). 🔑

CONNECTION
“I’d like some time together tonight without talking about logistics.”

SPACE
“I need some time alone to reset.”

3. BE SPECIFIC

“Help more” is hard to act on and might miss the mark.

Try:

“Could you take over the morning routine on Saturday so I can sleep in?”

Instead of:
“I need a break.”

Try:
“Can you take the kids for 30 minutes after dinner so I can have some quiet time?”

Instead of:
“You never listen to me.”

Try:
“Can you listen for a few minutes without trying to fix this?”

4. SAY WHAT YOU WANT BEFORE YOU REACH YOUR LIMIT

You don't have to wait until you feel angry, resentful, or completely depleted to ask for support.

Try:
“I’m noticing I’m getting overwhelmed. Can we team up and work on __________?”

(Team work makes the dream work) 🫶🌙

Or simply:
“What I need right now is ______.”

5. REMEMBER

A need is not a criticism.
Asking for support doesn't mean your partner is failing.
And being specific about what you need doesn't make you demanding.
You are allowed to have needs.
You are allowed to communicate them.
And you don't have to earn support by becoming completely overwhelmed first.

A QUESTION TO TRY TODAY:

“What would make today feel a little easier?”
Then tell your partner what you come up with.

______________

*This is a general template as a starting place and is not meant to be a script. It’s for educational and informational use only. These conversations tend to land best in your own words and they get easier with practice!

Need additional support figuring out what your needs are before moving to this step? Or, how to work through this in real time? We do this at Guided in Nature and would be grateful for the opportunity to support you and your family.

💜,
Lauren Bathgate, LCSW-C, PMH-C, CNIT
Founder & Therapist at Guided in Nature

10/01/2026

Staying Ahead of the Seasonal Change Blues: Seasonal Affective Disorder, Parenting, and Mental Health in Baltimore

Seasonal changes can affect parents’ mood, energy, sleep, and routines. Learn about seasonal affective disorder, winter blues, and mental health support for Baltimore families.

https://guidedinnature.com/2026/10/01/seasonal-affective-disorder/

09/28/2026

slow down. look around. come back to yourself.

09/25/2026

There’s a reason I do therapy this way.

I started Guided in Nature because I saw how much could shift when we stepped outside the traditional therapy room.

There is something about walking side by side, moving our bodies, noticing the trees, feeling the air, and having a little more space around us that can make it easier to slow down and talk about the things that really matter.

And as a mom myself, I know how easy it is to spend so much of your life caring for everyone else that you forget to make space for yourself.

This work has become a way of bringing together two things I deeply believe in: meaningful therapeutic support and the restorative power of nature.

So if you’re a mom who has been thinking, I think I need some support, but I’m not sure sitting in an office is for me…

Maybe we can take a walk. 🥾👟

09/23/2026

Join us this Friday in Parkville! 🫶🍂🥾

Happy Almost-Fall-Equinox, Mamas! 🫶🍂

As we head into the Fall Equinox, we recognize a time when nature is slowing down. The mornings are darker. The air is turning crisp. The leaves are starting to loosen their grip and let go. 🍂

Seemingly in contrast, many of us are speeding up with back-to-school routines and other commitments that match the pace of our modern world. How do we hold both truths at the same time? And, how do we find the elusive "balance" in it all? ⚖️

There is a way to stay in sync with some of the supportive rhythms you may have established this summer, while also welcoming more structure and routine. But, it requires something different from us. A different way of relating to the things that pull us. 🌊

Take a second to check in with yourself. What are you feeling pushed and pulled by? In what areas do you feel a strong sense of direction? An inner knowing, like your compass found it's true north? If this feels blurry right now, that's ok. There's always a way. 🧭

Sometimes, we need someone to walk with while we're finding it. 🥾👟

If that resonates, we'd love to have you join us this Friday for Flourish! ✨

📆 Friday 9/25
⏳10:00-11:00 AM
📍Parkville MD park (address shared after registration)
📝Babies in wearable carriers welcome
🔗Register at the link in comments
♻️Share with a mama friend!