Jen O'Rourke
Jen is a mom, child psychotherapist, and parent educator. She spent 12 years in Los Angeles building her career and family before moving back to her home state of Indiana. Jen currently lives in Zionsville with her husband, 3 year old son, and 7 month old daughter. She spends most of her free time reheating the same cup of coffee and looking for her car keys.
Dear Moms: Ask Someone to Take Your Picture
My family and I just returned from the most beautiful vacation in Turks and Caicos-I’ve been flipping through the photos all day. But you...
Seven Things I Did to Boost My Mood During Quarantine
A few weeks ago I hit a wall and got in a bit of a funk. I noticed I was more irritable than normal,...
Top Reasons You Should Consider Teletherapy During Covid
When Covid-19 hit in March many of my therapy clients wanted to pause on coming into sessions for a few weeks. Very quickly after...
When Breastfeeding Hurts: How I Pushed for Answers and Found Help
The first latch hurt so did the next one, and the one after that. I was told it since I was a first-time mom...
Wear a Mask. It’s Science.
I recently saw a video of a woman throwing an epic tantrum in Costco because they asked her to wear a mask in their...
An Open Letter to Black Moms
Dear Black Moms,
I’m thinking of you right now, and you’ve been on my mind every single day since George Floyd was murdered. I heard...
Screen Time: A Free for All in Quarantine
I think too much screen time for children under the age of 5 and especially under the age of 2 can be harmful to...
Our First Year in the AU Pair Program: The Good and the Bad
Almost exactly 1 year ago I was in childcare hell. Our nanny, from a nanny service, had called out sick, or with a flat...
5 Tips for Rehabilitating a Picky Eater
Is there anything more frustrating than a picky eater? Rushing around at the end of the day to put a healthy and tasty meal...
6 Tips to Manage Your Toddlers Separation Anxiety: A Mental Health Perspective
My daughter is now almost 18 months, and we are in the throes of some pretty serious separation anxiety-I’m talking full-on tears, clinging, and...
The Push to Silence Mommy Talk and Why We Shouldn’t Let It Happen
I was sitting at Starbucks not too long ago and overheard two women complain that their friend had nothing to talk about but her...
Your Toddler’s Behavior Is Not a Measure of Your Success as a Parent
I’ve heard a few times tales of toddlers that listen when their parents tell them no. They follow routines, order, and don’t dare to...
When a Baby Needs Mental Health Treatment
Most of my career has been devoted to play therapy and the mental health treatment of children ages 0-5-with a particular focus on trauma....
The Gift I Give My Children Every Year
On my sons 1st birthday I found myself searching for the perfect birthday gift for him. Sure he’d get plenty of toys and cute...