On the Couch with Carly

Join me On the Couch with Carly, where psychology meets real life. Think of it as sitting down with a friend who happens to be a psychologist - but I'm not your pipe-smoking, tweed-wearing stereotype. This is a safe space to talk about the things that matter: relationships, parenting pressures, setting boundaries, and why we don't have to figure it all out alone. No judgment, just honest conversations about what it means to be human in this complicated, beautiful world.

Weekly English Explicit South Africa Self-Improvement · Relationships Carly Abramovitz

57 Episodes

20 – 40

Seeking Order in the Newborn Chaos

For many new parents, the newborn phase can be challenging because of how unpredictable and chaotic life can feel when you are learning your new baby. If you're looking for things to be 100% predictable and controllable then you might feel like you're failing when things don't go according to…

2 May 2023 25 min

Why Breastfeeding is Hard

Breastfeeding (or chestfeeding) is hard AF. For most, it's a journey that does not come easy. We know it's good for our babies but it is a complex skill that needs to be learned, like learning a new dance, and there WILL be mis-steps along the way. When things don't…

17 Apr 2023 21 min

Back from Beyond

Beyond the bump. In my first episode since giving birth, I talk to the themes around birth and postpartum that seem most universal. In this episode I share quotes from Dee Marco who documented her first 40 days postpartum on Tiny Letter.

14 Mar 2023 36 min

The final stages of pregnancy

In this episode I speak to the psychological experience of being in the final stages of pregnancy. I also look at how people respond to you at this stage and how to navigate this.

8 Feb 2023 29 min

New Year, New Me (A life update)

I don't really believe in the whole "new year new me" concept but in this episode I do share how I have gained insights in two specific areas since being on maternity leave. I discuss the enormous benefits of slowing down and resting and provide an update on my social…

27 Jan 2023 30 min

Oh baby WTF insights - How SUPPORT is everything

Support is the golden thread that runs through much of what we discuss in Oh Baby, WTF! If you missed our in-person workshop on the 10th you will soon be able to download the course online through my website, along with the couples coaching course Ready, Steady, Baby! Support is…

19 Dec 2022 20 min

Do you even know what a Doula is?

In this episode I share my knowledge on doulas and doula support. I wrote my masters thesis on doula support so I have read countless studies that provide strong evidence for the use of doulas during birth. If you are thinking of getting a doula or not sure what that…

12 Dec 2022 26 min

A challenge and a call to action

I am about to go on maternity leave and have decided to challenge myself to go off social media to try and manage my addiction to my smartphone. In this episode I speak about how social media has been a lifeline at times, especially since becoming a parent. I acknowledge…

5 Dec 2022 29 min

Oh baby, WTF! Antenatal Workshop

*Upcoming event* In this episode I discuss the reasons I'm offering this once-off antenatal workshop at Atlantic Children's Practice in the V&A Waterfront on 10 December 2022. Oh baby, WTF! is a workshop that all expecting first time parents should attend. Unlike traditional antenatal courses, it REALLY prepares you for…

28 Nov 2022 23 min

Pregnancy and Mental Health with Dr Jess Stanbridge

Our first guest this season is the incredible Dr Jess Standbridge. A specialist psychiatrist and advocate for mental health, Jess has recently become a mother. This experience informs the many insights she shares around maternal mental health and the transformative experience of becoming a mother. In this episode we hear…

21 Nov 2022 41 min

Starting to think about birth options

In this episode I start to unpack the various options available to us when we start to think about what kind of birth we want. We need to reckon with the medicalization of birth. There are choices available to us but sometimes we don't get the birth we want. Empowered…

14 Nov 2022 32 min

How Pregnancy Teaches You About Boundaries

Pregnancy is a time of adjustment. Like all adjustments, it's a process that involves resistance and surrender. In this episode I talk about how I surrendered to a part of the process this week that taught me again how to take care of my needs via communication of a boundary…

7 Nov 2022 29 min

When Pregnancy Loss is Part of the Journey

Around 15% of pregnancies result in miscarriage. Loss is unfortunately a part of many people's fertility journey. In this episode I discuss the loss that occurs via abortion, miscarriage, stillbirth and neonatal death. What can we expect from the grieving process and what can we do to process these kinds…

31 Oct 2022 33 min

Things you shouldn't ask a pregnant person

People get way too up in your business when you're pregnant. Here are a few things you should NEVER ask a pregnant person. I offer suggestions of things to ask / ways to ask that are not invasive and offer support and compassion instead. Also if you're pregnant, I offer…

24 Oct 2022 22 min

The Fuckery of the First Trimester

I talk about the journey of the first trimester, the ups and downs, and all the emotions in between. In these first three months of pregnancy you can expect to feel anything and everything including hope, fear, loss, guilt and relief.

17 Oct 2022 34 min

Season 3! And a big announcement!

The start of season 3 and it sounds...well...different. I'm no longer in studio but I hope that even though this sounds less profesh, at least I will now be able to deliver weekly episodes! I have a big announcement for you...but you have to listen to find out what it…

10 Oct 2022 24 min

Learning to love our bodies with Zakeeya Patel

Zakeeya Patel is a well-known South African actress. She has been educating herself on the topic of body shaming and body positivity/neutrality and is here to talk about all that she has learned.

22 Aug 2022 57 min

Circle of Security with Bev Molver

The Circle of Security Parenting Intervention is a phenomenal tool to help parents of small children. Myself and Bev are both licensed facilitators. We sat down to chat about this amazing intervention, so you can understand a little bit more about it.

21 Jul 2022 35 min

A black doula shares the truth about South African birth trauma

Boitumelo Dibakoane is a registered birth doula. Her harrowing experience as a young, scared, first time mother inspired her to help others. This story comes with a trigger warning for obstetric abuse and birth trauma. Unfortunately this is a common theme for many who give birth in South Africa. Find…

23 Jun 2022 36 min

Sex/Life

Riffing off the themes picked up in the Netflix show "Sex/Life" I discuss the concept of a mid-life crisis and how these moments point us in a direction towards a part of ourselves that need to be alive again. What can you do in your life right now to feel…

11 May 2022 21 min