Where are you from and how long have you been in Fairfield?
I’ve lived in Fairfield for the past two years, after living in NYC for ten years.
One thing you wish someone would have told you about motherhood?
Having a child and becoming a parent adds so much to your life, but it can also involve a feeling
of loss. It is normal to grieve your life before motherhood, mourn the independence and freedom
you no longer have, and sometimes wish you could go back to a previous version of yourself.
All change, even wonderful change, involves loss. It does not take away from the joy or gratitude
you have for your child—both can coexist. It’s so important to normalize this.
What advice would you share with a new mom or other moms?
Be patient with your unique process of recovering, not just physically but also emotionally. It
can take more time than you expect to adjust to your new life after having a child. Learning to
integrate the role of mother into your identity can be wonderful and enriching, while also feeling
isolating, overwhelming, and confusing. People talk about “bouncing back,” but you never go
back to the person you were before becoming a parent. You may reconnect to familiar parts of
yourself, but there is a lot of internal change with this new role and it takes time to adapt.
Best mom hack that makes your life easier?
Taking a more realistic approach to my to-do list and giving myself grace when I don’t get to
every task. Once you’re a parent, you are forced to re-calibrate the way you organize, prioritize,
and plan your to-do list. I always found task management easy, but I’ve now learned to operate
in the unpredictability and occasional chaos of parenthood. It’s now even more important to
prioritize urgent tasks, while taking pressure off yourself to check off every item. You can’t
expect yourself to function at the same level as you did before having a kid.
Best advice for moms who experience the inevitable MOM GUILT handling a career and
raising a family?
This is normal. This is common. You are not alone.
There are a lot of expectations—both from the external world and often from ourselves—that
motherhood means being completely selfless. And while being a parent does involve devoting a
lot of your time, energy, and care to others, it is not “selfish” to continue to invest in other
aspects of what makes you who you are, including your career. It’s necessary to continue to
cultivate other parts of yourself outside of your role as a parent.
Tell us about your business Rachel Kaplan Therapy, and when & why you decided to start
up this business?
I started my private practice, Rachel Kaplan Therapy, in March 2022. I had previously worked as
a therapist at a group private practice in New York City, where I honed my clinical skills, gained
experience in several specialties, and discovered what types of clients I like to work with. I
decided to start my own practice so that I could be more intentional in the types of clients I see
and have a more flexible schedule to spend time with my family.
What is your background before opening your own practice?
I majored in Psychology at Lehigh University and obtained my Master of Social Work at NYU.
After graduate school, I worked at the Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC for seven years, working
with various transplant, cardiac, and ICU patients. I then worked at a group private practice
seeing clients for individual psychotherapy for two years before starting my own private practice.
Tell us about the different services that you offer:
I see individual clients for weekly psychotherapy and am licensed to work with people living in
CT, NY, and NJ. I see clients virtually, which makes fitting therapy into your schedule much
more accessible, especially for busy parents! I specialize in working with adults dealing with
anxiety, life transitions, chronic illness, and relationship issues. I tend to see a lot of people who
have perfectionist tendencies or are hard on themselves, which can make it difficult to set healthy boundaries, prioritize and meet their needs, and communicate assertively. I love working with young parents, supporting them as they adjust to their new role and learn to balance their own needs with the needs of their family. I also work with a lot of women dealing with fertility issues as well as the stresses of pregnancy.
What modalities or approaches do you use in therapy?
I use various approaches in therapy, since each client is very different. Their needs and the work
we do together will evolve and change as they do. My diverse perspective and training includes
using Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy (CBT), relational, mindfulness, and strength-based approaches.
My style is warm, compassionate, and nurturing. I take an active role in therapy and am direct in
sharing patterns that I observe so that it feels like a collaborative process. I help clients build
more confidence and self esteem, and I support them in feeling prepared to tolerate uncertainty
and navigate the stressful parts of their lives.
How do prospective clients contact you to discuss pursuing therapy?
You can visit my website at www.rktherapy.com to learn more about my specialties, my
practice, and my experience. You can reach out to me directly at [email protected] or 917-
524-8203 to set up a free 15 minute consultation to discuss what working together might look
like.
What’s your favorite thing about raising a family in Fairfield?
I love how many other young families come to Fairfield wanting to make connections, share in
their experiences of raising young kids, and get involved in the community. It’s a really special
place to raise a family and it never feels like you are alone in this wild phase of life!
We love supporting local businesses – favorite places in Fairfield to…
Have Dinner with Family: Little Pub
Grab a Drink with Friends: J.B. Percival Co. Craft Cocktail Lounge
Have a Date Night: Sophies Pizza Bar
Spend time together as a Family: At home!
Outside Activities: Any of the beaches, Lake Mohegan, the walking trails at Audubon Society
Grab coffee: Las Vetas
