Lessons in Supporting Family Mental Health with Gwen Gulick

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In this heartfelt episode of This Way Up, host Andrea welcomes Gwen Gulick, a resilient mother and wife who has faced significant challenges in her family life. Gwen's journey includes supporting her husband through depression and navigating the complexities of her children's mental health conditions, including depression, OCD, anxiety, and ADHD. On top of these challenges, Gwen and her husband have both battled and overcome cancer.

Gwen generously shares the invaluable lessons she has learned along the way—lessons that have helped her cultivate a family environment filled with joy and love despite the hardships. Tune in as Gwen provides three key takeaways (and more!) from her experience, offering insights that can inspire and support others facing similar situations.

Key Take Aways

• Finding a clear diagnosis may not always be necessary, and it's more important to focus on understanding and managing behaviors.
• Parenting children with anxiety requires finding a balance between protection and exposure therapy.
• Family experiences with mental health challenges can bring them closer together and teach them to prioritize their own well-being over societal expectations. 
• Finding a supportive community of parents facing similar challenges can provide validation and resources.
• Weeding out relationships that are not understanding or supportive is important for the well-being of the family.
• Prioritizing family and not waiting for the dust to settle allows for living life despite challenges.
• Families for Depression Awareness offers resources and support for families living with depression and bipolar disorder.

BIO
Gwen works with clients to create thought leadership strategies that build a following and strengthen relationships. Some of her best work has been with purpose-driven executives intent on making a positive mark on the world. She brings expertise in thought leadership, holistic strategy, executive coaching, and story weaving.  Prior to founding Quickstep, Gwen worked in marketing and public relations at Harvard Business Publishing, Pegasystems, and tech PR firm Horn Group. Her past client work includes ATG, Cognos, Netegrity, MIT, Information Builders, Oracle, Poly, and Zoom. 

Personally, Gwen is committed to helping families living with mental illness through community outreach and her volunteer board position with national non-profit Families for Depression Awareness. A cancer survivor, she participates in the Pan-Mass Challenge ride for Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Her favorites include cycling, lake swimming, conversations with people over age 80, and singing in a local community chorus. A midwestern transplant, she lives in Harvard, Massachusetts with her husband Tag, two teens, and two dogs.

References and RESOURCES
@FamiliesforDepressionAwareness @familyaware @QuickstepCommunications  

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek guidance from qualified professionals for their specific situations.