The Birth Squad

Patrece is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and community advocate that is passionate about providing support, clinical tools, and increasing access to emotional wellness services to mothers and birthing people. You may talk with her for your welcome call and you may see her at groups that she facilitates. Based in Denver, Colorado, Patrece has a background in public policy, non-profit and community engagement, integrated primary care, philanthropy, and community health. Patrece has been working with mothers, birthers, and their young children for nearly 15 years and nothing is more fulfilling than ensuring that families have the support they need to thrive in every possible way. In addition to her role as a community psychologist, she is also a mother to a wild 6-year-old and a VERY opinionated 2-and-half-year-old. Raising them has been both the greatest joy and biggest challenge of her life. Her favorite self-care activities include taking walks outdoors with her favorite people (which sometimes includes her husband), spending time ALONE (she’s easily overstimulated), and enjoying the occasional glass of wine while binging her favorite true crime documentary or Netflix dating show. “Being a psychologist who is also a survivor of perinatal depression and anxiety created deep feelings of guilt, shame, and sadness for me. I almost felt like no one ‘expected’ me to be struggling so much and as such, I suffered alone for a long time. I never want ANYONE else to feel alone. Acknowledging your struggle is such a source of power and strength is something that mothers and birthing people have in abundance. I want to see every single parent in Colorado thrive. This work is truly my passion.”

Meet Emely, a Mental Health Provider from the Birth Squad team! You may talk with her for your welcome call and you may see her t groups that she facilitates (in English and Spanish). Here’s a little about Emely: 💙 She’s a mom herself 💙 She believes every person needs a village when raising a child 💙 She’s a Licensed Clinical Social Worker 💙 She's a Certified Lactation Counselor 💙 Loves watching anime! “I’m most passionate about helping moms and birthing people receive the support and village that every person needs when raising a child! I know that parenthood can feel so isolating, especially when you are experiencing a postpartum mood disorder, and being able to provide a supportive space is so empowering!” - Emely

Meet Tatiana, Psychologist/Mental Health Facilitator at the Birth Squad! You may talk with her for your welcome call and you may see her at groups that she facilitates (in English and Spanish). Tatiana is a licensed clinical psychologist who has worked with women both during and after their perinatal period, which begins when you start to try to conceive and lasts until one year after giving birth. Tatiana has worked with many women who have experienced anxiety, depression, and a wide range of symptoms during this time. Tatiana shares, “As a mom of two, I know how difficult this time can be and how important and life-changing the support is. I want to decrease stigma and promote the importance of this work.” Outside of her work, Tatiana loves spending time with her family, hiking, camping, and planning activities to do with her kids. Say hello to Tatiana in the comments!

Candi is a nationally known policy expert, community organizer, social worker and sociologist. She has been featured as an influential leader and advocate by several publications and outlets including Politico, Fortune, Forbes, New York Times, The Guardian, The Atlantic, 5280 Magazine, Planetizen, Univision and Canadian Broadcast Corporation. She has also authored and co-authored publications featured in the Denver Post, Nonprofit Quarterly and Equity Alliance. Prior to coming to The Birth Squad, Candi was the City Councilwoman of the downtown and near northeast ninth district in Denver. She was Co-Founder of the East Denver Food Sovereignty Initiative, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Project VOYCE, Co-Founder of GES Coalition, Co-Founder of GES Community Land Trust/Tierra Colectiva, Co-Founder of Ditch the Ditch, Co-Founder of DenverCAN, Reviver & Member of Cross Community Coalition and Founder & Principal of Rebel Soul Strategies. Candi built her policy, program and organizing expertise at the National Conference of State Legislatures, the Denver Center for Trauma & Resilience, the University of Denver’s Center for Multicultural Excellence, the Center for Progressive Leadership, Excelencia in Education, the Cesar Chavez Foundation and District of Columbia Public Schools. She is a proud first-generation Daniel’s Fund Scholar and graduate of Manual High School, University of Denver, and University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work. Candi is a fierce advocate for racial justice, collective liberation, co-governance, housing as a human right, food as a utility, municipally and consumer-owned utilities and a democratically controlled economy. In Candi’s free time, she loves reading, DIY projects, learning new skills, gardening, movies, and spending time sharing all of her joys and showing her baby boy the whole world–one great adventure at a time! Candi believes strongly that all of her previous endeavors have prepared her for her current role as a new mother. She is passionate about working with the Birth Squad to leverage her skills and experience to serve, educate, organize and activate her new peer constituency to build the healthiest ecosystems possible for families.

Adrianne is a licensed clinical health psychologist who has worked in the medical world as a practicing psychologist for nearly 20 years. Her training began in graduate school, working with individuals struggling with cancer, mainly blood and other bone-marrow disorders. She also spent over 10 years working with Veterans with chronic health conditions both in the primary care setting and in the specialized context of chronic pain management. She has specialty training in the integration of nutrition and mental health, and in the treatment of sleep disorders and insomnia through the use of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). Adrianne believes that mental health is not as simple as examining our thoughts and emotions, but is quite complex, and involves how and what we eat and the nutrients we provide our bodies, and also the state of our microbiome, how and what we do with our bodies (movement), time outside and exposure to nature and sunlight, and our spiritual well-being/connecting to source. Her passion has evolved to working with mothers and birthing people following the birth of her biological son at the age of 40, and the challenges that came along with the drastic hormonal fluctuations that ensued. Adrianne feels blessed to have two amazing bonus kiddos who entered her life at ages 5 and 3 (currently age 14 and age 11, bio son age 3), who love, adore, and help with their little brother. She and her husband reside in Denver and love to travel, socialize with friends and family, and love to maintain an active lifestyle. She is ecstatic about beginning this new phase of her career working with other moms and birthing people. It is a joy and gift to work alongside the most resilient and hardest-working people on this planet….our mommas!

Leslie is a first generation Coloradan who worked in healthcare for eight years. Originally she was pursuing a degree in nursing, when she had her first child and experienced her own struggles with severe PPD. Overcoming that challenging time with few resources and little support inspired Leslie to change paths and pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology, which she is currently working on. Her goal is to support mothers like herself, especially those with access to fewer resources. When she isn’t studying or advocating for mental health, Leslie is spending time with her son and family. She has a passion for photography, art, and the outdoors.