Kayce Hodos Counseling + Coaching

02/10/2024

Hi! I’m Kayce. I’m so glad you stumbled upon my little corner of Instagram.

I’m a therapist and coach for expectant and new parents, and I am beyond excited to help you prepare for your baby’s arrival and the whirlwind of emotions and problem-solving that come with that entire first year (they don’t call it the 4th trimester for nothing!). 👶

I’m all about sharing the real deal when it comes to the transition into motherhood.

But I also know that these days you’re bombarded with tons of information, some of which can be super sketchy, polarizing, and judgmental.

Things like…

✨ gentle parenting
✨ baby led weaning
✨ breastfeeding vs. formula
✨ sleep training

I mean, the list goes on and on.

And I think social media just adds to the confusion and can make it feel impossible to make the “right” choices for you and your family.

Because of that, I don’t spend a ton of time on social media. That’s why I’ve come up with these 9 posts to let you know who I am, what I do, and how I can support you.

I want to help YOU decide what’s best for YOU.

And that’s hard to do with all the chatter on social.

Here’s what you can expect from me on this platform:

🙌 Grid: scroll through these 9 posts to learn more about who I am, what I do, and how I can help you navigate this life-changing transition.

🙌 Stories: check out my highlights for more about my Free Mindful Mom-to-Be Series, podcasts I’ve guested on, behind the scenes, and some frequently asked questions.

Again, I’m excited you found me!

Keep reading to learn more…. 👇

(And a GIANT thank you to for this rockin’ static 9 grid! 💟)

02/10/2024

Proactive Pregnancy = Peaceful Postpartum

You might already be researching which strollers to buy, pinning ideas about how you want to decorate the nursery, or planning a gender reveal if that’s your thing. 🥳

But I’m here for all the things people don’t tell you about motherhood. 😳

When I had my son it wasn’t this magical amazing bond that everyone had talked about. He was jaundiced and we were going to the pediatrician every day during the first two weeks of his life to get his bilirubin levels checked and to make sure he was gaining enough weight. It was A LOT and I just remember thinking how unbelievably hard it was and wondering what I’d gotten myself into.

And the realization that this was my life now was really tough for me.

I think that’s the reality for a lot of moms, even though not enough people talk about it.

I never thought being a mom would be easy, but looking back I had no idea how hard it would really be.

And that’s why my passion is working with moms like you to make sure that we can prepare as much as possible before your little one arrives.

I work with moms to be proactive and plan for how they’ll take care of themselves once the baby arrives.

Things like:
⭐ Setting (and keeping) your boundaries
⭐ Identifying who will be part of your support system
⭐ Dividing household labor - who’s gonna do what, and what are you gonna eat?!?
⭐ Figuring out how you and your partner can both get some sleep
⭐ And how you’re going to keep your cup full (literally and figuratively, you have not experienced real thirst until you start breastfeeding!)

I help you start thinking about these things before the baby comes so that your transition into motherhood can be less bumpy. You can think of me as an advocate for you during this time when you can easily start to put yourself on the back burner.

But I promise you that when you make your mental health a priority, you’ll be equipped to peacefully face the challenges of postpartum. 🌟

02/09/2024

I created this free audio series to share the real deal when it comes to motherhood.

When I was pregnant with my son I remember working so hard on his nursery.

🎶 It was music themed and I looked everywhere for an area rug that looked like a giant record, found old albums to hang on the wall, and got adorable musical instrument wall decals and fixtures.

If you’re having fun planning your baby's gorgeous nursery, I’d love for you to DM me a pic. It’s part of the nesting process, and you get to enjoy this stage of your pregnancy if you want!

But after I had my son, I realized that, although adorable and fun, prepping that nursery didn’t prepare me for anything I was experiencing.

Those things are not going to make your job any easier when the baby arrives. My son didn't even sleep in his nursery until several months after he came home. 😂

So, here’s my suggestion: Have a listen to this series while you stress over paint colors. 🤝

We discuss so many of the things I wish I'd known as well as stuff you probably haven't even considered as part of prepping for baby:

🍎 Nutrition and Mental Health
👨‍👩‍👦 What about Dads and Partners?
🐕 Baby Proofing your Pet
💫 The Many Benefits of Having a Doula
😴 Everything’s Harder Without Sleep
👶 Breastfeeding Problem Solving
🛑 Boundaries and Expectations

👉 Listen now in your favorite podcast player: https://app.helloaudio.fm/feed/b59444b6-99f9-4abf-8c24-2c05b6e26759/signup

02/09/2024

If you’re starting to feel like you have a lot of prep to do, that’s a good thing!

And I’m here to help you! 💖

In fact, I’m working behind the scenes to create my first course that will help you when it comes to thinking about things like:

How you currently cope with stress and how that might change when your baby arrives.

What kind of self care routines do you already have in place? How are you going to make sure that you have that going into the 4th trimester?

How will you have conversations with your partner about who’s going to do what?

Have you planned for your maternity leave? If you’re going to work and send the baby to daycare, what will that look like? Who’s going to leave work to pick up the baby if they’re sick?

Will your partner be taking time off when the baby arrives?

There’s just so much to think about, and if you’ve never been through it, you don’t know what you don’t know yet.

And of course, you can’t prepare for everything, but there are plenty of things that you can do to be proactive. Sometimes that’s as simple as having conversations with the people in your life.

And at the same time, conversations about boundaries and expectations can be really hard for some folks.

But I can say from experience, it’s way easier to maintain a boundary that’s already been set than to have to enforce a boundary that was never defined.

But don’t stress! The course is going to help you with all of this!

And there’s even an upgrade for some one-on-one time with me alongside the coursework.

👊 You got this! Just click the link in my bio to be added to the wait list and you’ll be the first to know when it’s ready and get access to special early bird pricing!

02/09/2024

As you’re reading through these posts, you might still be thinking, “Cool Kayce, but how can you help ME?”

That’s a great question!

Swipe through these posts to see some of the most frequently asked questions that I get about myself and my services.

But the real takeaway here is that I’m totally willing to hop on a call with you to help you figure out exactly what would be the best option for you.

Everyone’s situation is different, and you have enough on your plate right now, that I’m totally here to help you figure this out.

So click the link in my bio so we can hop on a no pressure call to chat about it.

And don’t worry, this isn’t some sneaky high pressure sales call. It’s just the Gen Xer in me that would love to grab a cup of coffee and just have a conversation with another mom rather than spend even more time on social media. 😅

But if that’s not you, you can totally DM me any questions too.

It’ll be a welcome distraction from scrolling through reels with new recipes I’ll probably never try and minimalist organizing tips that I’ll fantasize about but most likely never implement. 😂

The point is… reach out whichever way feels easy for you. I’m here for you! 💖

02/09/2024

🤔 Did you know that perinatal actually means the whole time period from pregnancy through the first year of your baby’s life?

I really love how this term really gets the point across that this is a long span of time. We’re talking about 9 months of pregnancy plus 12 months of transitioning into being a new parent. 😳

21 months of big learning curves, a ton of firsts, lots of growing (for you, your partner, and your baby). 🤯

Sometimes referred to as the longest shortest time, It’s stressful, and it isn’t always as compartmentalized as ‘prenatal’ or ‘postpartum’ makes it sound.

💛 The entire first year is so hard.

I’m not trying to freak you out. I’m just trying to help you prepare mentally for an epic journey.

It doesn’t just stop with a birth plan, nursery decor, or even childbirth classes; you have a ton of new adventures ahead of you.

⚓ And, as the mom, you’re at the helm of this ship. Your mental health matters more than you know.

I have a love/hate relationship with the saying, “You don’t know what you don’t know.” 🙄

It seems a little like, “Oh well, I guess we’ll just have to figure it out!”. 🤷‍♀️ But it does accurately sum up what you’re about to embark on.

👉 Lucky for you, I’m here to help.

I offer Virtual Counseling for Moms in North Carolina and South Carolina as well as coaching and online courses for parents all over the world.

If you’re not sure exactly what you need, I can help you figure that out.

If you’re seeking a therapist but aren’t in NC or SC, I can connect you with a therapist in my vast network.

If we decide coaching is a better fit for you, we’ll take next steps in that direction.

💌 Send me a quick DM or click the link in my bio to book a free call and we can start getting you prepared!

02/09/2024

Why do moms put so much pressure on themselves? 😭

Whatever the reason, I’m here to tell you that you can still be a good mom even if…

😜 You don’t even really like most kids

🪄 You’re exhausted by the mere thought of playing pretend

🎨 The word crafting sends shivers up your spine

🥴 You don’t like being a mom… because I’m here to tell you that nobody likes it 100% of the time.

I see my clients putting so much pressure on themselves to live up to that Pinterest perfect version of momming and it’s just not realistic.

And I find that when you have someone (like me 🥰) to talk to about your internal struggles it’s a tiny bit easier to let go of those unrealistic standards you may not even be aware you’re setting for yourself.

Here’s the thing: You’re already a good mom. 💛

Just the way you are. Today.

You’re going to be great, but it’s not going to be easy. And having a plan and some support will make it less overwhelming.

That’s my one wish for you. Less pressure to be perfect, and more support as you navigate your new normal.

Ok, that was two.

There’s probably more, but we can talk about that during the call you’re going to book when you click the link in my bio. 😉

02/09/2024

Telling the truth about motherhood is my jam! 🎙️💥

These are just a few of the conversations I’ve had recently.

I get fired up when I see moms holding themselves to an unrealistic standard, and I’m super passionate about sharing real stories about caring for a newborn so that no one steps into motherhood with a false sense of how hard it is or how “perfect” she has to be.

If you have a favorite mom-themed podcast that you’d like to recommend, DM me or comment below!

I’m always looking to grow my network and love connecting with other cool folks supporting moms! 💛

10/13/2023

Link in bio to donate!

Come on down to John Chavis Memorial Park in tomorrow for a free family-friendly event to support a wonderful organization, and

I’ll be there with a fun activity, so be sure to stop and say hi!

So many amazing resources are going to be there, including Anchor Perinatal,

10/11/2023

Excited to be a part of this event!

Thank you to Kayce Hodos, LPC for being ⭐️ sponsor and supporting for this year’s Climb Out of the Darkness Raleigh!

Kayce Hodos is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) who has spent her career working with a variety of populations. After experiencing postpartum depression and anxiety following the birth of her child, she found a new passion in supporting women through their pregnancy and beyond.

As a certified perinatal mental health professional, she collaborates with clients to develop realistic strategies for defining who they are now (post-baby) and where they want to go.

Learn more: https://www.kaycehodoslpc.com/

10/11/2023

Come on out to John Chavis Memorial Park in Raleigh this Saturday for this awesome event!

This year’s Climb Out of the Darkness Raleigh is bursting with fun!

In addition to our Climb and Community Resource Fair, we’ll also have a variety of interactive activities.

▫️Lovestruck Photography-Raleigh, NC and A Party Good Time are partnering to offer a family photo opportunity at the Climb. Be sure to pop by and get a free photo memory!
▫️Spread a little kindness by decorating rocks at our Rock Painting station (sponsored by The Albemarle Maternal Mental Health Coalition). Hide the rocks either on our Climb, around the park, or somewhere else to leave messages of hope.
▫️Creating Sparkles will be offering free face painting for kids! Be sure to stop by their booth early so you don’t miss out. They also offer fairy hair, which can be done for a fee.
▫️A staple at our Climb, the “Why I Climb” display will be open throughout the event. Simply grab one of the cards and share why you Climb, then clip it onto the display.
▫️A new activity this year is Postcards for Parents! Kids can draw a picture or write a message to their parents on a postcard as a fun gift!
▫️ We are so grateful for Raleigh City Farm sponsoring our Flower Bar this year! At this station, families and kids can create their own flower bouquet!

In addition to these ongoing activities, there will be two set time activities:

At 10:30, Love Mom Yoga will be leading a yoga flow for all who would like to join. This is an incredible opportunity to try out yoga and to “limber up” before our Climb.

When we get back from our Climb, Kayce Hodos, LPC will be leading a guided and interactive activity for all moms and families in attendance focused on building our village in relation to circles of support.

We can’t wait to see everyone!!!