Woman Warrior – Margot Strauhull, Part 1

I first met Margot when she was representing Yoga Way to Birth at a Parent Trip event. If you’ve never been, the Parent Trip is a free event (hosted by Doula Olivia and Opus Lactation) for new and growing families to help them navigate parenthood. I learned that in addition to teaching Yoga Way to Birth (more on that next week!) Margot runs Root & Bloom Counseling.

On Instagram, you can find her sharing videos of doing yoga while her boys are running around her. I’m amazed that she can find peace and stillness amidst it all! Not only is she a mom to three but she runs her own counseling business, teaches Yoga Way to Birth classes, and teaches prenatal yoga at Yoga Pearl. Her calm demeanor and ‘can do it all’ mentality are inspiring!

Be sure to make it to the bottom so you can check out some photos I took of Margot in my home studio. There are some pretty cute photos of her two year old doing yoga with her!

Get to Know Margot

Tell me a little bit more about yourself. Where are you from? Tell me about your family.

Margot: I am from the Portland area originally, I grew up on Sauvie Island — before it was cool. My parents lived on two acres and it was pretty magical growing up out there just being in a really rural setting but then also being so close to the city and having easy access to everything that the city has to offer. I live in Portland with my husband and my three boys who are seven, five, and two now.

What is your favorite thing to do in Portland?

Margot: I spend a lot of time at parks with my boys, I know all of the good ones. We also love to get outside and go hiking and love to go to the mountains or the beach whenever we can get out and explore.

Education/Background:

Margot: I graduated from Whitman with a degree in psychology. After traveling the world for a few years teaching English with my now husband, we moved back to Oregon. While he was in law school, I entered the Masters of Social work program at PSU. During my last year of grad school, I did a year-long internship at OHSU at the Center for Women’s Health. I worked with people who are experiencing perinatal mood disorders. Specifically, people who needed medication while they were pregnant. It was a collaborative team of social workers, psychiatrists, and OBGYNs all working together to support these patients during an already vulnerable time.

We are all multifaceted people and possess skills that serve us in different ways at different times. There is a delicate balance between showing up to teach a yoga class that is very different from meeting with someone in crisis. For me, I love being able to hold space for both things. I also love knowing that both things are happening in this world at the same time.

Root & Bloom Counseling

What is your new private practice and what services are you providing?

Margot: My practice specializes in perinatal mental health, including anxiety, depression, loss and trauma. I found my way into working as a therapist. I have always been passionate about helping individuals discover their own strength and resilience.

I view therapy as a means of achieving personal transformation. It is a way to navigate the challenges of life. My theoretical approach is rooted in mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and motivational interviewing. I approach my work through a trauma-informed lens. So I prioritize a sense of safety and compassion when I work with clients. I have specialized experience and training in perinatal mental health — your mental and emotional well-being during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum stages.

I come to private practice with a background in primary care medical clinics providing integrated behavioral health counseling, and child and family therapy in community mental health.

I am licensed by the State of Oregon as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), a designation given to social workers in clinical practice who have had over 3500 hours of work, have spent 2000 hours providing clinical services, and have demonstrated knowledge of clinical practices on a certifying exam.

I am a LGBQ-TI+ affirming provider and honor all diversity within my practice.

Book Recommendations

I enjoy reading and love sharing new book ideas with others. What is the best book you’ve read that you would recommend to new or expecting parents out there?

Margot:

Birth Preparation: Labor, Love, and Liberation book by Tina Lilly

Postpartum: Momma Zen by Karen Maezen Miller

Just Launched!

Margot also just launched Next Wave Birth with Megan Peterson and Shana Celnicker-Chong. It is a prenatal and postpartum yoga teacher training that is gender inclusive, trauma informed and rooted in anti-oppressive work.