The Good Mother

Like a few of you have mentioned, though my practice is aimed toward women experiencing pregnancy related issues, the reality is 15% of my client's are in fact PPD related. It's a little nerve racking because I don't feel I have a groove. When it comes to The Good Mother, it's still a challenge for me to gauge when I need to be softer in tone and persona and when I need to be more direct and firm.

Though a client may be in a really soft place they may need some counsel of direction and some affirming words of "you will get through this"--maybe they need less or the firm and more of the gentle hand....

Any tips or thoughts you clinicians have on this?