Katie Zielaznicki, LCSW
For a long time, I was the person who kept things running. I was observant, responsible, emotionally aware, and capable—especially when things felt unsteady. I learned early on how to anticipate needs, manage myself, and push through discomfort without drawing much attention to it. On the outside, I functioned well. On the inside, I carried tension I didn’t yet have the language for.
Over time, the weight of always adapting began to show up as exhaustion, resentment, and disconnection from myself. I found myself waiting for someone to notice, to step in, to make things feel more balanced. What eventually became clear was a grounding truth: if my life was going to feel different, I couldn’t keep waiting. I had to learn how to take care of myself with the same intention I offered everyone else.
That shift changed how I understood support, resilience, and choice — and ultimately led me to pursue mental health as a professional path. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in New Jersey, with advanced training in perinatal mental health through Postpartum Support International. My approach is trauma-informed and grounded in evidence-based practices, including ACT, CBT, DBT-informed skills, Inner Child Work, and EFT tapping (Emotional Freedom Technique).
I have experience supporting adults navigating pregnancy, postpartum transitions, fertility challenges, family dynamics, identity shifts, anxiety, grief, ADHD, and burnout. In addition to my clinical work, I have received Parental Leave Coaching training through the Center for Parental Leave Leadership and advanced EFT training with the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology.
Mental health and wellness became personal long before they became professional. I know how powerful it is to receive care that doesn’t just comfort, but actually teaches. I experienced firsthand how life-changing the right kind of support can be—not just in surviving grief or stress, but in learning how to live differently. This work isn’t just what I do; it’s how I live. I prioritize it daily, imperfectly, and honestly.