About | Dr. Jodi Pawluski

I’m Dr. Jodi Pawluski—a neuroscientist, therapist, and author passionate about the science of motherhood and perinatal mental health. I'm internationally recognized as a leading expert in the field of parental brain science. My work centers around understanding how the brain changes during the transition to motherhood, how maternal mental health conditions affect a mother and her children, and how treatments like antidepressants and probiotics play a role in this journey.

In addition to my research, I provide counseling, mentoring, and consultation services focused on perinatal mental health. I'm certified in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C) and trained as a Motherhood Studies Practitioner, combining both evidence-based knowledge and lived experience to support families and clinicians alike.

I am on the Editorial Board at Archives of Women's Mental Health (Springer) and a Guest Editor at Journal of Neuroendocrinology (Wiley) where I am co-editing a special issue on the Neuroscience of Parenting.

One of my goals is to make the fascinating science of the parental brain accessible to everyone. That’s why I created the podcast Mommy Brain Revisited and wrote Mommy Brain—the first book to explore the parental brain from a parental brain researcher.

Originally from Canada, I earned my B.Sc. in Psychology (UBC), M.A. in Psychology (Toronto), Ph.D. in Neuroscience (UBC), and Habilitation Degree (HDR) in Life Sciences (Rennes). I’m a mother of two, and I draw from both my professional expertise and personal experiences to guide my work and advocacy.

Ultimately, I believe that understanding the brain and mental health during parenthood not only empowers individuals but helps build healthier families and communities.

Photo: Unsplash