May at The Current: Honoring Maternal Mental Health & Community Connection

CONNECTION

May 2026

Welcome to The Current's monthly newsletter featuring
our latest blogs, services, and helpful content about
eating disorders and related issues.

Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month: Understanding the Overlap Between Perinatal Mental Health and Eating Disorders

Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month is a powerful reminder that pregnancy and early motherhood can bring emotional and psychological challenges that often go unseen — especially the connection between the perinatal period and eating disorders, which is still widely underrecognized.

In our LATEST BLOG, we explore how body changes, shifting identity, sleep deprivation, perfectionism, and the invisible “mental load” of motherhood can all contribute to increased vulnerability around food, body image, anxiety, and overwhelm.

At The Current Therapy Services, we believe maternal mental health care must look at the full picture. We’re committed to providing compassionate, specialized support for mothers during pregnancy and postpartum, individuals with a history of eating disorders, and parents supporting a child in recovery.

READ MORE

Clinician Spotlight:

Meet Kelsey Crandall, PLPC, Perinatal Mental Health & Eating Disorder Therapist

Current Therapist, Kelsey, is passionate about supporting maternal mental health and has completed specialized training in Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders through Postpartum Support International.

This advanced education strengthens her ability to walk alongside new and expectant mothers facing challenges like postpartum depression, anxiety, body image struggles, and identity shifts. With her deep experience in eating disorder treatment, Kelsey brings a warm, integrated approach to this sensitive and important life stage.

We're so grateful for Kelsey’s thoughtful, client-centered care and her commitment to meeting clients right where they are—with expertise, empathy, and encouragement.

CONNECT WITH KELSEY

Out & About: Community Highlights from The Current

Heroes of Hope Annual Picnic

On May 12th, our Child & Adolescent Clinic joined the MU Center for Child Wellbeing & Heroes of Hope at their annual resource picnic!

We loved getting to connect with everyone and spread awareness of childhood eating disorders.

We also created a beautiful community canvas painting that is now on display in our office!

LEARN MORE about The Current’s Child & Adolescent Clinic.

The Vendor Village

This event, located in The Village of Cherry Hill, brings neighbors together in a welcoming space while highlighting the artists, small businesses, and community partners.

Market Features:

- Live music
- 20+ local vendors
- Food trucks
- Lawn games

Check out the June Vendor Village on Saturday, June 13th!

World Eating Disorder Action Day: June 2nd

In honor of World Eating Disorders Action Day, we are reminded of the importance of accessible, compassionate care for those impacted by eating disorders.

The Current’s mission is rooted in promoting the advocacy, awareness, and education of eating disorders within mental health spaces in Missouri. Check out some recent ways we have been honoring this mission & how you can get involved too!

The Body Balance Coalition 2026 Conference

Earlier this month, a few of our therapists had the chance to attend a training at The Body Balance Coalition (BBC) 2026 Conference.

The BBC is a non-profit organization started in 1994, in memory of Christy Heinrich, a gymnast from Independence, MO, who died at age 22 of complications from an eating disorder.

The BBC works to increase advocacy, community awareness, and education by providing educational opportunities for treatment professionals that will enhance their knowledge regarding identification, treatment, and prevention of eating disorders.

Body Image Reflection & Support Workbook

Missouri Telehealth Network’s Disordered Eating & Eating Disorders Show-Me ECHO

The Disordered Eating & Eating Disorders Show-Me ECHO is a resource we’re so excited to highlight! We’re especially proud that The Current Clinical Director, Kelsey Esser, MSW, LCSW, serves as a HUB team member.

ECHO brings providers together in a truly collaborative space, where interdisciplinary professionals connect by videoconference to learn and strengthen best practices in eating disorder care.

Together, participants focus on:

Recognizing how eating disorders can present across all identities and body types
Identifying early signs and understanding clinical complexity
Building strong, team-based and community-connected care
Reducing stigma through trauma-informed, culturally humble practice

The Disordered Eating & Eating Disorders ECHO will resume bimonthly meetings in the Fall! LEARN MORE HERE

The Missouri Eating Disorders Council

The Missouri Eating Disorders Council leads statewide efforts to increase education, awareness, and access to evidence-based treatment for eating disorders. Their work focuses on understanding the scope of eating disorders in Missouri while strengthening prevention, early intervention, treatment, and recovery supports for individuals and families.

More resources from the Council: