Episode 24
The things we don’t say out loud

In this episode of Exception Seekers, Jacklyn Frias shares an honest and deeply personal conversation about the transition into motherhood, identity shifts, and her experience with postpartum depression.

Before becoming a mom, Jacklyn describes a structured, confident life rooted in routine, fitness, and a clear sense of self. But after the birth of her first child, she found herself navigating an unexpected and isolating struggle with postpartum depression, one that challenged both her personal identity and professional beliefs as a therapist and trainer.

Through her journey, Jacklyn reflects on the limitations of “prescribed paths” to health and happiness, and how lived experience reshaped her perspective on empathy, support, and what it truly means to meet people where they are.

A major turning point came through practicing self-compassion, not as a checklist item, but as a deeply felt, embodied experience of validating her own emotions. She shares how this simple but powerful shift became a cornerstone of her healing.

The conversation also explores the ongoing process of redefining identity in motherhood, the often-unspoken grief that accompanies major life transitions, and the pressure many women feel to appear “okay” while silently struggling.

Jacklyn now brings this lived experience into her work, fostering spaces rooted in authenticity, compassion, and real human connection—reminding others that they are not alone.

Important Messages

Lived experience changes how we show up for others: What once felt like “just do it” advice evolved into deeper empathy. Understanding someone’s reality requires more than logic - it requires context and compassion.

Postpartum depression can be invisible: Even as a therapist, Jacklyn didn’t immediately recognize it in herself. Many people mask their struggles while appearing “fine” on the outside and often what we need most is to feel seen and understood - not fixed or redirected.

Self-compassion is a skill, not a slogan: True self-compassion goes beyond “being nice to yourself;” it’s about deeply acknowledging your reality the way you would for someone you love. Reframing how we speak to ourselves, by imagining how we’d support a friend, can be a powerful starting point.

Identity shifts in motherhood are complex and ongoing: Becoming a parent isn’t just an addition to life; it’s a transformation that often involves grief, growth, and redefinition. From changes in identity to unmet expectations, there is a continuous process of grieving versions of life that no longer exist

Resources Mentioned

• learn more about Jacklyn and THRIVE Health and Athletics

Jacklyn Frias, MSW RSW CPT (she/her)

Jacklyn is a Register Social Worker and Certified Personal Trainer with years of experience working in both fields in Parry Sound, Ontario. Through her interactions at her fitness studio and in the larger community she noticed the commonly perceived disconnect  between mental and physical health in a person's overall well-being. Many people were open and active in pursuing their physical health goals, but when it came to the larger and deeper aspects of well-being they neglected self-care. It is from these observations that JF Fitness and Therapy & THRIVE was born and her passion to counsel real people, going through everyday issues with no stigma attached, became a reality.

Jacklyn has created a safe, open, caring community of strong and empowered people looking to take control of their own happiness.