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about Nina

In 1986, Nina Sutton established one of the first nanny/child care placement services of its kind in the United States. It was during those years that she worked with hundreds of families, and mothers in particular, to help them through the process of making choices regarding career and parenthood. She eventualIy made her own choice to become a stay-at-home mother with her two daughters.

credentials

After several years of community volunteering, Nina went back to school and attained her Masters Degree in Psychology and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Her research focused on the subject of the transition to motherhood.

Since 2005, she has served as a facilitator for support groups as part of the Parents Exchange Parenting Program, sponsored by Greenwich Community Health, part of the Yale-New Haven Health System.

Nina holds certifications in Mind/Body Medicine and Calm Mother/Happy Child training from Benson-Henry Mind/Body Medical Institute at Harvard Medical School. In May 2008, she became the first certified Gottman Educator in Connecticut and Westchester County, NY trained to offer the nationally recognized Gottman Bringing Baby Home Program. Nina is currently matriculating in the Fairfield University Marriage & Family Therapy Masters program.

specialties / work

Nina's passion remains with women as they make the initial decision to become a parent and all along the journey of motherhood. Through consultation, she helps women and couples come to terms with the many issues that must be addressed along the path of parenthood/career, including:

Personal/professional identity and goals
Fertility
Career choices
Child care
Pregnancy planning
Marital/spousal roles

Nina writes on topics of importance to women and their families, such as her recent article "Motherhood and the Curse of Perfectionism" for the Woodhull Institute for Ethical Leadership. She continues to research the relationship between high ego development in women and difficulties adjusting to motherhood, as well as the ethical and personal ramifications of women who adopt children or use sperm banks in lieu of entering a committed relationship.

affiliations

National Association of Mothers' Centers
The Women & Family Life Center (Guilford, CT)
Parent's Exchange Program of Greenwich Community Health (Yale-New Haven Health System)
Woodhull Institute for Ethical Leadership
Gottman Bringing Baby Home Programs
Fairfield Continuing Education
Fairfield Chamber of Commerce
The Inn at Stonington (retreats and workshops)

"Motherhood - some days may seem to go on, forever, but the years fly by."
--Nina Sutton, MA, CGE