The new year has a way of making us reflect.

What do I want this year to feel like? What do I need more of? What do I need less of?For many single moms, the answer isn’t more hustle, pressure, or productivity. It’s more calm.

But calm doesn’t magically appear at the beginning of the year. Calm is created — intentionally — through support, boundaries, and care for your mental health. If you’re a single mom in Allegheny County, this guide is for you. Not just as a list of resources, but as an invitation: You do not have to carry everything alone this year.

Let’s talk about what starting the year with calm can really look like — and how to build it.

What Calm Actually Means for a Single Mom

Calm doesn’t mean your house is always quiet. It doesn’t mean your child never has meltdowns, your bills disappear or you suddenly stop feeling overwhelmed.

Calm means you have support when life feels heavy.

It means:

• Having someone to talk to.
• Accessing tools to manage stress.
• Building community so you don’t feel isolated.

And that’s where seeking support — professionally and personally — becomes powerful.

Managing Stress by Seeking Professional Help

There is strength in asking for help. Therapy isn’t just for crises. It’s also for clarity and healing. You begin to learn how to respond to stress instead of constantly reacting to it. As a single mom, I must navigate financial responsibilities, emotional labor, parenting decisions, romantic relationships, work-life balance, and past traumas. That’s a lot for one person, which is why I reach out for help when needed. 

Professional counseling can help you:

• Develop coping strategies
• Process anxiety or burnout
• Strengthen boundaries
• Improve communication
• Heal from past experiences
• Build emotional resilience

If you’re in Allegheny County, here are trusted options:

Allegheny County Office of Behavioral Health

If you’re unsure what kind of services you need, call 412-350-4457. Someone can connect you with therapy, child behavioral services, and additional mental health programs.

resolve Crisis Services 

You might be struggling with depression or substance use. Or maybe you’re overwhelmed by problems at work, feeling lonely, or having a conflict with a loved one. Whether your problem is large or small, talking with someone can help. Most of all, don’t wait for a problem to get out of control. Call 1-888-796-8226. Resolve offers 24/7 crisis treatment, interventions, and home visits.

Mental Health America Southwestern PA

Mental Health America of Southwestern PA (MHA-SWPA) is dedicated to breaking down barriers and eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health and substance use disorders. . MHA provides educational programs that help individuals learn about mental wellness as well as explain the challenges of depression, bipolar disorder and other types of mental illness. Several in-person support groups are offered for those experiencing mental health issues, supporting a loved one with mental illness, recovering from a past suicide attempt, or who have a lost loved one to suicide. For more information, call 724-834-6351.

Samaritan Counseling, Guidance, Consulting

Samaritan Counseling, Guidance, Consulting provides spiritually-integrated psychotherapy to adults, children, and adolescents annually. They offer therapy virtually and in-person at seven locations in four Western PA counties. They address a wide range of concerns, such as anxiety disorders, ADHD, depression, grief and loss, marital and family relations, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.  Samaritan also offers educational programs and life coaching. 

Individual Counseling Options in Allegheny County

Here is a list of counselling services moms in our community recommended. 

• • Anchorpoint Counseling Ministry (412-366-1300)
  • Christian Counseling Associates (412-499-3932)
  • Counseling & Wellness Center of Pittsburgh (412-322-2129)
  • HandinHand Counseling Services (Penn Hills) (412-871-5391)
  • MK Counseling Services (412-999-2244)
  • Peach of Mind (412) 241-2766
  • Pediatric Counseling Services (412-388-0880)
  • Pittsburgh Mercy Behavioral Health (877-637-2924)

Before you call, make sure you have up-to-date insurance information on hand. Some services offer virtual sessions, which comes in handy if childcare is an issue. Booking that first appointment might feel intimidating — but it can also be the most stabilizing decision you make this year.

Calm Through Community — You Were Never Meant to Do This Alone

One of the biggest stressors for single moms isn’t just responsibility. It’s isolation. Carrying everything alone, making decisions, and processing emotions. Community reduces stress in ways we often underestimate.

Join the Single Mom Defined Solo Mom Support Group

If you’re part of the Single Mom Defined community, you already know how powerful connection can be. And if you are a solo mom, there is another layer of support. Solo moms are not only raising children alone but also doing so without the presence of the child’s father due to circumstances beyond their control. Perhaps the child’s father died, went to prison, or decided to abandon his responsibilities. Without a co-parent to share the load, the weight of motherhood can feel overwhelming, exhausting and isolating. However, no mother should have to navigate this path alone. That’s why building strong support systems for solo moms is crucial. To better serve solo moms, we formed a dedicated subgroup within Single Mom Defined to foster a sense of belonging and provide essential resources. The Solo Moms support group offers a safe space where women can connect, share their experiences and uplift one another.

The Solo Mom group exists so you can:

• Talk openly about single motherhood
• Share wins and challenges
• Ask questions without judgment
• Receive encouragement from women who get it

Support groups normalize what you’re going through. They remind you that:

• You’re not failing.
• You’re not the only one struggling.
• You’re not the only one figuring it out as you go.

If one of your goals this year is to feel less alone — joining a support group is a beautiful step toward calm. The group meets monthly on Zoom and quarterly in person. Register to attend the next meeting! The event invitation can be found inside our Facebook group.

NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania 

NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania also offers peer-led support groups for individuals and families impacted by mental health challenges. If you’re parenting a child with behavioral or emotional needs, this can be especially helpful. Call 412-366-3788 for more information. 

If you are looking for parenting programs, A Child’s Place provides evidence-based parenting strategies that strengthen the parent-child bond and reduce conflict. The Parenting Institute provides conflict resolution services through co-parenting, reunification, and individual counseling. The PA Parent and Family Alliance connects families to peer support and advocacy services.

Family Support Centers

Allegheny County Family Support Centers are hidden gems.

They provide parenting workshops, community activities, resource referrals, and family-centered programming. These centers offer connection and practical support free of charge.

A Gentle Reminder

You are carrying a lot.

You are making constant decisions. You are absorbing your children’s emotions. You are navigating adulthood, motherhood, and responsibility — often without backup.

Starting the year with calm doesn’t mean you’ll never feel stressed. It means you’ve decided not to face stress alone. Professional help, support groups, parenting programs, and community resources are here to help. Reaching is not a sign of weakness. It is a strategy for sustainability.

This year, choose support. Choose steadiness. Choose yourself.

And if this guide resonates, share it with another single mom in Allegheny County who might need it. We’re building calm — together.