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Hi there! I'm Molly: small town enthusiast, digital marketer, and mom of 4, passionate about helping local, small businesses thrive. Stick around to learn how YOU can flourish while living and doing business in a small town.

molly knuth

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Mental Health in Small Towns with Dr. Lauren Welter

Listeners, I ALMOST called this a vulnerable episode. I’m talking mental health with Dr. Lauren Welter. But, as we say SO much in this episode, and I truly believe, mental health help is totally normal. 

Dr. Lauren Welter, psychologist in Monticello, Iowa

So, scratch that! We’re not going to feel vulnerable talking mental wellness. We’re going to feel empowered, and super lucky to have Lauren here in rural Iowa giving great support.


Even if life is going well, it’s so great to have professionals like Lauren in our corner. Then when life gets rough… as we know it does… we already know where to turn to get back on track.So many great takeaways from this conversation.

Key takeaways:

  • Dr. Lauren Welter started in finance and lived in New York, working on Wall Street, before her “quarter life crisis” brought her back to Iowa City, Iowa, to study psychology.
  • She met her husband, a sixth generation farmer, at the Great Jones County Fair in Monticello, Iowa. She opened her practice, Prairie Home Wellness, there in 2018. 
  • Lauren wondered if there was a need for a mental wellness practice in such a rural area but quickly learned: YES! She talks about the stigma mental health gets and barriers that rural folks face to finding healthcare.
  • We chat about how rural women carry A LOT, but have been especially burdened these last couple of years. I share my own experience with therapy and the value I’ve found.
  • How do you know when it’s time to seek professional help? Get help ASAP from 911, our Iowa Crisis Hotline, or the National Suicide Hotline if you have thoughts of harming yourself. Often though the signs are more subtle. Depression doesn’t mean you’re totally sad all of the time, but it can mean you just kind of feel… nothing. Not really sad, but also not really happy. Losing interest in things you used to like. Feeling like life is just too much and you can’t keep up. Feeling like you’re treading water, or even worse, going under. Please, please, reach out. 

Connect with Dr. Lauren Welter 

Follow Prairie Home Wellness on Facebook or visit their website.

Podcast Sponsor: School is in session!

Be the first to know about our spring program offers by signing up at https://bit.ly/mkmspring

Depending on where you are in your small business journey, we have options to meet you where you are and help you grow your woman-owned business this spring.

Social School April’s focus is on storytelling on Facebook and Instagram!

What you get:

  • Marketing assistance and education
  • Short daily, easily digestable trainings 
  • 100 story starters to plug and play
  • Canva template packs to customize for our business
  • Monthly Q&A with me (Molly!)
  • Accountability! Three social school “students” with win cash prizes of $222 for sticking with it!

Business School is for women in years two through seven of their business and are ready to scale from startup to sustainable.

What you get:

  • Guest “professor” with a focus topic each month
  • Two guest experts (“adjunct professors”) throughout the month with a special focus. Hear from HR professionals to start hiring, attorneys to answer legal questions, and more
  • Bonus 1-on-1 coaching with Molly

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For more about Social or Business School visit mollyknuthmedia.com/shop

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Hi there! I'm Molly: small town enthusiast, digital marketer, and mom of 4, passionate about helping local, small businesses thrive. Stick around to learn how YOU can flourish while living and doing business in a small town.

molly knuth

Meet the blogger