As a mother, have you found yourself experiencing...
- Overwhelming anxiety about being a good mother or making mistakes?
- Guilt or shame for not feeling immediate joy or attachment to your baby?
- Feeling isolated or disconnected, even with support from family or friends?
- Feeling resentment towards your partner or baby for how much your life has changed?
- Fearing failure and not living up to your own or others’ expectations?
- Feeling anger or frustration over the loss of your personal freedom and time?
- Feeling exhausted and burnt out but also pressured to appear “strong” or capable?
- Feeling sadness or grief over your previous lifestyle or body changes?
- Doubting whether you are “cut out” to be a mother?
- Feeling jealous of your partner, friends, or family members who seem to be coping better?
- Feeling regret or second-guessing your decision to have children?
Then you are not alone!
Parenting is often described as a beautiful and transformative experience filled with moments of joy, love, and deep connection. Bringing a child into the world and watching them grow can be one of the most rewarding parts of life. However, alongside these joyful moments, parenting can also stir up complex emotions—fear, anxiety, grief, and an amplified inner critic. Many mothers feel a sense of loss for their old identity, experience doubts about their abilities, and face the relentless pressure of trying to do everything “right.” These feelings are normal, but they can be overwhelming, especially when mothers are expected to navigate them alone.
This transition is known as matrescence—a term that describes the physical, emotional, and social shift that occurs when a woman becomes a mother. Much like adolescence, matrescence is a developmental process, one that involves major life changes and can often be accompanied by confusion, self-doubt, and a sense of identity loss. Understanding matrescence is key to appreciating that these struggles are a normal part of becoming a mother. It allows space for mothers to process the duality of joy and hardship without feeling as though they are failing.
We use a therapy approach that focuses on the needs of mothers (mother-centered) and acknowledges the profound transition into motherhood and every stage of their parenting journey. This therapy helps women embrace the complexity of their emotions and provides tools to understand their inner critic and build self-compassion.
When therapy is focused on the mother’s experience, it creates a safe space for her to:
Find her voice: Many new mothers feel lost in the expectations placed on them by society, family, and even themselves. A mother-centered approach helps them discover what truly matters to them as parents, separate from external pressures.
Develop parenting confidence: Therapy can support a mother in building trust in her ability to care for her child. As she gains confidence in her decisions, the constant second-guessing and self-doubt diminish.
Cultivate compassion: Self-compassion is critical for mothers who often judge themselves harshly. Therapy encourages mothers to embrace imperfections and understand that challenges are a natural part of motherhood.
Trust her intuition: In a world filled with advice and information, it’s easy for mothers to feel overwhelmed. A mother-centered approach helps mothers reconnect with their instincts, empowering them to trust their inner wisdom when making family decisions.
Create her unique parenting framework: Rather than following rigid external standards, therapy can help a mother develop a parenting approach that aligns with her values, personality, and family needs. This personalized framework fosters a more authentic and connected family dynamic.
Focusing on the mother's well-being not only benefits her as an individual but also has a positive impact on the entire family. An emotionally healthy, confident, and self-compassionate mother can create an environment where her family feels supported, connected, and understood because as she learns to navigate her own emotional landscape, she will be able to model emotional resilience, self-acceptance, and empathy for her children, creating a strong, connected family unit.
In addition, when a mother feels empowered, she can raise her children in a way that nurtures their emotional well-being and fosters secure, loving relationships.
You are the universe expressing itself as a human for a little while”
— Eckhart Tolle
mir·a·cle/ˈmirək(ə)l/noun
" an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs or an extremely outstanding or an unusual event, thing, or accomplishment."
YOU are a miracle. Scientists have crunched the numbers countless times, revealing that the chances of your existence are an astonishing 1 in 400 trillion. Every factor had to align perfectly for you to be here in this moment, reading these words. Dr. Ali Binazir illustrates this improbability by likening it to a single turtle sticking its head out of the water within a life preserver floating in an endless ocean on the very first try—a probability so infinitesimal it's practically zero, 1 in 102,685,000 to be exact.
You are not meant to be overwhelmed by sadness, worry, fear, doubts, or other negative emotions. Instead, your journey is supposed to be about finding beauty and joy even amidst life's smallest moments, despite the occasional pain inherent in the human experience. Within each of us lies a radiant light, a unique goodness waiting to be tapped into. By connecting with this inner essence, we can achieve greater balance and tranquility. This journey is about awakening to the fullness of your being, embracing love, and radiating your unique light into the world.
Empowerment is not just about finding your light; it's about letting it shine brightly!
“If we can share our story with someone who responds with empathy and understanding, shame can't survive.”
― Brené Brown, Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead
What would it be like if you knew in your heart that:
You are normal
You are good enough
You have value
You are needed
You are loveable and loving
That you are unique and interesting
That you are naturally beautiful and whole
Are you a woman and/or a mother ready to embark on a journey where you can:
Connect with your intuition and heart
Embrace all aspects of yourself ("the good, bad, and the ugly") with love and acceptance
Feel confident and feel you have worth and purpose
Learn how to speak your inner truths and advocate for yourself
Learn how to set boundaries and carve time out of your busy schedule for self-care
Connect with your passions
Then you have come to the right place, and I am here to help and support you on your journey!
Take advantage of a FREE 15-minute phone consultation.
Sources:
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Miracle definition & meaning. Merriam-Webster. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/miracleSpector, D. (n.d.). The odds of you being alive are incredibly small. Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/infographic-the-odds-of-being-alive-2012-6#:~:text=Imagine%20there%20was%20one%20life,middle%20of%20that%20life%20preserver.