Counselling for women at any stage of motherhood
If motherhood feels heavier than you expected — whether you’re newly a mum or years into the role — you don’t have to carry it alone.
I offer calm, supportive counselling for women navigating the emotional and identity changes of motherhood - it’s time we supported mothers differently.
Hello and welcome — I’m Michelle.
I support women who are finding motherhood emotionally challenging, whether this has emerged early on or much later. You may be a first-time mum, or you may have been a mother for some time and noticed that a new phase has stirred unexpected feelings.
This can include experiences of birth trauma, personal trauma, identity shifts, or simply a sense that something feels harder than it “should”. Together, we gently explore what’s coming up for you and how it’s impacting your wellbeing, at a pace that feels manageable.
You are not alone in this.
At different points in motherhood, many women feel overwhelmed, anxious, lonely, or unsure of themselves. You may also be carrying grief — for the birth you hoped for, the support you didn’t receive, or parts of yourself that feel changed or quietly lost along the way. You might be carrying guilt for not coping the way you think you should, or wondering why this feels so hard — even if you’ve been a mum for years.
These experiences are real, common, and deeply human. They are not signs of failure — they are often part of the ongoing emotional and identity shifts that come with motherhood.
Counselling offers a calm, supportive space where you don’t have to hold everything together. A place to speak honestly, feel emotionally supported, and feel less alone.
Understanding Matrescence
Matrescence is the term used to describe the profound emotional, physical, and identity changes a woman experiences as she becomes a mother — and as she continues to move through different phases of motherhood over time.
This transition can be as significant as adolescence, yet it is often misunderstood, minimised, or expected to be navigated quietly and alone. For many women, matrescence brings feelings of overwhelm, self-doubt, grief for who they were, or a sense of being unrecognisable to themselves — even years into motherhood.
These experiences are not a sign that something is wrong with you. They are part of a natural, ongoing transition that deserves care, understanding, and support.
It’s time we supported mothers differently — by slowing down, listening deeply, and honouring the full emotional experience of motherhood, at every stage.
Understanding matrescence can help you meet yourself with more compassion and less self-judgement, wherever you are on your journey.