MATRESCENCE THERAPY
Becoming a mother changes more than your life. It changes you.
Many mothers describe feeling as though they've lost themselves after having a baby.
This experience—known as matrescence—can affect your identity, relationships and emotional wellbeing.
Therapy provides a space to understand this transition with compassion and confidence.
What is matrescence?
Matrescence is the transition into motherhood—a profound period of change that can reshape your identity, relationships, emotions and sense of self.
Like adolescence, it is a natural stage of human development. Rather than happening overnight, matrescence unfolds over time as you adapt to the emotional, relational and psychological changes that come with becoming a mother.
Every mother's experience is different. For some, it brings confidence and joy alongside uncertainty. For others, it can feel disorientating, lonely or overwhelming.
However it unfolds, matrescence is not a sign that something is wrong with you—it's a reflection of just how significant the transition to motherhood can be.
You are not becoming less yourself.
You are becoming someone new.
You might recognise some of these experiences...
Identity after becoming a mother
I don't know who I am
anymore
I feel emotionally exhausted
Feeling overwhelmed in motherhood
Relationship changes after having a baby
My relationship doesn't feel
the same
I've never felt so alone
Loneliness in motherhood
Work and career identity
I'm questioning everything about work
Losing confidence as a mother
I don't trust myself anymore
Mum guilt
I constantly feel like I'm
failing
I miss the person I used to be
Identity loss after having a baby
If these thoughts feel familiar, you're far from alone.
Many mothers silently carry these experiences without realising there is a name for what they are going through.
"I thought it was
just me."
A SENTENCE I'VE HEARD COUNTLESS TIMES FROM MOTHERS OVER THE YEARS
Motherhood changes every part of your identity
When we think about becoming a mother, we often focus on pregnancy, birth and caring for a new baby.
Far less attention is given to the emotional and psychological changes that come with becoming a mother.
Motherhood can reshape your identity, your relationships, your confidence and the way you see yourself. It can leave you questioning who you are, what matters to you and how to balance the different parts of your life.
You may find yourself asking:
Who am I now?
Why has my relationship changed?
Why don't I feel like myself
anymore?
Why do I miss my old life, even though I love this new chapter with my baby?
These questions are far more common than many mothers realise.
Despite growing awareness of maternal mental health, many women still feel they should simply "adjust" to motherhood. As a result, they often navigate these identity changes in silence, believing they are the only one who feels this way.
In more than fifteen years of clinical work, including within NHS perinatal services, I have met countless mothers who believed something was wrong with them, when in reality they were navigating one of life's most significant transitions.
Therapy provides a space to understand these changes with curiosity and compassion, helping you make sense of who you are now while reconnecting with the parts of yourself that still matter.
How therapy can help
Matrescence is one of the biggest psychological transitions you'll experience, yet many mothers feel they're expected to navigate it quietly and instinctively.
Identity changes, shifting relationships, self-doubt and conflicting emotions are not signs that you're failing. They're often part of adapting to a completely new stage of life.
In therapy, we slow things down.
Together, we'll explore the experiences that have shaped you, make sense of the changes you're navigating, and understand why certain thoughts, emotions or relationship patterns feel so overwhelming right now.
Rather than trying to help you return to who you were before becoming a mother, we'll focus on helping you reconnect with yourself as you are now—building a version of motherhood that feels authentic, sustainable and aligned with your values.
My approach is tailored to your individual needs and draws on a range of evidence-based psychological models, including Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) and attachment-informed approaches. Rather than following a one-size-fits-all model, I integrate these approaches to develop a shared understanding of your experiences and support meaningful, lasting change.
If your experience is showing up most strongly in your relationship, you may also find my Relationship Changes After Baby page helpful.
THE PRACTICALITIES
Everything you might be wondering before we begin.
Beginning therapy can feel like a big step. Here are few of the questions people most often ask before getting started.
Sessions
Therapy takes place online via secure video, allowing you to access support from the comfort and privacy of your own home.
Sessions last 50 minutes and provide a calm, confidential space to explore what's bringing you to therapy.
I currently offer appointments on weekdays, with limited evening availability.
Most clients attend weekly to begin with, although we can discuss a pace that feels right for you.
Availability
Fees
Individual therapy sessions are £130 per session.
I am a registered provider for AXA PPP, AVIVA, Vitality Health, Cigna, Simply Health, WPA, Aetna Global and Healix.
I also offer a complimentary introductory consultation so we can explore your needs before committing to ongoing therapy.
Working together
I work with adults across the world (excluding the US and Canada) through secure online therapy.
All you need is a reliable internet connection, a device with a camera and somewhere private where you can speak comfortably.
