One of the most common experiences I see as a therapist for new mums is feeling like a bad mum. Negative or self-critical thoughts are something we all experience throughout our lives, and they’re very common during early motherhood. I’m sure we’ve all been there! Parenting is hard work, and we all have days that […]
What to Say to Yourself When You Feel Like a Bad Mum Read More »
You’re not failing as a mum if your baby won’t sleep. You’re experiencing one of the most challenging aspects of motherhood – sleep disruption. It feels hard because it is hard. Sleep Disruption – A Universal Parenting Experience Sleep disruption and deprivation is a common and expected experience for new mums. In the first few
You’re Not Failing as a Mum if Your Baby Won’t Sleep – A Therapist’s Perspective Read More »
How would you describe the way you talk to yourself? Specifically, what does the voice inside your head sound like as you go about your day as a mum? Does it tell you you’re doing a good job? Or is it more likely to berate and criticise you? For example, what would it say if
The Way You Talk to Yourself is a Parenting Gamechanger, Here’s Why… Read More »
Navigating motherhood without a mother of your own can be a painful, challenging experience. Being a mum is hard enough. We weren’t designed to have babies alone. We need to be supported practically and emotionally by our communities. If, for whatever reason, your community doesn’t include your own mum, it can have a profound effect
Navigating Motherhood Without a Mother – A Therapist’s Perspective Read More »
Struggling with the pressure to enjoy every minute of motherhood can make you feel like a bad mum. But where does that pressure come from and why do some of us find it so challenging? More importantly, what can we do about it? Comparison and The Pressure to Enjoy Every Minute of Motherhood Perhaps you’ve
How to Cope with the Pressure to Enjoy Every Minute of Motherhood Read More »
Am I Going to Screw Up My Kids? In my clinical work, I meet many parents who fear ‘screwing up’ their kids. If you had a particularly difficult or traumatic early life yourself, you’re more likely to worry about repeating the same negative cycles with your own children. This can stem from a desire to
Am I Going to Screw Up My Kids? – A Therapist’s Perspective Read More »
Up until fairly recently, the general consensus was that only the birthing person could experience perinatal mental illness. We now know partners can struggle with their mental health too. Although it’s important to include same-sex couples and other family types in this conversation, today I want to focus on dads. Postnatal Depression in Dads Not
How to Support Dads with Their Mental Health Read More »
As parents, we have a great deal of influence over our children. We shape their lives through the care we give and by modelling beliefs and behaviours, just as our lives were shaped by the people who cared for us. If we look at our own upbringing, we can probably identify certain traits our parents
What it Means to be a Generational Cycle Breaker Read More »
At this time of year, there is a lot of pressure, particularly on mums, to create the perfect Christmas. Where does this pressure come from? I think social media is a big factor. Mums tend to spend quite a bit of time on online where it’s easy to be influenced by the things we see.
3 Ways to Manage Perfectionism at Christmas Read More »
My ethos around working with mothers is about holding space for them, their feelings and their needs so they can feel emotionally supported. Why? Because I firmly believe mothers need mothering. The Toughest Job Although there are moments of joy, pride and happiness, being a mother is an incredibly difficult job. Alongside all the good
Why Mothers Need Mothering Read More »