The Matricentric Way -
a training for professionals
The Matricentric Way: a mother-centered model of care for women all along their motherhood journey.
Guiding principles, core competencies and implications for your work.
Rooted in the theories of matrescence and matricentric feminism.
Are you looking for a new framework to support the mothers you work with as a therapist, doula, teacher or physician?
Ready to be a part of the paradigm shift that is needed in the realm of maternal care?
Ready to get ahead prior to the training?
Download my FREE "Developing a Matrescentric Lens" workbook here.
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Patriarchal is defined as the way the structure of legal, social, political, religious, economic and other culture influencing institutions and systems are organized to create, manage and justify male dominance, power and privilege. It is connected with other systems of oppression such as racism, ableism and classism. It is not necessarily about male dominance over women; it is more deeply about power, control and oppression. (I often refer to it as our current culture and the systems in place to support mothers.) Motherhood is the social construction of mothering in our current society; it is the institution in which we mother in.
Patriarchy in this context is not intended to bash men. It is intended to highlight the systems in place and cultural undertones that keep women and mothers small, undervalued, perpetually striving for perfectionism and feeling inadequate all at once.
Supporting Mothers Professionally is POLITICAL and SOCIAL ACTIVISM.
The way we are supporting mothers needs to change.
The traditional models used in talk therapy aren’t cutting it these days.
Mothers need validation, normalization and one another. They need education, data and a paradigm shift.
“We are optimistic that when we give mothers the education they always deserved they can not only survive despite their transition to motherhood but perhaps even thrive because of it.” (Athan and Carrig 2023)
We can no longer tell them to deep breathe through it, try meditation or enjoy a bubble bath.
We can’t sit there and ask them to share with us their “feelings” and continue to act like we don’t know what they’re feeling.
We can’t ask them to tell us what it says about them and listen to them tell us that they believe they are failing in their role of mother.
We can’t insinuate that mothers need to keep doing the “inner work” so that eventually they won’t feel like such failures.
No no. When we continue this way, we perpetuate the narrative that the change needs to come from within, when so much of what needs to change is greater than any ONE mother.
It’s a “we” problem, not a “me” problem.
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There are very real reasons for mothers feeling depressed, anxious and scared. (*This does NOT take away from PMADS which are also real and deserving of clinical and medical attention.) We need to ask “WHY” they are depressed, anxious and burned out. The expectations placed on mothers by society to enjoy every moment, do it all, practice self care, the list goes on…is crushing mothers. They believe they are failing. They have internalized the expectations of society as a reflection of their worth and ability.
We can’t ask them to tell us what it says about them and listen to them tell us that they believe they are failing in their role of mother.
No amount of a self-care prescription is going to solve the lack of social supports, the ideals of the perfect mother and the excruciating expectations placed on the modern mother.
If you’re a clinical therapist, physician, yoga teacher, doula or educator, or you are simply someone who is wanting to be a greater part of the paradigm shift that NEEDS to happen in support of mothers...
This matrescence training is for you.
When…(Motherly 2023 State of Motherhood Survey)
The #1 reason women changed or left their jobs last year was due to a lack of childcare…
55% of SAHMs report they “always” or “frequently” feel burnt out – significantly higher than working moms.
50% of “breadwinning” moms also still manage the majority of the household workload.
68% of mothers surveyed are “one and done” – saying that they used to think they would have more than one child, but now they can’t even imagine it.
It's time for REAL change; an internal revolution for each mother as she traverses motherhood AND a cultural one too.
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Benefits from mothers feeling broken and broken down.
How can any woman become a mother under these circumstances? How is it possible for her to feel confident in her values and decisions, find the joy that was promised in mothering and achieve a sense of balance in the many roles she has?
Society is greatly influencing the world of matrescence.
This is why we can’t support a woman in her matrescence until we acknowledge the impact of society, the systems in place to support her and our current culture.
Matrescence - The transition from woman to mother.
Matrescence is the next level of postpartum support, Dr. Athan suggests. Applying this lens to your work with mothers is the next level in protecting, preserving and empowering a mothers well-being.
Dr. Athan, Clinical Psychologist and faculty at Columbia University, leading expert in the field of matrescence says that…
For any woman or mother that has ever experienced a loss of words to describe her transition into that of mother…who has ever felt disconnected from herself, lost, ambivalent, scared…who has ever felt uncertain, destabilized, and fragile…the concept of matrescence, this one singular word, has the potential to finally give voice to her experience and furthermore, relate her to all mothers, ever, from the beginning of time.
Suddenly, she is not alone; she is not failing; she is not broken.
She is seen, understood and feels acknowledged in her experience.
This is matrescence.
Chelsea Robinson: Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Psychotherapist. Matrescence Educator. Motherly Expert.
With over 10 years of experience, Chelsea brings a relatable approach to supporting mothers with burnout, overwhelm and the cost of the mental load. She teaches mothers how to TAKE. UP. SPACE.
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Chelsea Robinson is a licensed clinical social worker, a motherhood therapist, matrescence educator and mother herself. She graduated with her Masters of Social Work in 2014 with a dual focus in a clinical and social change concentration. Chelsea brings a diverse background to her work in supporting mothers which includes a nearly 10 years of leadership as a Clinical Director at a domestic violence and sexual assault agency. She additionally has been a college professor, sat on the board of various nonprofits, and run community organizing groups specifically addressing gaps in mental health treatment for the most vulnerable. Chelsea holds clinical trainiings in EMDR, TF-CBT, C-CBT, and is a certified mental health crisis first responder. Additionally, Chelsea is trained through Postpartum Support INternational to support mothers with postpartum mood disorders and is a postpartum doula certified with Newborn Mothers Collective and Julia Jones. Chelsea continues to seek mentorship with Dr. Athan to support her in her continued education and understanding of matrescence. Chelsea is an expert contributor to Motherly and can be found in other international publications as part of her mission to increase awareness on matrescence and in support of mothers all over the world.
In 2022, Chelsea launched the Becoming Mama; a 12 week educational and supportive program for mothers. At it’s foundation, the program educates mothers on the concept of matrescence and the impact of mothering in our modern motherhood culture. With 6 unique lessons, each further elaborating on the Becoming Mama framework, the mothers are provided tools, resources and support to help them deepen in their self understanding of such a profound transformation (ie. their matrescence) alongside a village of support.
The Becoming Mama
The Matricentric Way
is a 5 month commitment in a group format that includes:
12 weeks of learning and four bi-monthly case consultations to follow.
Throughout and upon completion of this training, you will be ushered into developing your own personal orientation as it pertains to supporting mothers through the lens of matrescence and a deeper understanding of the impact of mothering in today’s culture.
Training Program Outline includes:
✨ The History of Motherhood - Through the lens of Maternal Scholars and Activists
✨ An Assessment of our Current Care of Mothers - Postpartum and Beyond
What's broken, working and missing all together
✨ Matrescence: A new paradigm for supporting mothers EXPLORED - innovation, creativity and community
Ushering mothers through a lifelong transformation. (Includes new research on maternal ecoconsciousness)
✨ Foundational Guiding Principles of Matrescence: Implications for your Work
We will explore group work, peers/mentors, rites of passage, and developing an empowerment model (voice, choice, autonomy and collection action) through the lens of matrescence.
✨ Key Aspects of Matrescence for Mothers and Core Competencies:
Grief, vulnerability, shame, ego death, ambivalence, perfection, isolation, identity formation, new consciousness, critical analysis, resentment - Approaching these (and many others) concepts in your work with mothers through the lens of matrescence.
✨ Maternal Lineage and Cultural Diversity - Exploring the "A mother is..." Narrative
✨ Mother, Mothering and Motherhood - The Difference Matters
✨ Patriarchal Motherhood as Defined by Maternal Scholars - Mothering in Patriarchal Motherhood - Bridging the Gap
✨ The Anecdote to Patriarchal Motherhood Explored - The "Mother Outlaw"
✨ What's Next? Hope, Collective Action and Responsibility - Supporting mothers in becoming "elders" (regardless of age)
I recognize and acknowledge the unique, collective and individual challenges that ALL people that become parents experience - trans parents, queer parents, BIPOC parents, single parents, nuerodiverse parents etc. Every parent is deserving of support and worthy of accessing care that they deem is the best fit for their unique needs and wants.
I, however, am an expert in supporting women in becoming mothers. This is where my practice has focused and my mentorship has too. It is my ethical responsibility to do no harm and to stay in my lane of expertise.
With that being said, I will provide resources and referrals to anyone who desires additional support along their parenting journey if I am not the best fit or it is outside my scope of expertise.
I am committed to my own continued learning and growth and welcome any feedback.
What to expect:
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These pre-recorded audio/visual lessons will be delivered weekly to your email. They range from 20 minutes to 90 minutes and are intended to be listened to at your convenience.
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These workbooks act as deep dives into the lesson material as you process this education for yourself personally and professionally.
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Learn from the experts themselves on topics such as the history of motherhood and the neuroscience behind a mother’s brain…and MORE!
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An in depth overview of this revolutionary approach to supporting mothers. You will be given full access to the Becoming Mama program, with each lesson delivered bi-monthly to explore its implications for your work with clients. Includes the guidebooks and additional supportive worksheets.
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We will meet twice a month to process your experience as it unfolds with each new learning objective. Here, you can bring in both your personal understanding and professional experience as you feel comfortable and deem appropriate. (If you are a mother as well as a professional, you are welcomed to be BOTH in this space; in fact it is invited so that you can feel into this model more deeply before utilizing it with your clients.)
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Here you will have the space to ask questions as it pertains to each lesson as you dive deeper into the understanding of matrescence and the implications it has on your clients.
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Realtime support available from your peers and Chelsea to assist you as you reflect outside of class hours and begin to utilize this model in your own practice.
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Upon completion of the training (months 4 and 5), you will have 4 virtual group case consultations in which you can present a client case for support and strategy with the support of your peers and insight from Chelsea.
Are you ready to join us in May 2024?
Join our May 2024 cohort below.
Feel free to ask me any questions you may have: