Ready to learn HOW and WHY The Matricentric Way is the paradigm shift needed for Mothers today?
Download the "Guide to Understanding the Matricentric Way" here.
Answering the question “Why is Motherhood so hard?” while giving Mothers words to finally talk about their experiences.
The Matricentric Way is a socio-cultural, mother-centered model of care designed to support women throughout their maternal lifespan.
This training for professionals offers guiding principles, core competencies, and practical implications for your work as a professional that supports Mothers.
MATRESCENCE, MOTHERHOOD & MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH
This program is designed for therapists, doulas, educators, physicians, and anyone committed to supporting mothers in a deeper, more impactful way.
Context Matters: Supporting Mothers is Political and Social Activism
The way we support mothers needs to change. Traditional models of care are no longer sufficient—mothers need validation, education, normalization, and community. The Matricentric Way provides a new framework that addresses the cultural context of motherhood, recognizing that the challenges mothers face are often rooted in systemic issues, not personal failures.
In this training, you'll explore:
1
The limitations of traditional models: Why asking mothers to breathe through it or try meditation is not enough - and perpetuates the pathology of them.
2
The importance of a socio-cultural lens: Understanding that it's a we problem, not a me problem.
3
The power of education: How knowledge can help mothers transform not only their personal experience of Motherhood, but the collective.
The Matricentric Way has its own dedicated website where you'll find the complete curriculum, upcoming cohorts, tuition, FAQs, and enrollment information.
What You’ll Learn: A Comprehensive Approach to Maternal Care
The Matricentric Way Live Learning is a 5-month commitment (available self-paced) in a group format that includes 12 weeks of intensive learning and four bi-monthly case consultations. This program is designed to help you develop a personal orientation to supporting mothers through the lens of matrescence and a deeper understanding of the cultural context of motherhood. Our Self-Paced Learning option gives you the flexibility to start today and learn at your own pace!
Course Outline:
-
Explore the evolving landscape of motherhood, from conception to postpartum, and uncover the systemic changes urgently needed. With audio, slides, and reflection tools, gain the insights and inspiration to advocate for and drive meaningful transformation.
-
Delve into the rich history and foundational theories of matrescence, guided by leading voices like Dr. Aurelié Athan. This in-depth lesson offers insights to deepen your personal and professional understanding, inviting reflection and meaningful integration into your life and work.
-
Discover the core principles of matrescence that guide this transformative model of care, offering wisdom to shape your own path forward. This in-depth lesson weaves years of practice and insights from leading theorists, providing profound clarity and inspiration for your journey.
-
Embrace the gifts of matrescence—opportunities for growth, self-discovery, and becoming your truest self through the challenges and joys of motherhood. This in-depth lesson offers profound insights that transcend motherhood, shaping every aspect of life and inviting deep reflection and personal transformation.
-
Explore the concept of The Motherline and its connection to matricentric feminism and Motherhood Studies, as we shift focus to the larger cultural context in which mothers navigate their matrescence. This 45-minute lesson weaves together themes of empowerment, advocacy, and interconnection, drawing from the groundbreaking work of pioneers like Sara Ruddick and Andrea O'Reilly, offering rich insights to inform your practice.
-
Dive into the foundational theories of matricentric feminism and Motherhood Studies, exploring concepts like patriarchal motherhood, intensive mothering, and motherwork. This lesson highlights the distinct meanings of Mother, Mothering, and Motherhood, offering language and insights to better support mothers in understanding and expressing their experiences.
-
This lesson delves into the critical theories shaping our understanding of patriarchal and normative Motherhood, exploring intersectionality, intensive mothering, and the "good girl"/"perfect mother" myth. It highlights how these frameworks impact mothers' experiences, offering insights to challenge and transform the cultural narratives surrounding motherhood
-
Explore hope, transformation, and the challenge of patriarchal Motherhood, envisioning a mother-centered, mother-led future. Grounded in matricentric feminism and feminist mothering, it empowers mothers to transcend societal norms and drive meaningful change.
-
Look toward the future of motherhood and the collective responsibility to reshape the cultural context in which mothers thrive. As a matrescence educator and facilitator of The Matricentric Way, you are equipped to lead, reflect, and inspire meaningful change.
Want to learn the 10 Assumptions of Patriarchal Normative Motherhood and how they might be impacting the Mothers you support?
Download the "10 Assumptions Workbook" here.
This is only part of the “good mother” myth but no wonder Mothers are suffering.
“I signed up for The Matricentric Way because of my deep interest in how becoming a mother impacts a mother's identity.
A friend and colleague had just completed the program and raved about her experience. I had resisted going down the "matrescence" rabbit hole (which I’m now kicking myself for!), but the more I explored maternal identity further, the more I realized it was something I couldn’t avoid. I was drawn in by the powerful language Chelsea Robinson used on her website, like “The way we are supporting mothers needs to change” and “Mothers need validation, normalization, and one another. They need education, data, and a paradigm shift.” These statements resonated with me and captured what I knew was true from my personal and professional experiences.
Chelsea didn’t just deliver on what she promised—she knocked it out of the park. From the beginning, I started learning concepts and tools I could immediately share with my clients, and I saw its instant impact. Having the words to describe what so many new moms are feeling, coupled with the research and data to more powerfully say, “You’re not alone,” has been a game changer. I feel incredibly grateful to have been a participant and to now count Chelsea as a mentor. The course materials, resources, and reflection prompts are something I know I’ll return to again and again for probably years to come. We covered so much, and yet, it feels like we’ve just scratched the surface in the best way.
If you’re feeling called to learn more about how to truly support moms through their transition into motherhood, to find the words to describe their experiences, and to better understand the unique challenges mothers face today, I can’t recommend this training program enough.”
-
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...
The Matricentric Way 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.
-
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.
-
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.
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:
-
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.
-
These workbooks act as deep dives into the lesson material as you process this education for yourself personally and professionally.
-
Learn from the experts themselves on topics such as the history of motherhood and the neuroscience behind a mother’s brain…and MORE!
-
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.)
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
