Matrescence Sessions are scheduled individually and available via Zoom or in-person (RI & Southeastern MA).

Matrescence Sessions

Are you:

• About to become a parent? 

• Experiencing uncertainty or feeling overwhelmed about integrating motherhood into your identity?

• Hoping to make this transition from a place of intention, care, and agency?

• Interested in creating structures that will support your psychological growth during this period of immense change?

Matrescence sessions are for you. This is a gently structured 3-part experience in which we will explore your matrescence – the developmental process of becoming a mother – with curiosity and grace. Matrescence sessions blend the psychology and neurobiology of parenthood with your individual life experiences and needs, so that you can navigate the transition into parenthood feeling empowered, supported, and informed.

Your Coach

Liza combines a developmentally-informed, evidence-based background with a unique ability to cultivate trusting and transformative relationships in which others feel seen, valued, and known. As a coach, Liza brings over a decade of experience in leadership, education, psychology, mindfulness, and group facilitation. Together, these experiences have yielded a rich and diverse toolkit that she uses discerningly to create experiences of connection and growth. Her work on matrescence is inspired by her expertise in adolescent and lifespan development, her experiences parenting her own two young children, and being a younger sister to an incredibly gifted midwife. Liza’s clients say that working with her is meaningful, playful, and healing.

Session Overview

Session One: Purposeful Preparation (Beyond the Baby Registry)

Intended timing: third trimester

Together, we will reflect on your hopes and fears related to parenthood. You will leave this session with a better understanding of your beliefs and the agency to make choices that will be most supportive of you and your family during this transition.

We will explore questions such as:

• What from your own childhood would you like to carry with you into your experience as a parent? What would you like to change, or let go of?

• New research indicates that matrescence is akin to adolescence in its rapid neurobiological changes. What was your adolescence like? How do you understand your patterns of responding to change?

• What are you worried about losing, within yourself or otherwise, in this transition? What might be healed?

Session Two: A Beginner’s Mind (and Heart)

Intended timing: 0-8 weeks postpartum

With utmost gentleness and care, we will explore the newness of your experience as a parent. Together, we will identify your emerging strengths as a parent while centering your intentions and needs. We will prioritize nervous system regulation and maintaining or establishing a sense of wholeness. 

We will explore questions such as:

• What are you learning about yourself? What has surprised you?

• What has been most challenging? What’s weighing on your heart?

• Who is caring for you? How can we better mobilize, or maintain, your community to sustain your wellbeing?

Session Three: Integrating your Identity

Intended timing: 8 weeks-3 months postpartum

This session is highly responsive to your individual circumstances and goals. The intention of this session is to help you begin the process of integrating motherhood into your identity by pausing to look back at what you’ve experienced and then articulating a vision of what you’d like to explore going forward. 

We will explore topics related to:

• Relationships

• Professional identity

• Community

• Culture

• Family (chosen and biological)

• Health and wellbeing

• I've never heard of matrescence before. Can you tell me more about it?

  While the term matrescence was coined by anthropologist Dana Raphael in the early 1970’s to describe the developmental transition into motherhood, it has only recently gained popular attention. There is an emerging body of research illuminating the profound neurobiological changes that accompany the social and psychological changes associated with the transition to parenthood (and motherhood, specifically). This period of rapid change and growth has been likened to adolescence. Additionally, recent research suggests that providing education on matrescence can support postpartum outcomes.

• I’d like to gift matrescence sessions to someone I care about. How do I do that?

  You can purchase matrescence sessions as a gift in the virtual storefront. During checkout, you will have the option to provide a personalized message to the recipient. The recipient will also receive an email with more information about matrescence sessions, along with an invitation to book their initial consultation.

• I am already a parent. Are matrescence sessions still for me?

  Yes! We can adapt the structure of the sessions to meet you where you are (postpartum, expecting a subsequent child, navigating fertility, etc.). Please reach out and we’ll talk together about how to make this experience meaningful to you.

• Are matrescence sessions limited to three sessions?

  While the standard offering is a 3-part series, this experience is intended to be adaptable to your individual needs and preferences. If you would like to explore an adapted model (ex. additional prenatal sessions), please schedule a consultation and we will come up with a plan together.

• How much do matrescence sessions cost?

  Matrescence sessions are $275 (for the full 3-part series). I do offer limited sliding scale availability. Please reach out if you’d like more information.