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Matrescence

Matrescence describes the developmental transition into motherhood — a profound psychological, relational, and embodied transformation. Like adolescence, it is a period of growth that reshapes identity, attachment, purpose, and self-understanding.

During matrescence, women often experience a complex unfolding of vulnerability, strength, and integration as they move through pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenting.

This section explores the emotional and developmental dimensions of this transition and the ways women gradually integrate the MotherSelf into their evolving sense of identity.

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Mother And Child
DBT STOP & TIPP Skills: Distress Tolerance Tools for Building a Life Worth Living — Even in Pain
DBT STOP and TIP Skills are essential for mindfulness, mental health and managing your emotions,
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DBT PLEASE Skills for Emotional Regulation: Caring for Body and Mind
The ABC PLEASE skills are the first floor in the house of happiness. Think of the ABC PLEASE skills as extreme self-care, to help you manag
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DBT Emotion Regulation Skills
The Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) section of Emotion Regulation educates about emotions and provides skills to manage strong emotions
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Expressive Art & Wise Mind: Listening to the Nervous System Through Creativity
Originally posted March 23, 2020. Expressive art is a fun way to create flow and relax your nervous system Listening to the Nervous System Through Sensation and Image About 98% of our mental activity…the reasons why we do things…is unconscious (Bargh, 2017). Expressive Art, a right brain activity, is a way to access those wordless emotional messages swirling beneath our consciousness. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could unearth some of your own motivating energy, and channel it towards...
Mother And Child
DBT ABC PLEASE Skills: Building Emotional Resilience Through Daily Self-Care
The ABC PLEASE skills are the first floor in the House of Happiness. Train yourself to develop habits of joy and contentment.
Mother And Child
DBT HOW Skills: Non-Judgmentally, One-Mindfully, Effectively
DBT How Skills: Non-judgmentally, One-Mindfully, Effectively Why HOW Skills Matter in DBT Mindfulness skills can be applied to everyday life, used on an ordinary, everyday basis. We continue with learning the subtle points of DBT Mindfulness Skills for daily life. The first post about Mindfulness Skills for Daily Life covered “What” skills: Observe, Describe, Participate as in “What” to do as you incorporated mindfulness into the activities of your daily life. The next set of DBT...
Matrescence Workbook Cover Image
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Matrescence Bath Ritual Guide & Workbook

A guided ritual for rest, reflection, and nervous system support during the transition into motherhood.

Motherhood changes us emotionally, physically, relationally, and spiritually. Yet many women move through this profound developmental transition without space to pause, reflect, or tend to themselves with care.

The Matrescence Bath Ritual was created as a gentle companion for this season of change.

This offering includes:

an 8-minute guided Matrescence reflection

a beautifully designed ritual guide & workbook

prompts for emotional processing and identity reflection

nervous system–supportive self-care practices

a quiet space to pause during the transition to motherhood

Created by Kathy Morelli, LPC, SEP Integrative psychotherapist specializing in trauma, attachment, and perinatal mental health.

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