In episode 86 Cath was joined by Psychotherapist, Speaker and Clinical Supervisor Kemi Omijeh. Cath and Kemi talked about Kemi's journey to motherhood, how her own parenting differs from the parenting she received and how she centres her children and supports them in getting their needs met. Kemi talked about being a changemaker in workplaces which are predominantly white and how exhausting that is, fawning, people pleasing and much more about Kemi continues to grow herself up and be her authentic self wherever she goes. Kemi Omijeh is a registered psychotherapist and clinical supervisor working with children and families for over 15 years. She is also a trainer and speaker with her specialist subjects being cultural competence, racial identity, racial trauma and antiracist practices in education.Kemi champions inclusive mental health for children and young people and states that support for young people should include a consideration of the child’s context, culture and identity. Kemi believes in preventing the onset of significant mental health difficulties in children and young people by fostering an environment that is child centred and fosters connection and belonging. She works with organisations to support them to develop antiracist practices and a trauma informed approach. Kemi passionately believes that good mental health is the foundation for success across all areas of life. She has a special passion for and extensive experience working in schools, and with families.Kemi is a Black woman in a leadership position and has both lived experience and psychological understanding of the impact of navigating a predominantly white workspace. As a result, is passionate about providing awareness and tools to support and advance Black women in leadership roles without sacrificing their mental health and wellbeing.Kemi’s passion is normalising talking about mental health and ensuring we are all investing in our mental health as we would our physical health.She has been featured on BBC Bitesize, Huffpost UK and The Irish Times, and was the Resident Therapist for the BBC Docuseries 'Mimi On a Mission'. She has worked with many organisations including the NHS, Anna Freud Centre and Kings College. Connect with Kemi Omijeh belowWeb: kemiomijeh.com/Instagram: therapy_with_kemiTwitter: therapy_with_kemiLinkedIn: Kemi OIf you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it. To sign up for the journal prompts and Nurture.Heal.Grow (on Substack) please head to www.cathcounihan.com or @cathcounihan on Instagram. Follow Cath on social media here:Instagram: @cathcounihanSubstack: Nurture.Heal.GrowFacebook: Cath Counihan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath answers a question she receives a lot which is some version of 'why do I identify so much with your content when I did not think I had childhood trauma'. Cath speaks to this through the lens of culture, what we learnt as children would keep us safe, generational trauma and parenting practises to explain why this might be the case. If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it.To sign up for the journal prompts and Nurture.Heal.Grow (on Substack) please head to www.cathcounihan.com or @cathcounihan on Instagram. Follow Cath on social media here:Instagram: @cathcounihanSubstack: Nurture.Heal.GrowFacebook: Cath Counihan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath is joined by Emily Adler Mosqueda. We discuss Emily's mothering experience. Emily shares how her postpartum time after the birth of her second daughter was much more challenging than her first. We examine what contributed to this touching on cultural expectations, perfectionism, rage, meeting our inner child in parenting, mental health, support and learning to make space for ourselves as mothers. Emily shares the arc of her journey explaining how she has landed in her own good enough space. Emily is a clinical professor, pediatric speech-language pathologist, postpartum activist, author and mother. She blends her knowledge of motherhood studies and personal mothering experiences in her work with graduate students and pediatric clinical training at the University of Oregon, in the US.In her memoir, Unexpected: A Postpartum Memoir, Emily shares the arc of her mothering experiences and life experiences earlier in life that put her at risk for mental health struggles she experienced late in her postpartum with her second child. Readers witness Emily’s personal evolution through an internal review and deconstruction of self and her examination of maternal expectations. It is through this journey of examining and feeling that truly opens up the unexpected possibilities of understanding what it means to be content in motherhood.Motivated to support and advocate for mothers, Emily has spoken at state and national-level professional conferences to educate paediatric professionals on the prevalence of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and their symptoms, in efforts to normalise mental health conversations and get support to more families.Get her book wherever you buy books, or from motherhood studies publisher, Demeter Press https://demeterpress.org/books/unexpected-a-postpartum-memoir/Learn more about Emily and connect with her at www.emilyadlermosqueda.com or on Instagram @emily.adler.mosqueda and @postpartum365. Her Instagram is another platform Emily uses to share matricentric feminism concepts and mental health information in the hope of educating mothers and professionals.If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it.To sign up for the journal prompts and Nurture.Heal.Grow (on Substack) please head to www.cathcounihan.com or @cathcounihan on Instagram. Follow Cath on social media here:Instagram: @cathcounihanSubstack: Nurture.Heal.GrowFacebook: Cath Counihan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 83 Cath was joined by Nutritional Therapist Thalia Pellegrini to talk about her mothering experiences, how she learnt to support herself better with nutrition and how she centres her own well being in motherhood. Thalia shared how she continues to grow herself up in motherhood and how changing her perspective supports her in tricky times and more.Thalia Pellegrini is a registered nutritional therapist (DipION mBANT CNHC). After graduating from Cambridge University, she spent a decade as a presenter for the BBC before deciding to embrace a new career.She retrained, qualifying as a nutritional therapist in 2009 following a three-year course at the Institute of Optimum Nutrition in London. Her specialist interest is women’s health. She runs her signature perimenopause group program The Energised Mum Method online as well as working 1:1 with women worldwide to address hormonal health issues ranging from PCOS, PMS to perimenopause, as well as low energy and fatigue. Known as the Knackered Mums Nutritionist, she is passionate about empowering women to hold their own well-being sacred.You can find Thalia on Instagram listed here: @thaliapellegrini_nutritionTo sign up for the journal prompts and Nurture.Heal.Grow (on Substack) please head to www.cathcounihan.com or @cathcounihan on Instagram. Follow Cath on social media here:Instagram: @cathcounihanSubstack: Nurture.Heal.GrowFacebook: Cath Counihan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 82 Cath was joined by Dr Caroline Boyd to discuss her experience of motherhood and intrusive thoughts in the postpartum period. Caroline shares some of her own experience of intrusive thoughts and she highlighted how these thoughts are driven by anxiety and our stress response being dialled up in early parenthood. Caroline shares her own research into intrusive thoughts, the different types of thoughts and what our own emotional response to these thoughts indicates (based on research) and lots more.Chartered clinical psychologist Dr Caroline Boyd has over 10 years experience working in the NHS and mental health settings, and she supports parents frompregnancy to childbirth and beyond. Caroline is the author of Mindful New Mum, and her published research explores mothers experiences of intrusivethoughts about their babies. Her work has been featured in You magazine, Grazia, BBC Radio Scotland and Womans Hour on BBC Radio 4.Caroline specialises in supporting parents around anger and anxiety in her independent psychology practice, Parent Therapy Hub. She shares psychologyideas on Instagram and in the media to help parents feel more connected - to themselves and their children - and less alone. You can find Caroline here:www.drcarolineboyd.com or via Instagram @_drboydCaroline’s next maternal anger course starts on January 12thhttps://drcarolineboyd.com/course-mum-rageCaroline’s book, Mindful New Mum: A Mind-Body Approach to the Highs and Lows of Motherhood, is available to buy online at Amazon, Waterstones or Bookshop.**Trigger warning – talk of intrusive thoughts of harm. Please take care when listening.Note – Fathers also report experiencing these thoughts, but to a slightly lesser degree than mothers.If this episode raises any concerns for you please talk to a trusted health professional such as your GP.You can also reach out to the services below:UK: PANDAS - 0808 1961 776Samaritans – 116 123For emergency help - call 999 or visit your local A&;E departmentUS: Postpartum Support International - 1-800-944-4773 (4PPD)To sign up for the journal prompts and Nurture.Heal.Grow (on Substack) please head to www.cathcounihan.com or @cathcounihan on Instagram. Follow Cath on social media here:Instagram: @cathcounihanSubstack: Nurture.Heal.GrowFacebook: Cath Counihan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this the first episode of 2024, Cath shares some reflections on how complex it is to move away from perfectionism and how when we have these tendencies we are never satisfied with where we are in life.Many of us have scripts (or radio shows!) running in our heads that are much more about the past and hamper our enjoyment of our lives. Cath shares an example of this from her own life and suggests an exercise for you to do at the beginning of 2024, an exercise to celebrate and honour yourself and your journey.To sign up for the journal prompts and Nurture.Heal.Grow (on Substack) please head to www.cathcounihan.com or @cathcounihan on Instagram. Follow Cath on social media here:Instagram: @cathcounihanSubstack: Nurture.Heal.GrowFacebook: Cath Counihan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special bonus episode released on Christmas Day, Cath speaks about relationships, family of origin, expectations and obligations. And how we can get all tangled up with our childhood roles when we are back in our family of origin.She suggests some ways to protect your peace and honour yourself, your family and others as sometimes it can be tricky to extend to others what we are trying to extend to ourselves.To sign up for the journal prompts and Nurture.Heal.Grow (on Substack) please head to www.cathcounihan.com or @cathcounihan on Instagram. Follow Cath on social media here:Instagram: @cathcounihanSubstack: Nurture.Heal.GrowFacebook: Cath Counihan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the episode this week, Cath is joined by Colleen Adrian. Colleen is an author, and a connected parenting coach for parents of sensitive spirited kids. She’s a Mom, a Stepmom, and a Grandma, and lives on a small island on the west coast of Canada. Cath and Colleen talked about how Colleen has grown herself up in motherhood, how discovering neuroscience and better understanding her nervous system and that of her child's shifted everything for her and how she continues to surrender to her journey. Colleen shared about how astrology has supported her and how she tends to anxiety when it comes up.Colleen helps parents of sensitive spirited kids who struggle with intense emotions, including anxiety, aggression, perfectionism, tantrums, rebellion. Through parent coaching, somatic therapy, and online courses, she helps the parents learn skills for connection and emotional regulation, both for themselves and their children so they can leave behind authoritarian parenting methods, and have the strong bond with their kids that they’re deeply longing for. She specialises in creating secure attachment and somatic healing.She’s passionate about nurturing authenticity, connected relationships, creativity, and supporting kids to grow into their unique selves. She believes the world needs more compassionate human beings who are living authentically from their hearts. You can find Colleen here:YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@colleenadrian1590/videosInstagram:  https://www.instagram.com/colleen.parentwriter/Website: https://colleenadrian.com/To sign up for the journal prompts and Nurture.Heal.Grow (on Substack) please head to www.cathcounihan.com or @cathcounihan on Instagram. Follow Cath on social media here:Instagram: @cathcounihanSubstack: Nurture.Heal.GrowFacebook: Cath Counihan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath speaks about resourcing yourself over the holiday period and what that might look like. There may be more rage and ruptures at this time and she speaks to how you might support yourself and the benefits of working through ruptures, why these are so important and welcoming in repair. Also, don't forget to come over and follow Cath on her website and social media.To sign up for the journal prompts and Nurture.Heal.Grow (on Substack) please head to www.cathcounihan.com or @cathcounihan on Instagram. Follow Cath on social media here:Instagram: @cathcounihanSubstack: Nurture.Heal.GrowFacebook: Cath Counihan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the episode this week Cath was joined by Stephen Terrell. Steve Terrell is a Healer, Teacher, and Author and sees clients at Austin Attachment and Counseling Center in Austin, Texas. He founded this center over 20 years ago for the treatment of Developmental Trauma and Adoption related issues. He has a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and a Doctorate in Psychology California Coast University and sees his clients under his license as a professional counselor in Texas. Steve and Cath discuss Steve's path to fatherhood, what he learnt about parenting from his first son, healing work and the importance of turning up in the relationship. Steve shared about what has been most important in terms of supporting himself and how he breaks things down to make them manageable/achievable. There is so much wisdom in this episode, I hope you find this supportive ahead of the festive period.It was his experience as a clinician and single parent of two adopted sons, along with his understanding of the ACEs that Steve came to the realization that there needed to be a way to reach non-verbal, or early developmental trauma, without spoken language. Out of this realization he developed Transforming Touch® and a training program designed for understanding and healing developmental trauma: “Transforming the Experience-Based Brain: A Regulation-Based Approach to Working Developmental Trauma” (which is offered internationally and offers an understanding of developmental trauma through a new lens). This new lens includes working with primitive reflexes, learning the language of early trauma, working with physiological regulation, understanding the neuro sequential development of the brain, working with survival parts, understanding attachment in the somatic relationship, and more.Also, don't forget to come over and follow Cath on her website and social media.To sign up for the journal prompts and Nurture.Heal.Grow (on Substack) please head to www.cathcounihan.com or @cathcounihan on Instagram. Follow Cath on social media here:Instagram: @cathcounihanSubstack: Nurture.Heal.GrowFacebook: Cath Counihan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this deeply heartfelt and personal episode, Cath speaks to the complexity of managing family relationships around the holidays and high days (particularly when we have not had our needs met inchildhood).How can we remain in touch with people who we may deeply love, have a lot of history with and yet the relationship may also have a lot of potential for pain? How can we turn up in these relationships, own our own stuff and still find joy in the present moment? Through the use of personal anecdotes Cath makes various points about how we can manage and even thrive at these times. This episode has lots of practical tips and suggestions so that you can craft the holiday period that will be best for you and your family, and allow this for others.Also, don't forget to come over and follow Cath on her website and social media.To sign up for the journal prompts and Nurture.Heal.Grow (on Substack) please head to www.cathcounihan.com or @cathcounihan on Instagram. Follow Cath on social media here:Instagram: @cathcounihanSubstack: Nurture.Heal.GrowFacebook: Cath Counihan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the episode today Cath was joined by author and Early Years consultant Mariana Castaman. Cath and Mariana talked about slow parenting, being present for the children we have, growing up in parenthood, learning to hold space for our children when that was not done for us in childhood and honouring the work done in mothering/parenting. Mariana is an Early Years Consultant, Published author — of a book written in her mother-tongue Portuguese (the title of the book is 'Esse Não é Mais um Livro Sobre o Sono', and a Sleep Specialist.You can connect with Mariana on Instagram here: @marianacastamanShe is currently working on a new offering and has 3 in-depth free guides to support moms, parents and families and their children with improving sleep. Also, don't forget to come over and follow Cath on social media.Instagram: @cathcounihanFacebook: Cath Counihan - Psychotherapy Mum To sign up for the journal prompts please go to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/and sign up for our newsletter, or do it via the link on the Instagram bio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath was joined by Resilience and Breathwork coach Josh Connolly. The discussion focused on Josh’s path to parenthood, becoming sober, the importance of rupture and repair and how Josh grows himself up as he lives, works and parents. We talked about the importance of self honesty and how it is impossible to be a perfect cycle breaker/parent.Josh Connolly is a Resilience and Accredited Breathwork Facilitator. He is also a mental health advocate in the UK featured regularly in the press. He has spoken in the House of Commons (related to adult children of alcoholics), contributed to mental health policy and even advised the scriptwriting team on Hollyoaks. Josh runs resilience workshops for village schools and global brands alike. He is an ambassador for Nacoa a national charity supporting people affected by a parent’s drinking.Josh's SocialsInstagram, Facebook, Twitter and Tiktok @josh_ffwYouTube: JoshConnolly_FFWHow individuals can work with JoshInner You: his flagship online 6 week programme - www.joshconnolly.co.uk/inner-youBreathing Space: his online community away from social media - www.joshconnolly.co.uk/breathing-spaceAlso, don't forget to come over and follow Cath on social media.Instagram: @cathcounihanFacebook: Cath Counihan - Psychotherapy Mum To sign up for the journal prompts please go to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/and sign up for our newsletter, or do it via the link on the Instagram bio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath returns to the content of episode 72 and discusses how secure attachment impacts how we turn up in life. She uses family history and context to show the power of cycle breaking and how creating secure attachment is hugely impactful. She also chats about how comparison can sometimes be helpful. This episode is real, vulnerable, hopeful and powerful and we hope provides comfort and connection for you.Also, don't forget to come over and follow Cath on social media.Instagram: @cathcounihanFacebook: Cath Counihan - Psychotherapy Mum To sign up for the journal prompts please go to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/and sign up for our newsletter, or do it via the link on the Instagram bio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath was joined by Dr Jodi Pawluski, they talked about Jodi’s path to motherhood, her postpartum time, how she prepared for this time and how her own parents’ support impacted her.Jodi shares a bit about her family history, about the partnership she has with her husband in parenting and how her own work and knowledge of the brain supports her in her mothering role. Dr Jodi Pawluski is a Behavioural Neuroscientist, Psychotherapist and Author. Her research is affiliated with a research unit of the INSERM institute, the University of Rennes, France.For over fifteen years Jodi has studied the neuroscience of motherhood and the effects of perinatal mental illness and antidepressant medications on the mother and developing offspring.In 2020 Dr. Pawluski started a podcast called "Mommy Brain Revisited" which focuses on bringing current research on the parental brain to the general public. She also recently published a book (available in French and English) titled "Mommy Brain: Discover the amazing power of the maternal brain". Dr Pawluski's work has appeared in the New York Times, Scientific American, CNN, The Boston Globe, Die Zeit, Elle, Marie Claire, to name a fewYou can connect with Jodi on her website listed here www.jodipawluski.comInstagram: @dr.jodi_pawluskiX (formerly twitter): @JodiPawluskiAlso, don't forget to come over and follow Cath on social media.Instagram: @cathcounihanFacebook: Cath Counihan - Psychotherapy Mum To sign up for the journal prompts please go to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/and sign up for our newsletter, or do it via the link on the Instagram bio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath speaks about secure attachment, what it really means, why it is useful to understand and how our attachment style influences much of how we turn up in the world. Cath speaks about earned secure attachment, how therapy helps in the process of developing this and how tending to and nurturing ourselves is the key to shift and change. Learning to tend to ourselves is vital in our parenting journey (and in life in general).Come over and follow Cath on social mediaInstagram: @cathcounihanFacebook: Cath Counihan - Psychotherapy Mum To sign up for the journal prompts please go to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/and sign up for our newsletter, or do it via the link on the Instagram bio.We would love you to rate and review our podcast as it helps other people like you find us. Thanks for being part of this community. Sending love and courage, Cath.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Cath is joined by author, podcaster and content creator Cat Sims. Cath and Cat talk about Cat’s experiences of motherhood, how she has grown herself up as she mothers, her path to sobriety and why she stopped drinking. And how she views self responsibility. Cat shares her story on boarding school, her family of origin, making living amends and how she holds herself kindly now (instead of self criticism).Cat Sims is an author, podcaster and content creator who is still trying to figure the whole ‘adulting’ thing out.She’s made a living out of documenting her failures and successes as a 40 year old woman, a mother and a wife across various social media platforms.Her mission in life is to make as many women as possible feel ‘seen’ and to make them realise that they are never, ever, ‘the only one.’ She’s honest AF, wonderfully self-deprecating and willing to say all the things the rest of us hide away and, in doing so, she manages to make us all feel a little bit better about our perfectly messy lives.Cat can be found on Instagram @notsosmugnowIf you've been affected by any of the discussions we've had today, then please check out Alcoholics Anonymous at https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/ or Al-Anon: https://al-anonuk.org.uk/Come over and follow Cath on social mediaInstagram: @cathcounihanFacebook: Cath Counihan - Psychotherapy Mum To sign up for the journal prompts please go to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/and sign up for our newsletter, or do it via the link on the Instagram bio.We would love you to rate and review our podcast as it helps other people like you find us. Thanks for being part of this community. Sending love and courage, Cath.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cath delves into the impacts of emotional neglect, how it can be so hard to live with these, why this is and the relationship between emotional neglect, attachment and regulation. She talks about our own feeling states in parenting and how learning to tend to and nurture ourselves is absolutely key on our parenting journey.Come over and follow Cath on social mediaInstagram: @cathcounihanFacebook: Cath Counihan - Psychotherapy Mum To sign up for the journal prompts please go to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/and sign up for our newsletter, or do it via the link on the Instagram bio.We would love you to rate and review our podcast as it helps other people like you find us. Thanks for being part of this community. Sending love and courage, Cath.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath is joined by author and journalist Lucy Jones. Cath and Lucy discussed Lucy's matrescence journey, her most recent book (Matrescence: On the Metamorphosis of Pregnancy, Childbirth and Motherhood), how she makes sense (and continues to) of the huge transition to motherhood, what Lucy finds supportive, how we are all eco systems and some of the realities of mothering at this time in our history.  Lucy Jones is an award-winning journalist and the author of four books including the best-selling book Losing Eden: Why Our Minds Need the Wild (Allen Lane), a Times and Telegraph Book of the Year, and most recently Matrescence: On the Metamorphosis of Pregnancy, Childbirth and Motherhood. Her writing on science, health and ecology has been published in BBC Earth, The Sunday Times, GQ, the Daily Telegraph and the New Statesman. Lucy is a mother of 3 and lives in Hampshire in England.Come over and follow Cath on social mediaInstagram: @cathcounihanFacebook: Cath Counihan - Psychotherapy Mum To sign up for the journal prompts please go to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/and sign up for our newsletter, or do it via the link on the Instagram bio.We would love you to rate and review our podcast as it helps other people like you find us. Thanks for being part of this community. Sending love and courage, Cath. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath is joined by Harriet Shearsmith. Harriet is a coach, podcaster, Mum of 3 and the content creator behind @tobyandroo. In this episode she shares her experiences around growing up in a household where she always tended to the needs of her Mother, how she came to see the dynamics of her family, what action she has taken to protect herself as an adult and how she is shifting dynamics in her own family.Harriet can be found on Instagram: @tobyandroo and @unfollowingmum. She hosts a podcast for cycle breakers called Unfollowing Mum all about toxic families, estrangement and healing generational trauma.Come over and follow Cath on social mediaInstagram: @cathcounihanFacebook: Cath Counihan - Psychotherapy Mum To sign up for the journal prompts please go to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/and sign up for our newsletter, or do it via the link on the Instagram bio.We would love you to rate and review our podcast as it helps other people like you find us. Thanks for being part of this community. Sending love and courage, Cath. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath starts to look in more detail at what emotional neglect actually is and why it matters. She explains how widespread emotional neglect is and gives some historical context to explain why. She links this to parenting, to the challenge of tending to our kids emotions and to our ability to meet our own needs. Cath discusses the concept of narcissistic families, what this actually means and the generational aspects of this. Both of these are huge subjects, listen to this first instalment today.Come over and follow Cath on social mediaInstagram: @cathcounihanFacebook: Cath Counihan - Psychotherapy Mum To sign up for the journal prompts please go to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/and sign up for our newsletter, or do it via the link on the Instagram bio.We would love you to rate and review our podcast as it helps other people like you find us. Thanks for being part of this community. Sending love and courage, Cath. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath was interviewed by Nikki McCahon for her Seasons of Matresence Podcast. We had a gentle, compassionate and open hearted conversation about the ways in which experiences of childhood trauma can shape and impact how we experience mothering and raising children.We cover a lot of ground in this episode, the ways in which childhood trauma can impact and shape our experience of mothering and raising children. We talk about the nervous system and our window of tolerance and how trauma can travel through families and generations why playing with your children can feel overwhelming or dysregulating. The power of rupture and repair for our children and ourselves and how we can bring in more compassion in our mothering and our journey of healing from childhood trauma.There is so much wisdom in this episode, and I know that it’s going to be really supportive for you.Come over and follow Cath on social mediaInstagram: @cathcounihanFacebook: Cath Counihan - Psychotherapy Mum To sign up for the journal prompts please go to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/and sign up for our newsletter, or do it via the link on the Instagram bio.We would love you to rate and review our podcast as it helps other people like you find us. Thanks for being part of this community. Sending love and courage, Cath. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is an interview with Cath and Crystal Karges which was originally released on Crystal’s podcast ‘Lift the Shame’. Cath and Crystal talk about healing generational trauma, shifting patterns, diet culture, food choices, control and more.Come over and follow Cath on social mediaInstagram: @cathcounihanFacebook: Cath Counihan - Psychotherapy Mum To sign up for the journal prompts please go to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/and sign up for our newsletter, or do it via the link on the Instagram bio.We would love you to rate and review our podcast as it helps other people like you find us. Thanks for being part of this community. Sending love and courage, Cath. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The way we come into relationships with our needs when we are babies and young children, has a huge influence on the way we learn to tend to our needs as adults.We learn about what is 'allowed' in terms of our needs in our family of origin. Many of us have a very complex relationship with our own needs, because of the parenting we received (and the parenting our parents received). In this episode Cath digs more into needs (Listen to Episodes 1-4 of Grow Yourself Up for more on needs), looking at why our needs may feel 'illegitimate' and how we can bring these needs back to ourselves.She shares some imagery that could be helpful with this and also some ideas about how to proceed when you don't know where to start with your needs.Come over and follow Cath on social mediaInstagram: @cathcounihanFacebook: Cath Counihan - Psychotherapy Mum To sign up for the journal prompts please go to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/and sign up for our newsletter, or do it via the link on the Instagram bio.We would love you to rate and review our podcast as it helps other people like you find us. Thanks for being part of this community. Sending love and courage, Cath. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath discusses the concept of self mothering, explaining why this is such a crucial part of all our healing journey.She explains what it is, highlights how we may derail ourselves and shares her 3-step approach to self-mothering. This episode is full of humanity, vulnerability, useful tips and storytelling. Cath provides an example of how she does this in her own life so that you can transfer the ideas into practice in your own life. This will help you create the life you wish and be the person you want to be.Come over and follow Cath on social mediaInstagram: @cathcounihanFacebook: Cath Counihan - Psychotherapy Mum To sign up for the journal prompts please go to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/and sign up for our newsletter, or do it via the link on the Instagram bio.We would love you to rate and review our podcast as it helps other people like you find us. Thanks for being part of this community. Sending love and courage, Cath. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The term ‘rupture and repair’ is widely used across social media to explain the process of repairing with your child after a break in connection (for example parent shouted or was unkind, snappy to a child). The original research around this was done on mother and infant dyads and the research was later also done with fathers and toddlers. This process has extremely important implications for us as adults, listen to this episode for more. Come over and follow Cath on social mediaInstagram: @cathcounihanFacebook: Cath Counihan - Psychotherapy Mum To sign up for the journal prompts please go to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/and sign up for our newsletter, or do it via the link on the Instagram bio.We would love you to rate and review our podcast as it helps other people like you find us. Thanks for being part of this community. Sending love and courage, Cath. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath discusses some nervous system science (Polyvagal Theory and Stephen Porges and Deb Dana's work) and invites us into considering how our parent nervous systems interact with our children's nervous systems. Understanding what we, as parents, are contributing to the family nervous system is vital if we want to create change. She shares an anecdote related to this focusing on transitions (there are a lot of transitions in holidays each day) and stress responses.Come over and follow Cath on social mediaInstagram: @cathcounihanFacebook: Cath Counihan - Psychotherapy Mum To sign up for the journal prompts please go to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/and sign up for our newsletter, or do it via the link on the Instagram bio.We would love you to rate and review our podcast as it helps other people like you find us. Thanks for being part of this community. Sending love and courage, Cath. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cath was joined by coach, trainer and hypno-CBT therapist Sophie Burch this week. We talked about Sophie's journey to motherhood, her passion and mission in the prenatal, perinatal and postpartum stages of parenthood and how her own experiences contributed to this. We touched on how birth trauma and a stay in NICU impacted her and her children. Sophie shared how she deals with the impacts of PTSD, maintaining her sanity while parenting 4 boys and how she cares for herself.Sophie Burch aka The Mamma Coach is on a mission to put mental and emotional wellbeing more on the map in pregnancy, birth and parenting. She has 17 years experience as a mother to 4 boys (including twins), as a perinatal therapist and coach, and a birth trauma and PND survivor. Her experience has shaped who she is and awakened her to a life of compassion and deep empathy for everyone from pre-conception through parenting to menopause. Her approach is simple: to allow people to feel held and heard, safe and worthy of love and self acceptance.. Sophie believes that our strength comes from self compassion, kindness and knowledge, which is her ethos. Sophie’s book, Beyond Birth: A Mindful Guide for Early Parenting, was published in 2020. It is an integration of all she knows will help people have a more balanced, positive experience as they transition from pregnancy to parenting. The book is available on Amazon in multiple formats, and can be delivered via parent-baby support sessions and a practitioner training course.She is a Trainer and Team Member at PMH Training CIC with leading Perinatal expert and Author Dr Jane Hanley and offers online and in person coaching, 1:1 and groups and is very happy to talk about her work and experience at events and podcasts.Sophie Burch (HCBT, CNHC, GQHP)Hypno-CBT® Mindfulness & AromatherapySpecialist from Pre-conception through Birth, Parenting & Beyond Mental Health & WellbeingYou can connect with Sophie here:FaceBook: The Mamma Coach, Beyond Birth Collective Instagram: @themammacoach and @beyond_birth_guideTel: 07949 764105Come over and follow Cath on social mediaInstagram: @cathcounihanFacebook: Cath Counihan - Psychotherapy Mum To sign up for the journal prompts please go to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/and sign up for our newsletter, or do it via the link on the Instagram bio.We would love you to rate and review our podcast as it helps other people like you find us. Thanks for being part of this community. Sending love and courage, Cath. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath discusses what shift we need to make as parents around the holidays.Cath discusses some of the emotional adjustments we need to make as parents when considering leisure time with kids, and using nervous system science. She suggests ways that you can support yourself and your kids over the holiday period. This episode will hold and support you as you consider and plan the next couple of months.Come over and follow Cath on social mediaInstagram: @cathcounihanFacebook: Cath Counihan - Psychotherapy Mum To sign up for the journal prompts please go to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/and sign up for our newsletter, or do it via the link on the Instagram bio.We would love you to rate and review our podcast as it helps other people like you find us. Thanks for being part of this community. Sending love and courage, Cath. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath is joined by author and coach Suzy Reading. Suzy shares about how she has grown herself up in motherhood, how grief impacted her early motherhood, how she takes care of herself and how advocating for her kids has helped her with self advocacy. Suzy is a mother of two, an author, Chartered Psychologist and Coach. She specialises in self-care, helping people manage their stress, emotions, and energetic bank balance. It was her life experience of motherhood colliding with the terminal illness of her father that sparked her passion for self-care which she now teaches to her clients, young and old, to cope during periods of stress, loss and change and to boost their resilience in the face of future challenges. Suzy is the Psychology Expert for wellbeing brand Neom Organics and is a founding member of the ‘Nourish’ app. She figure-skated her way through her childhood, growing up on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, and now makes her home in the hills of Hertfordshire, UK. She has written multiple books including The Self-Care Revolution, Self-Care for Tough Times, Stand Tall Like a Mountain: Mindfulness & Self-Care for Children and Parents, Sit to Get Fit and most recently Rest to Reset.You can find Suzy on social media:Instagram: @suzyreadingFacebook: SuzyReadingPsychologyAndYoga/Twitter: SuzyReadingWebsite: www.suzyreading.co.ukCome over and follow Cath on social mediaInstagram: @cathcounihanFacebook: Cath Counihan - Psychotherapy Mum To sign up for the journal prompts please go to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/and sign up for our newsletter, or do it via the link on the Instagram bio.We would love you to rate and review our podcast as it helps other people like you find us. Thanks for being part of this community. Sending love and courage, Cath. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath speaks about the process of rupture and repair with our children. We may imagine that this is a neat, easy process (and sometimes it is) and often it is more complex and messy. Cath shares a recent example from her life and provides a framework (in the context of attachment) for you to hold in mind as you negotiate rupture and repair in your own family and life.Come over and follow Cath on social mediaInstagram: @cathcounihanFacebook: Cath Counihan - Psychotherapy Mum To sign up for the journal prompts please go to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/ and sign up for our newsletter, or do it via the link on the Instagram bio.We would love you to rate and review our podcast as it helps other people like you find us. Thanks for listening. Cath. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath is joined by Anna Butcher. We talked about Anna's journey to motherhood, how she experiences mothering and how the act of becoming a mother is an intrusion into our lives (on multiple levels). There is some deeply personal storytelling illustrating the concepts being discussed and we focused on how control turns up for both Cath and Anna and the antidote to this. Anna Butcher is a counselling psychologist specialising in perinatal psychology and the experience of motherhood. She came to the field of perinatal psychology after becoming a mother herself and becoming fascinated in the magnitude of the process which is often simplified and misunderstood. Anna is a lover of psychoanalytic theory and practice, for its richness in exploring early life experiences, relationships with caregivers and what it is to be a person. She loves marrying these ideas with her new found enthusiasm for the journey into and process of becoming a mother. She is also an advocate for speaking about the darker sides/emotions of motherhood which psychoanalytic theory give voice to. Anna taught and trained psychologists for ten years and teaching remains a passion of hers. Anna is trained in perinatal and infant mental health as well as newborn behavioural observation and Watch, Wait & Wonder, a parent-infant psychotherapy approach. She runs monthly support groups for mums in Amersham, Buckinghamshire and you can find her on Instagram @mums_and_microwaved_teaCome over and follow Cath on social mediaInstagram: @cathcounihanFacebook: Cath Counihan - Psychotherapy Mum To sign up for the journal prompts please go to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/ and sign up for our newsletter, or do it via the link on the Instagram bio.We would love you to rate and review our podcast as it helps other people like you find us. Thanks for listening. Cath. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cath is a psychotherapist and so is obviously a big fan of therapy and the positive benefits arising from therapy. She also recognises that sometimes therapy is not possible and that we also need more wrap-around support and different options. In this episode she talks to some of these different options and through some honest, deeply personal stories shares how she has benefited from some of what she speaks to.Come over and follow Cath on social mediaInstagram: @cathcounihanFacebook: Cath Counihan - Psychotherapy Mum To sign up for the journal prompts please go to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/ and sign up for our newsletter, or do it via the link on the Instagram bio.We would love you to rate and review our podcast as it helps other people like you find us. Thanks for listening. Cath. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 53 Cath is joined by author, coach and podcast host Mara Glatzel.This is a rich conversation centered on needs and how we can make space for them, illustrated with stories from Mara’s life. We also discuss ambition, grappling with achievement, choice and the decisions we need to make about how we actually spend our precious lives. Mara Glatzel (she/her) is a coach, podcast host, and the author of Needy: How to Advocate for Your Needs and Claim Your Sovereignty. She teaches fellow needy humans to uncover the most vulnerable and true expressions of themselves, and learn how to deeply tend to their needs. Through her online programs, workshops, and retreats, Mara supports people to reclaim space for their own humanity and create ambitious lives filled with meaning, without abandoning themselves in the process. Find out more at https://www.maraglatzel.com/Come over and follow Cath on social mediaInstagram: @cathcounihanFacebook: Cath Counihan - Psychotherapy Mum To sign up for the journal prompts please go to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/ and sign up for our newsletter, or do it via the link on the Instagram bio.We would love you to rate and review our podcast as it helps other people like you find us. Thanks for listening. Cath. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 52 Cath focuses on our needs and why starting to meet/meeting them can be so complex (building on earlier episodes on this topic, listen to episodes 1-4 and 26). She makes a suggestion for how you can reframe times when there is self abandonment (needs not being met) to reduce shame. Having our needs met is a huge contributor to being in our own sense of power and agency. Come over and follow Cath on social mediaInstagram: @cathcounihanFacebook: Cath Counihan - Psychotherapy Mum To sign up for the journal prompts please go to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/ and sign up for our newsletter, or do it via the link on the Instagram bio.We would love you to rate and review our podcast as it helps other people like you find us. Thanks for listening. Cath. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 51 Cath was joined by author Molly Caro May. This rich and beautiful conversation covered so much ground. They touched on Molly’s memoir ‘Body Full of Stars’, talked about Molly’s postpartum health experiences, breaking cycles in motherhood, rage and self responsibility.Molly Caro May is an author of two books, teacher, and holder of space. For 13+ years, she has facilitated personal story workshops for hundreds of people across the globe. She is trained in (Somatic Experiencing) and focuses on where language/voice and the animal body meet each other.Her mission is to democratise expression and explore, in good company, the healing alchemy between story and nervous system. She runs online workshops, in-person retreats and keeps the fire lit for her membership community 'The Loam'.You can learn more about her work at www.mollycaromay.com or on Instagram: @mollycaromayIf you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/ or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this half century episode Cath talks about how our own shame and perfectionism (and what happens when our shame gets touched) can impact our holiday times.She makes some practical suggestions to help you stress less, drop into presence, be kinder to yourself and your kids and actually enjoy your holiday times.If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/ or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cath was joined by Kendra Wilde this week. They talked all about how to keep our sanity intact in parenting when our children are struggling in some way. Kendra shared about the 'why' behind (Wild Peace for Parents) and how she was pushed to a place of burnout on her parenting journey. This conversation is loaded with self compassion and wisdom from someone who has kids in their twenties, we hope you enjoy it.Kendra Wilde is a parent wellbeing advocate who uses illustration, podcasting, writing, and workshops to share resilience resources with parents. As a mom of three who met burnout up close, she realized the best way to help children thrive is to care for the caregivers. Kendra created (Wild Peace for Parents) to help parents feel less alone and more empowered as they navigate the challenges and growth pains of parenting, especially when raising children who struggle somehow. She recently launched "A Little Easier", a 12-episode podcast series that brings together leading experts and real parents who share insights, personal stories, and practical tools to give parents a lift through challenging times. The series takes listeners on a 12-part journey, exploring everything from the complex emotions parents experience when their kids struggle, to the nervous system’s impact on parenting, and what can help us fend off burnout, find a sense of balance, and embrace what “is” with more compassion and joy. You can find (A Little Easier) on most podcast platforms. Visit alittleeasier.org for show notes, a free downloadable discussion guide, a printable poster of key takeaways from the show, and more.Find Kendra on Instagram & FB @wildpeaceforparents and at wildpeace.orgIf you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/ or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath talks about two feelings - jealousy and envy - that are often seen as ‘bad’ feelings or feelings we should not admit to (because we may come across as not being ‘nice’). Cath suggests an alternative way to view these and through storytelling and examples shows how tending to our own jealousy and envy can bring a measure of freedom and help guide us in our choices.If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/ or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode Cath is joined by artist and illustrator Azalia Suhaimi. Azalia shares her motherhood journey and how perfectionism, anxiety and trying to get everything right led her to burnout. Azalia reflects on the importance of letting go and getting help. The generous storytelling will help you feel less alone and that no matter what issues you are experiencing in motherhood, there is a way through.Azalia writes and illustrates artworks about motherhood. She has a strong passion for all things art, and is a sensitive soul who loves sharing stories through various mediums. This includes her illustrations, poems, and short films, among other things.Azalia is a storyteller and shares her creations on social media, hoping to touch the hearts of fellow mothers and reminding them that they’re not alone in the challenging journey of motherhood. Azalia's work can be found here on Instagram and Tik Tok at @azaliasuhaimi or on Facebook at Azalia Suhaimi - Poet & Storyteller www.azaliasuhaimi.com contains details of ways to contact Azalia, work with her, commissioned illustrations and other offerings. She will be releasing printable digital poems and illustrations soon for Mother’s Day.If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/ or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grief is an emotion that arises in response to loss and it applies to many things apart from death. We often need to learn how to make space for it and to allow ourselves to actually grieve, instead of denying or cutting off from our experiences. It can feel uncomfortable to grieve something even though you really wanted a family. In this episode Cath speaks to the complexities of grief and the many areas it relates to (particularly in mothering and parenting). If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/ or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Productivity is revered in our society and for many of us this constant drive to produce, to be busy, to be viewed as always efficient is wired into us as part of our safety strategies. Even pondering not being busy can send us into a panic. And yet this pattern often leads to burnout.In this episode Cath speaks to this pattern, how seductive it is as a coping strategy and how we can tend to ourselves as we get more awareness of our own process, and start to move away from always being busy.If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/ or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath is joined by Hannah Clapham who runs a sleep consultancy service called Little Nest Sleep. Hannah shares about how she has grown herself up in motherhood. There is so much richness in this episode including expectations in motherhood, self blame, how perfectionism trips us up, challenges around kiddie sleep and surrender, breastfeeding, advocating for ourselves and rage and how it relates to our own childhoods.Little Nest offers holistic, responsive sleep support for babies, toddlers and their very tired parents. Hannah began supporting local families after a particularly sleep-deprived first year of parenthood when she read everything she could about why a family might be having a hard time with naps and night-times. In 2020 she trained in holistic sleep coaching with Lyndsey Hookway and turned her passion into a career. Hannah has two sleep guides that feature responsive sleep strategies for both babies and toddlers, as well as a number of webinars on specific sleep challenges (from gentle night-weaning to transitioning to childcare) that are all available to download at https://littlenest.podia.com/You can find Hannah on Instagram at @littlenestsleepIf you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/ or on Instagram at psychotherapy_mum Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Those who are working to shift toxic cycles in their own lives and in their families are called 'cycle breakers' on social media.This is a powerful position and it can feel like we need to do this perfectly. In this episode Cath speaks to this, the pressure inherent in this and suggests a gentler path giving reasons why this is actually really important.If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/ or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath looks at the concept of blame. Blame is often something that happens a lot in dysfunctional families and, as adults, it can feel necessary to blame something or someone for issues, problems or the way life is.Cath invites you into the possibility that blaming is not necessary and talks about responsibility instead. Cath focuses on co-regulation and how we can support each other in our families around co-regulation.She shares what this could look like and brings in personal anecdotes to demonstrate some of the points.If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it.To subscribe to the journal questions, please head to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/ or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath is joined by Occupational Therapist and Conscious Parent Coach Maggie Viers. Maggie shares her own growth and awakening in motherhood. She talks about how becoming a mother was a catalyst for her own growth and healing. Motherhood pushed her to look into the details of her own childhood experiences and how these had impacted her. Maggie shares her wisdom, what she finds most helpful in tending to herself and how she prioritises connection with her children and family in a world that is always encouraging us to do more. You will feel hopeful and encouraged after this episode.Maggie is now an Occupational Therapist who has evolved into a conscious parent coach. She has a passion for shifting the paradigm for how we view behavior and supporting other parents to become more connected to themselves, their children, and others. She does this by getting to the “why” and approaching life with curiosity. She helps parents to understand their own nervous system, sensory profile, and triggers so they can better understand their children as well. It wasn’t until motherhood that she discovered how her own struggles and patterns had so much to do with her own early childhood experiences and conditioning. For Maggie, becoming a parent was a challenging yet beautiful invitation to go inward and become curious about her own life story so she could show up differently for herself and her kids.You can find Maggie on Instagram @theempoweredfamilyMaggie offers 1:1 coaching through the link in her Instagram bio or www.thrivinglittles.comIf you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/ or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath discusses the concept of self mothering, explaining why this is such a crucial part of all our healing journey. She explains what it is, highlights how we may derail ourselves and shares her 3-step approach to self-mothering. This episode is full of humanity, vulnerability, useful tips and storytelling. Cath provides an example of how she does this in her own life so that you can transfer the ideas into practice in your own life. This will help you create the life you wish and be the person you want to be.If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to https://www.psychotherapymum.com/ or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath is joined by Yvonne Smyth. Yvonne is a Conscious Parent Coach and a Child Advocate. She's a single mum who co-parents her boys of 12 and 13 and she lives in Northern Ireland. Yvonne shares about how and why she shifted her parenting style and how that has been so beneficial for her family. Yvonne is passionate about supporting parents to connect deeply with their children and to move away from using coercion and control within the parent/child relationship. Yvonne discusses the challenges of parenting in the teenage years. She shares how she is approaching this time, how she maintains connection and continues to work on the parent/child relationship, despite messaging in society that says this is a time we 'lose our kids'.Many of Yvonne's clients come to her with lots of "knowledge" about Conscious/Gentle Parenting but struggle to put it into practice. Yvonne is warm, honest and compassionate. One of the words people who work with her most often use to describe her is "relatable". She shares many stories and anecdotes from what she calls her own "living laboratory" of her relationship with her boys which brings her work to life in a way that tends to resonate deeply with other parents.Yvonne offers sessions on zoom to parents, couples and even friends who want to be supported together. She also runs workshops on various themes related to Conscious Parenting. Yvonne has a series of workshops aimed specifically at parents of teens. She has also just launched a community/membership called The Heart of Parenting - What Really Matters. There's also a retreat coming up in Ireland later in 2023 so look out for that.You can find Yvonne here:Instagram: @thisparentingadventure Facebook:  www.facebook.com/thisparentingadventure LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonne-smyth-009645a/If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shame is present in all dysfunctional families and yet it is something we don’t talk about that much.Cath has mentioned it in multiple episodes and this episode is dedicated exclusively to shame because it is everywhere. Often operating out of our awareness and causes so much pain.In this episode we talk about how shame originates and how it drives behaviour. To shift patterns in our families we need to be aware of our own shame. If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath delves into anxiety more, following on from Episode 34. She uses neuroscience to explain why those of us with a stressful/traumatic childhood are more prone to anxiety. By building strategies into our week that support us we can help our nervous system become more flexible (which helps with anxiety reduction). With stories from Cath's own life she focuses on a tool that can be used in the moment to challenge anxiety and help us manage our responses. In this programme she refers to the work of Byron Katie. The 4 questions are called 'The Work' and her book is ‘Loving What Is’.If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it.To subscribe to the journal questions, please head over to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/-16 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath and Tamu Thomas talk about growing ourselves up in our adult friendships and what this can look like. Together they reflect on how people pleasing can play out at work, how it keeps us playing small, prevents us from owning our power and how we (unconsciously) re-create our family dynamics at work. Only when we become aware of what we are doing can change become possible.If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it.To subscribe to the journal questions, please head over to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/-16 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath speaks about how good enough parenting is rooted in relationship. When we tend to ourselves, begin to meet our own needs and deepen our own self connection, our parenting journey starts to become more intuitive. Cath highlights three important elements of (good enough) parenting using some examples from her own life. Holding these in mind will help you as you deepen into your own journey of parenting in alignment with your values and what is best for your family.If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it.To subscribe to the journal questions, please head over to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/-16 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath speaks to how we are much more likely to struggle with managing uncertainty and to experience anxiety when we have not had our needs met in childhood. She explains the links between these and discusses how when we have anxiety we are much more likely to want to control as much as possible. Using examples and storytelling Cath highlights how this comes up in parenting and how painful this can be. There are suggestions about how we can start to tend to ourselves around this because as part of growing ourselves up it is important to get more comfortable with uncertainty. If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath is joined by Emily Adler Mosqueda. We discuss Emily's mothering experience. Emily shares how her postpartum time after the birth of her second daughter was much more challenging than her first. We examine what contributed to this touching on cultural expectations, perfectionism, rage, meeting our inner child in parenting, mental health, support and learning to make space for ourselves as mothers. Emily shares the arc of her journey explaining how she has landed in her own good enough space. Emily is a clinical professor, pediatric speech-language pathologist, postpartum activist, author and mother. She blends her knowledge of motherhood studies and personal mothering experiences in her work with graduate students and pediatric clinical training at the University of Oregon, in the US. In her memoir, Unexpected: A Postpartum Memoir, Emily shares the arc of her mothering experiences and life experiences earlier in life that put her at risk for mental health struggles she experienced late in her postpartum with her second child. Readers witness Emily’s personal evolution through an internal review and deconstruction of self and her examination of maternal expectations. It is through this journey of examining and feeling that truly opens up the unexpected possibilities of understanding what it means to be content in motherhood. Motivated to support and advocate for mothers, Emily has spoken at state and national-level professional conferences to educate paediatric professionals on the prevalence of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and their symptoms, in efforts to normalise mental health conversations and get support to more families. Get her book wherever you buy books, or from motherhood studies publisher, Demeter Press https://demeterpress.org/books/unexpected-a-postpartum-memoir/Learn more about Emily and connect with her at www.emilyadlermosqueda.com or on Instagram @emily.adler.mosqueda and @postpartum365. Her Instagram is another platform Emily uses to share matricentric feminism concepts and mental health information in the hope of educating mothers and professionals.If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is a continuation of Episode 30. In episode 30 Cath talked about being in our own power, being aware of our agency and using these to create the life we would love to live (while being aware of systemic constraints). Cath spoke to why this might feel hard or why we may feel we are not allowed to do this.In this episode Cath talks about the science of behavioural change (drawing on the work of James Clear) and using examples and stories from her own life, she explains how we can create new habits and move towards our vision of life. This is about intentional living and making small shifts, not about perfection!The books Cath mentions are: Atomic Habits by James Clear. Better than Before by Gretchen Rubin. The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod.If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath chats to coach and psychotherapist Ali Pember about what it means to be a good enough mother. This episode is full of insight and realness which many of you will identify with. Cath and Ali discuss Ali's journey to motherhood and how she has grown herself up along the way. Ali explains how she approached motherhood (an approach which will resonate with many Mums). She explains what she determined was important in her mothering, how she pushed herself to get everything perfect and how ultimately this was unsustainable and impossible. Ali speaks about the importance of compassion, how she extends this to herself and to the ongoing work of nurturing relationships with our children and ourselves. Ali speaks to the social context of motherhood and illustrates some of this with a story from her own life, highlighting the way mothers are held to impossible standards. Please see all Ali's details below.Ali Pember Ali Pember is a Psychotherapist and Coach specialising in Perinatal Mental Health and Matrescence (the transition to motherhood). She works mainly with mothers, encouraging them to trust their own judgement in raising their children, with a strong emphasis on 'good enough' parenting. Ali brings tools and perspectives from her background in Cognitive Psychology and Mindful Self Compassion to this work. She also situates individual distress within a social context: dismantling the guilt, shame, stress, and anxiety that is often a product of the 'Perfect Mother Myth' and other forms of social conditioning. Her main aims are to help you to realise that you are not alone, to help you make sense of your identity as a mother, and to help you focus on what really matters for your family, rather than what you think you 'should' be doing. Social media Handles are @goodenoughmamas on both Instagram and Facebook Current offerings Ali has some availability for 1:1 sessions.Ali has run a series of workshops looking at the 'shoulds' that often undermine our experience of motherhood / parenting: https://www.goodenoughmama.co.uk/workshopsThese workshops are all available as recordings and Ali will be running a group coaching programme around these themes in the New Year. Please see further details about the workshop content below:1. PRESSURE TO BE PERFECT2. COPING WITH MIXED FEELINGS3. MANAGING THE MOTHERLOAD4. LOSING / FINDING YOUR IDENTITY If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it.To subscribe to the journal questions, please head over to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/-16 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New Year's resolutions can be so seductive for many of us, convincing us that we need a new version of ourselves (and that this is even possible in a short time frame).In this episode Cath suggests a more expansive, loving framework that you can apply to all areas of your life. She explains why this is important and how part of tending to our needs is actually considering the life we want to create. Although this may feel unfamiliar or uncomfortable, written instructions for this exercise will be in the journal prompts, so do sign up for those if you need more clarity.If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it.To subscribe to the journal questions, please head over to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/-16 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special bonus episode released on Christmas Day, Cath talks about what can sometimes derail us over the holidays. She makes suggestions around how to return to our own centre, to consider what is important to us and to focus on our own values. Grow Yourself Up will now be on a break for 2 weeks and will return in the new year with the first episode on Tuesday 10th January 2023.If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it. To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/-16 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ironically Christmas is often a time when many of us struggle with our mental health and with staying in a regulated enough place. Cath addresses why this may happen, focuses on why an understanding of our nervous system is so helpful in de-shaming this experience and suggests some practical tips to help you if you are feeling like this.Please know that you are not alone if you struggle at Christmas AND there is hope in terms of how you manage yourself and your experience. You can re-frame and re-focus to help yourself and Cath explains what actually helps with this. If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/-16 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are some reflections on Christmas and how this may feel like a mixed time for many listeners (for multiple different reasons). Cath reflects on how the most important thing in the present moment is to develop a warm, supportive, loving relationship with all the different parts of ourselves, even if we don’t fully understand what is going on for us. How do we actually do this though? What helps with this? Cath speaks to how we progress with this in the episode and shares details of how self-compassion is useful in her life and in parenting in general, with a very funny story towards the end. In this episode, she draws from the work of Kristin Neff and the book she refers to is called "Self Compassion by Kristin Neff".If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/-16 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The way we come into relationships with our needs when we are babies and young children, has a huge influence on the way we learn to tend to our needs as adults. We learn about what is 'allowed' in terms of our needs in our family of origin. Many of us have a very complex relationship with our own needs, because of the parenting we received (and the parenting our parents received). In this episode Cath digs more into needs (Listen to Episodes 1-4 of Grow Yourself Up for more on needs), looking at why our needs may feel 'illegitimate' and how we can bring these needs back to ourselves. She shares some imagery that could be helpful with this and also some ideas about how to proceed when you don't know where to start with your needs. If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this helps others to find it.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/-16 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath digs into the detail of people pleasing more, explaining why this is a sub-optimal parenting strategy and scenarios that can arise when we go down the route of people pleasing our children. She explains why containment is important for our children, how we create that and how (and why) we may need to soothe ourselves as we do this. She shares some anecdotes to illustrate the points more clearly and gives an example of how you could respond to your child. Setting down a boundary when our children are (having a lot of feelings). The nervous system science Cath references is from the body of work by Stephen Porges and Deb Dana.If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this helps others to find it.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/-16 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this deeply heartfelt and personal episode, Cath speaks to the complexity of managing family relationships around the holidays and high days (particularly when we have not had our needs met in childhood). How can we remain in touch with people who we deeply love, have a lot of history with and yet the relationship may also have a lot of potential for pain? How can we turn up in these relationships, own our own stuff and still find joy in the present moment? Through the use of personal anecdotes Cath makes various points about how we can manage and even thrive at these times. This episode has lots of practical tips and suggestions so that you can craft the holiday period to best suit you and your family, and allow this for others.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/-16 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath colours in more of the people pleasing picture. How and why does this arise in our family of origin? How were we set up to act as people pleasers? She speaks about patterns of relating and dysfunctional behaviours that are common to many families. Cath also explains important steps we can take, as parents, to help our children avoid becoming a people pleaser. She speaks about how we can support ourselves to start to stop pleasing. As always, please go gently with yourself and know that change takes time. To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/-16 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath is joined by her first guest, Tamu Thomas (Live Three Sixty). Cath and Tamu talk about Tamu's experience of motherhood, how she has grown herself up and how people pleasing turns up in her work and home life. Tamu also tells us about her decision to spoil her daughter with love, how she went about meeting her daughters needs and why this felt so important to her. She talks about how people pleasing turns up in our work and why this is so damaging to our lives. Tamu Thomas is an emotional well-being coach, writer, workshop facilitator, podcaster and Non-Linear Movement practitioner who helps over-functioning, overworking, high achieving women fall in love with themselves. So, in turn they can make powerful choices about how they live, love and work. Tamu's mission is to help women enhance how they live, love and work by recovering from their addiction to toxic productivity. Tamu can be found here:www.livethreesixty.comInstagram: @livethreesixtyTwitter: @livethreesixty_To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/-16 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The beginning of this episode focuses on how, when we are perfectionists, we often don't stop and appreciate what we have done/completed/achieved. We just rush onto the next thing. Cath speaks about this and about how it is important to really take the time to acknowledge what we are doing. The bulk of the episode is focused on 'people pleasing' behaviour. Cath discusses how and why this arises in our family of origin, how it manifests in relationships and life. And, the challenges of taking 'people pleasing' into parenting.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/-16 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 20 we look at why learning to put down boundaries is an essential part of actually getting our needs met. This episode (which is a re-release) is packed with suggestions, tips and ways to support yourself around boundaries and needs. In this episode Cath discusses the consequences of not meeting needs and why meeting them is therefore so important. We look at how tending to our needs is inextricably linked with boundaries, challenges around boundary setting and how this connects to our own nervous systems. There are lots of practical suggestions and guidelines to assist in putting down boundaries. Towards the end there is a discussion around how to manage boundaries and needs and the complexities of this as a new parent.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/-16 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Cath looks at how we can balance our own healing with raising children. She shares an analogy which might help you tend to your needs, especially if you struggle to allow yourself to prioritise your needs, because you learnt how to put your needs last. Cath explains why looking afteryourself is vital and an important role as a parent.She shares some concepts from 'Attachment Theory', referencing the work of John Bowlby, Mary Main and Mary Ainsworth. These are important toconsider because secure attachment is what we are aiming for, both for ourselves and our children. Many of us gain secure attachment in adulthood, through therapy and our own healing work. Cath talks about emotional regulation, what happens when we operate out of our survival states and borrows a term from economics as she explains a concept she uses to illustrate what happens when we have big responsesto our children's big feelings. She shares some detailed real life examples to help illustrate the point. This is a de-shaming, educational episode packed with insights.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/-16 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath reflects on how, when we are on a healing journey, the most important thing in the present moment is to develop a warm, supportive, loving relationship with all the different parts of ourselves. How do we actually do this though? What helps with this? Cath speaks to how we progress with this in the episode and shares details of how self-compassion is useful in her life and in parenting in general. With a hilarious story towards the end, she draws from the work of Kristin Neff and the book she refers to is (Self Compassion) by Kristin Neff.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/-16 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath talks about decision making in our adult love relationships. She talks about friendship, the important role of mentalisation (Peter Fonagy and Anthony Bateman) and shares a really useful tool for decision making. She references the work of John and Julie Gottman (The Gottman Institute) and shares an idea from Esther Perel. Including storytelling and vignettes from Cath’s own life. To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/-16 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath discusses how overdoing, overworking and being constantly busy are ways in which many of us have learnt to manage life. We operate with our nervous systems in the ON position all the time, never giving ourselves space and time to recuperate. For many of us this way of being has been how we have kept ourselves safe, so starting to give it up is complex and takes time.Cath speaks about why it can feel so hard to unwind this pattern and some of the nervous system details behind this. She shares honestly some of her own challenges with this and how this has showed up over the past 2 years. Towards the end, Cath refers to the work of Tricia Hersey (The Nap Ministry) and Tamu Thomas (Live Three Sixty).To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/-16 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath encourages listeners to develop resources for themselves to assist them on their own healing journey.She discusses how tempting it is to try and ‘do healing’ as quickly as possible and how in fact this is not actually possible. Real change takes time and being gentle with ourselves is more effective than beating up on ourselves to try and speed up change.Cath talks about how we develop resilience using a concept from Somatic Experiencing (developed by Peter Levine) and the powerful role Joy plays in this. To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/-16 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this psychoeducational episode Cath talks about trauma, what it is, the way it has been conceptualised and changed over time. And why it is important to understand.She also provides some historical background and explains how and why we have learnt so much in the last 30 years. Cath also offers some useful definitions of trauma and concepts to help you understand your own history and explains trauma responses. She talks about the ACE's study and the important role this played in advancing our knowledge.The two books that are referenced in this podcast are, 'The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel van der Kolk and Lost Connections by Johann Hari'.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/-16 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath talks about a simple assessment framework we can use when making decisions (about careers) and everything else in life.Cath talks about coming into a sense of our own power and agency and why that can sometimes be so hard and how it links to our childhood. She explains the concept of post traumatic growth and why it is so important as we move forward with our lives. She provides encouragement around stepping into your light.Cath shares about her own career path, her failures, her career changes and what motivated her decision making process, and how and why this has changed over time.This raw and real episode is filled with hope and will give you a spring in your step as you contemplate your own beautiful future.The book Cath refers to in the podcast is called "Return to Love", by Marianne Williamson.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/-16 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coming into relationship with our needs is a process, an ongoing investigative journey. In this episode we look at:Some of the blockers to this.How being in a dysfunctional family is like being stuck in a traffic jam.We do a dive into some nervous system science (based on the work of Stephen Porges and Deb Dana) to explain how your own body may hamper your ability to meet your needs.Explanation of how meeting your needs may threaten your sense of self depending on how love was considered to operate in your family.Discussion of how meeting your needs is necessary as opposed to selfish.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/-16https://www.psychotherapymum.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this honest and personal episode Cath looks on a more granular level at some of the challenges of being present in our own adult love relationships after having children.She makes some suggestions around acknowledging and holding space for each other, allowing each person their own reality. Through some storytelling and using her own relationship, she suggests ways to share our individual emotional experience, while not making the other adult responsible for it. To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/-16 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this searingly honest and personal episode Cath looks at the challenges of being present in our own adult love relationships after having children. She dismantles the myth of having it all ‘sorted’ and encourages a really honest look at each of the contexts so that they can be held within a couples relationship. Through some storytelling and using her own relationship she suggests ways to deal with challenge and conflict, and how to give each other space and how to try and create space for you both as a couple. This episode is an answer to a listener question. To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/-16 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 9 is a continuation of the psycho education from episode 8.Everyone needs to know about their windows of tolerance and get to know their own nervous systems. This episode explains more about how we can be emotionally present with our kids, why we may have a narrow window of tolerance, how it is absolutely possible to widen our window of tolerance, including more about how we can actually do this. Cath refers to the work of Dr Bruce Perry in this episode.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 8 is focused on psycho education to assist you in understanding yourself and your responses. In this episode Cath explains our windows of tolerance, how they are formed and what impacts them.Coregulation and the concept of a parent being our self regulating other are discussed. The book that is referenced is ‘The Interpersonal World of the Infant’ by Daniel Stern. Cath explains more about why this is an important concept to consider in our parenting and our lives.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Those who are working to shift toxic cycles in their own lives and in their families are called 'cycle breakers' on social media.This is a powerful position and it can feel like we need to do this perfectly. In this episode Cath speaks to this, the pressure inherent in this and suggests a gentler path giving reasons why this is actually really important.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Cath discusses what a shift we need to make as parents around holidays. Episode 6 is a continuation of some of the themes from Episode 5 and it can also stand alone.Cath discusses some of the emotional adjustments we need to make as parents when considering leisure time with kids, and using nervous system science she suggests ways that you can support yourself and your kids over the holiday period. This episode will hold and support you as you consider and plan the next couple of months.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we discuss hard days in parenting and how often our coping mechanisms from childhood can make these days harder.We discuss the development of perfectionism and some pointers about why this is decimating in motherhood. Cath also talks about our inner critics. Including some suggestions on what else we could focus on and words of encouragement to support you on the inevitable hard days.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 4 we continue with the theme of needs and this episode is packed with suggestions, tips and ways to support yourself around boundaries and needs.In this episode we look at:The consequences of not meeting needs and why it is therefore so important to tend to ourselves.How tending to our needs is inextricably linked with boundaries.The challenges of boundaries and what this has to do with our own nervous system.Practical suggestions and guidelines to assist in putting down boundaries.New parents and boundaries and needs and the complexities of this.Book Cath mentioned by Gabor Mate is called 'When the Body Says No'.Stackable habits is an idea from Atomic Habits by James Clear, this is a useful concept when we are time and energy poor.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cultivating joy is a really important aspect of healing and recovery. As well as working to change dysfunctional patterns in our lives it is also important to bring in that which nourishes us, sustains us, and brings in love and beauty. In this episode we look at:Do you have an idea of what those joyful things might be? For your? For your family? What do you want your family culture to look like?Here also we need to consider how we can work with (as opposed to against) our nervous system so that we don't traumatise/re-traumatise ourselves in the pursuit of this joy.Examples and anecdotes to demonstrate these points.To subscribe to the journal questions please head to psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coming into relationship with our needs is a process, an ongoing investigative journey. In this episode we look at:1.Some of the blockers to this.2.How being in a dysfunctional family is like all being stuck in the same jam and what we would like to create instead.3.We do a dive into some nervous system science (based on the work of Stephen Porges and Deb Dana) to explain how your own body may hamper your ability to meet your needs.4.Explanation of how meeting your needs may threaten your sense of self depending on how love was considered to operate in your family.5.Discussion of how meeting your needs is necessary as opposed to selfish.Sign up for the journal questions at psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we cover:Why meeting our needs is the gateway to personal agency and being in our own power in our lives.A discussion of how we first come into contact with our needs.Explanations of why what happened in our childhood is so important and how this relates to how we tend to ourselves now.Some suggestions and tips about what to start focusing on if you have no idea about how to tend to your needs.An anecdote from Cath's life.There is no need to have shame if you don't know how to meet your needs. Many of us grew up tending to the needs of our parents and as a result are disconnected from what we may need. This can be changed in adult life. There is SO much hope. Referenced the work of Allan Schore and Dan Siegel.Sign up for the journal questions at www.psychotherapymum.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/psychotherapy_mum/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grow Yourself Up is a podcast to support all of us in our adult lives. Many of us did not get our needs adequately met in childhood. The devastating legacy of childhood trauma, wounding and traumatic stress lives on in our brains, our bodies, our nervous systems and our behaviour/reactions impacting the way we turn up to our lives in many ways.We are going to unpack all of this on Grow Yourself Up. This podcast will be a companion as you journey on your own road of healing and recovery. You will learn you are not alone. Someone has been where you are. There is hope. We will break down shame together and learn to cultivate self compassion. There is always the possibility for change. And regardless of what has happened in our past, as adults we have to take responsibility for our own lives. We have to tend to our pain, our sadness and our dysfunction so that we can live a life we love and shift toxic patterns for our children. More details can be obtained at the websites: PsychotherapyMum.com and CatherineCounihan.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.