Supporting the mental health of mothers. Because your @matrescencematters
Hello, I’m Sarah - a proud Mother of two spirited little kiddos and a passionate Mental Health Occupational Therapist.
I am a Matrescence Reveller and an OT for Mothers.
I am so delighted to have you here.
Mama,
Do you ever feel…
Lost, disconnected or disorientated. Like you don’t recognize the woman you are now?
Not satisfied in your role as a mother?
Angry or resentful?
Like you aren’t ‘succeeding’ as a Mother, or that you ‘should’ be doing more?
Longing for the old you, wishing back that time or thinking that you should be back to doing the things you were doing before?
Feeling ashamed about having these feelings, or that you are the only one experiencing them?
Like you’re nerves are constantly on edge?
You’re constantly in a state of overwhelm?
So, what is Matrescence?
Matrescence is a time of “mother-becoming”, when a woman transitions through pre-conception, conception, birth, postpartum and beyond. Coined by Dr Dana Raphael in 1973,
“Childbirth brings about a series of very drastic changes in the new mothers physical being, in her emotional life, in her status within the group, even within her own female identity. I distinguish this period of transition from others by terming it matrescence to emphasis the mother and focus on her new lifestyle”
Since 1973, Matrescence has been revived and cemented as a developmental process, akin adolescence. When a woman transitions from Maiden, to Mother - impacting her across biological, psychological, spiritual, political and social domains of her life.
Why OT in Motherhood Support?
With 1 in 5 women experiencing postnatal anxiety or depression, I believe motherhood support is crucial, in particular perinatal mental health.
Sarah Ashton OT combines motherhood studies with Occupational Therapy to support women on their transition, adaptation and transformation through their own Motherhood journey.
An OT’s role is to support individuals to improve performance and participation in meaningful roles and occupations. With the occupational disruption that comes with mothering, the need to adapt to multiple personal, environmental and occupational factors and the subsequent self-sacrificing that occurs; it is common (and normal) to experience a complete disorientation with one’s sense of self.
Occupational Therapy exists on the basis that doing things that are meaningful, are good for our health and well-being.
So, if you feel like you aren’t functioning optimally in life & in your ‘roles’, you are having difficulty coping, feeling lost or dissatisfied - I can support you.
Sarah Ashton OT will educate, support and equip you with the skills to transition, adapt and transform.
I hear you. I see you. This is a common (and expected) experience & feeling.
This is the purpose on which
@matrescencematters was created.
Heya, I’m Sarah.
I am a Mental Health Occupational Therapist in practice for Mothers.
My vision is to improve your experience and quality of life in motherhood, by listening and validating you, supporting you to establish/reorient occupational identity, and occupational balance, reconnect with your body improve your self-esteem and coping.
I do this through holistic assessment and intervention addressing you personal, environmental, and occupational factors. As well as educating and equipping you with the knowledge of matrescence and the social constructs of motherhood.
I can’t wait to help you through your motherhood journey x
