FAQs
'So Much More Than A Mother' Program
'So Much More Than A Mother' Program
Who is this program for?
This program is for new mothers and experienced mothers alike, whether you are the mother of toddlers, a school-age children, teenagers or adult children. It is designed for women who feel trapped, undervalued, invisible and like they don’t matter and women who feel like they have lost themselves since they became mothers (however may years ago that was) and whose foundations have been shaken by motherhood.
It is particularly well suited to working and career mothers who have struggled with their shifting identity and priorities since they became mothers. It is also suitable for stay-at-home mums who used to work/had a work identity prior to motherhood.
Given the broad context of motherhood covered in the program, it is also suitable for women who are thinking of becoming mothers and want to find out about the realities of motherhood and prepare themselves.
Whilst the program focuses on the broader context of motherhood and addresses identity shift, anger, guilt, anxiety, it also looks at broader human psychology and will help you to make sense of what is going on with you or has been going even before you became a mother. There is a strong focus on equipping you with skills, tools and strategies alongside knowledge about what is actually going on beneath the surface that shapes how you think, feel and behave.
Can I join if I do not work?
Absolutely. You may have worked prior to motherhood and, for whatever reason, no longer work now. You may miss your work or may want to work, if you never have before. What you will learn will be relevant whether you work or not.
I want to have children, but I am not a mum yet. Can I join?
Yes. If women learnt what we cover on this program prior to becoming mothers, they would feel better prepared as a person to navigate the realities of modern motherhood that no one ever tells them about before they become mothers.
Why should I do this program?
If you feel stuck in unhealthy behaviours or emotions and can’t seem to find a way out, if you feel like you are failing as a mother, that there is something wrong with you or that you are broken and need fixing, this program will help you to understand what is happening and give you the tools to begin to break free.
Perhaps you yell at your children, fight with your partner or withdraw and silence yourself, leaving you feeling alone and unheard. Perhaps you feel anxious or guilty, constantly second guessing yourself, or overthinking and worrying excessively. Perhaps you struggle to sleep, feeling depleted and burnt out or you might rely on food, alcohol or scrolling to calm your emotions. Perhaps you have no time for yourself and feel like a hamster in a wheel, constantly running but not getting anywhere, only to feel even more depleted and disconnected. P
Perhaps you can’t stop past traumas interfering with life and you repeat the same patterns over and over.
This program will help you to understand why you feel stuck in unhealthy patterns that keep repeating. Whatever patterns you are stuck in, there are key factors that run underneath that you may not even be aware of that shape how you think, feel and behave.
It also focuses on providing skills, tools and strategies that you can apply for yourself so things can begin to shift away from anxiety, anger, depression, resentment and burnout.
Importantly, it provides a safe, open, non-judgemental and supportive space and community to express your reality, hear from other women going through the same thing as you. And that will help you feel less alone, less isolated.
What I know for sure is that there is nothing wrong with you, you are not broken, you are not failing and you don’t need fixing, despite what you are probably thinking right now.
Plus, the program is designed to run over a short period of time (6 modules of content and live calls over 8 weeks), making it manageable.
This program is not a parenting program. Parenting is about the children and it is likely you are already bombarded by information about how to raise your children.
This program is about YOU, the woman, the mother and the person that perhaps has been pushed down, forgotten or feels invisible. It will help you to get back to YOU so that parts of your identity that have not seen the light of day for so long can resurface and you can feel seen, valued, fulfilled and feel that you matter.
How does it run?
The program runs over 8 weeks with 2 breaks. It gives you access to 6 modules of pre-recorded materials (videos, worksheets, audio recordings, skills and techniques) that address key topics related to why you are struggling as a mother. These materials are released weekly, apart from during the breaks, so you can pace yourself.
Each week that materials are released, there will be a group call where we address how the topic of the week plays out in your life. Group calls take place weekly in blocks of 2, followed by a break. Group calls give you the chance to discuss what is happening in your own life in relation to the topic of the week. You will be heard, coached, supported and have the chance to ask questions and hear from others.
Group calls take place on Wednesdays at 8.00pm Melbourne time and will last for around one hour. If you can’t make a call live, a replay will be provided.
You may feel that you are not ready to discuss things (and that’s fine). Participants report that listening to others share their experience and be coached and supported live helps them understand what is happening for them and what to do about it until they feel ready to share in the group. They also report that the group calls help them feel less alone, as they realise they are not alone and other women go through the same things.
Let’s face it. The life of a mother is full. The break weeks are intended to give you time and space to go through the materials, apply what you learn to your own life and discuss/share in the group calls so you can move forward.
Every week, the materials for the following week will be released immediately after the group call so you have a full week to go through them.
Group calls generally take place on Wednesdays at 8.00pm Melbourne time (AEST),
How long do I have access to the materials for?
The program offers 6 modules of content delivered over 8 weeks. However, the life of a mother is full and things come up. So, you will have access to the materials for 12 weeks so you can consolidate what you learn, catch up or revisit materials after the calls.
How much time will I need to go through the program?
Depending on how you like to learn and approach the materials, you will need approximately 1 to 1.5 hours per week to go through the content, during the weeks that materials are released.
There will be no new materials and no calls during break weeks to give you time to pause, apply and integrate what you learn and go about your life.
There are 6 modules of content delivered weekly in block of 2. Each module contains short lessons (10-30 mins videos), totalling approximately 60-75 minutes per module. Each module is made up of multiple videos, worksheets and audio recordings (guided visualisations, relaxations etc), which you can view at your own pace.
Each video is standalone, which means you can view and complete the content of each module in multiple sittings.
With 6 modules, the program has been designed to be delivered over a short period, which makes it more manageable for you. The 2 breaks also give you some time to pause and breathe.
What happens in the group calls?
The calls are an open, supportive, non-judgemental space to bring any difficulties you may have as a mother. Each call is based around the topic for that week and participants share their insights and struggles so they can be helped, coached and supported with therapeutic tools. I check in with everyone to ensure every person who wants to share something can do so, but there is no pressure for you to speak.
In practice, hearing other women speak openly about their struggles and what is going on for them helps other participants feel heard and supported and, in time, you may feel like sharing yourself.
Each call is different, depending on what the participants bring to the table. Sometimes, we may share insights, struggles or ask questions. At other times, we may use/demonstrate some of the tools and skills taught in the content.
How often are the group calls?
There will be 6 group calls in total, taking place in blocks of 2 with a 1-week break every 2 weeks (i.e., 2 weeks on, 1 week off).
Do I need to have completed all the materials to attend the group calls?
The group calls normally focus on the topic covered in the materials for that week. Going through the materials ahead of the calls will give you the opportunity to understand your own situations in a different light, ask targeted questions and put your hand up for coaching and therapeutic support. That said, life happens and sometimes, you may not have the chance to complete the materials. You can still attend the calls live, as you will benefit from hearing what others have learnt from, and applied, the materials in their own lives. You can also put your hand up and be helped live, even if you haven’t completed the materials.
Should I attend the group calls live?
Yes, as much as you can because this is where you get support, coaching and therapeutic support from me and other women on the calls and build connections with other women going through similar struggles. Live group calls are a big part of what makes this program so valuable. Attending live also gives you the opportunities to be coached and supported with your specific issue, if you so wish. As you share and are coached live, you will also have the benefit of women’s experiences and support.
Whilst replays will be available, be aware that you will be missing out on the chance to develop connections with other women and to receive tailored help, if you want it.
Will there be replays, if I can’t make the group calls live?
Yes, replays of the group calls will be uploaded each week so you won’t miss anything, if you can’t make it live one week.
Will I get access to Dr Fabienne?
Yes, all group calls are run by me (Dr Fabienne) and you will get the chance to get coached, helped and supported by me in the group sessions. You can also get personalised therapy, support and help in 1:1 sessions, if you have chosen that option.
Is there an option to have 1:1 sessions with you?
Yes, you can either do the program with group calls only or choose the option that includes group calls and 1:1 sessions. Those 1:1 sessions are tailored specifically to you and your situation. Many participants choose this option to access personalised therapy and support, especially if there is a history of trauma that you want to neutralise and clear.
What topics are covered in the program?
The program runs as follows:
In module 1, you get really clear on how you are stuck specifically and why you keep repeated unhelpful patterns. Whether your own patterns are yelling, worrying, feeling anxious, not sleeping, emotional eating, perfectionism or something else, what drives them is often not what you think and you will understand how it all unfolds for you, what's really blocking you, what it's costing you and what you want instead.
In module 2, we focus on navigating your new identity (the woman you were before and the mother you are now and how the two can still be in the picture). You will make sense of how matrescence (which is often mistaken for depression) impacts how you think, feel and behave and why you may feel like you have lost yourself.
In module 3, we do a deep dive into how the sociocultural and patriarchal context we live in shapes how we think, feel and behave, our sense of identity, success, struggle and failure as well as the dominant parenting ideology and myths about motherhood we subconsciously absorb. We examine how these factors are at the roots of why we can doubt yourself and feel like we are not good enough as a mother, and how it can get us stuck in the negative spiral of overthinking, excessive worry, perfectionism, comparison and self-doubt. We begin to shift the thinking about who you should be that keeps you stuck, angry and resentful and give you ways to discuss these issues with your partner, if you have one.
Modules 4 and 5 focus on learning to ride the emotional waves of motherhood in a healthier way. In module 4, you will understand anxiety and worry and hoe they hook you in and learn to ease them with multiple skills, tools and strategies being taught. In module 5, we address why you feel so angry as a mother. You will understand what drives maternal anger and guilt (they are related), with a focus on practical skills, tools and strategies to ease anger.
Module 6 focuses on a new perspective on basic human needs, identifying and prioritising our own needs beyond simple self-care (a 5-minute cup of tea just won’t cut it!), and cultivating our own boundaries and strengths.
This program is for new mothers and experienced mothers alike, whether you are the mother of toddlers, a school-age children, teenagers or adult children. It is designed for women who feel trapped, undervalued, invisible and like they don’t matter and women who feel like they have lost themselves since they became mothers (however may years ago that was) and whose foundations have been shaken by motherhood.
It is particularly well suited to working and career mothers who have struggled with their shifting identity and priorities since they became mothers. It is also suitable for stay-at-home mums who used to work/had a work identity prior to motherhood.
Given the broad context of motherhood covered in the program, it is also suitable for women who are thinking of becoming mothers and want to find out about the realities of motherhood and prepare themselves.
Whilst the program focuses on the broader context of motherhood and addresses identity shift, anger, guilt, anxiety, it also looks at broader human psychology and will help you to make sense of what is going on with you or has been going even before you became a mother. There is a strong focus on equipping you with skills, tools and strategies alongside knowledge about what is actually going on beneath the surface that shapes how you think, feel and behave.
Can I join if I do not work?
Absolutely. You may have worked prior to motherhood and, for whatever reason, no longer work now. You may miss your work or may want to work, if you never have before. What you will learn will be relevant whether you work or not.
I want to have children, but I am not a mum yet. Can I join?
Yes. If women learnt what we cover on this program prior to becoming mothers, they would feel better prepared as a person to navigate the realities of modern motherhood that no one ever tells them about before they become mothers.
Why should I do this program?
If you feel stuck in unhealthy behaviours or emotions and can’t seem to find a way out, if you feel like you are failing as a mother, that there is something wrong with you or that you are broken and need fixing, this program will help you to understand what is happening and give you the tools to begin to break free.
Perhaps you yell at your children, fight with your partner or withdraw and silence yourself, leaving you feeling alone and unheard. Perhaps you feel anxious or guilty, constantly second guessing yourself, or overthinking and worrying excessively. Perhaps you struggle to sleep, feeling depleted and burnt out or you might rely on food, alcohol or scrolling to calm your emotions. Perhaps you have no time for yourself and feel like a hamster in a wheel, constantly running but not getting anywhere, only to feel even more depleted and disconnected. P
Perhaps you can’t stop past traumas interfering with life and you repeat the same patterns over and over.
This program will help you to understand why you feel stuck in unhealthy patterns that keep repeating. Whatever patterns you are stuck in, there are key factors that run underneath that you may not even be aware of that shape how you think, feel and behave.
It also focuses on providing skills, tools and strategies that you can apply for yourself so things can begin to shift away from anxiety, anger, depression, resentment and burnout.
Importantly, it provides a safe, open, non-judgemental and supportive space and community to express your reality, hear from other women going through the same thing as you. And that will help you feel less alone, less isolated.
What I know for sure is that there is nothing wrong with you, you are not broken, you are not failing and you don’t need fixing, despite what you are probably thinking right now.
Plus, the program is designed to run over a short period of time (6 modules of content and live calls over 8 weeks), making it manageable.
This program is not a parenting program. Parenting is about the children and it is likely you are already bombarded by information about how to raise your children.
This program is about YOU, the woman, the mother and the person that perhaps has been pushed down, forgotten or feels invisible. It will help you to get back to YOU so that parts of your identity that have not seen the light of day for so long can resurface and you can feel seen, valued, fulfilled and feel that you matter.
How does it run?
The program runs over 8 weeks with 2 breaks. It gives you access to 6 modules of pre-recorded materials (videos, worksheets, audio recordings, skills and techniques) that address key topics related to why you are struggling as a mother. These materials are released weekly, apart from during the breaks, so you can pace yourself.
Each week that materials are released, there will be a group call where we address how the topic of the week plays out in your life. Group calls take place weekly in blocks of 2, followed by a break. Group calls give you the chance to discuss what is happening in your own life in relation to the topic of the week. You will be heard, coached, supported and have the chance to ask questions and hear from others.
Group calls take place on Wednesdays at 8.00pm Melbourne time and will last for around one hour. If you can’t make a call live, a replay will be provided.
You may feel that you are not ready to discuss things (and that’s fine). Participants report that listening to others share their experience and be coached and supported live helps them understand what is happening for them and what to do about it until they feel ready to share in the group. They also report that the group calls help them feel less alone, as they realise they are not alone and other women go through the same things.
Let’s face it. The life of a mother is full. The break weeks are intended to give you time and space to go through the materials, apply what you learn to your own life and discuss/share in the group calls so you can move forward.
Every week, the materials for the following week will be released immediately after the group call so you have a full week to go through them.
Group calls generally take place on Wednesdays at 8.00pm Melbourne time (AEST),
How long do I have access to the materials for?
The program offers 6 modules of content delivered over 8 weeks. However, the life of a mother is full and things come up. So, you will have access to the materials for 12 weeks so you can consolidate what you learn, catch up or revisit materials after the calls.
How much time will I need to go through the program?
Depending on how you like to learn and approach the materials, you will need approximately 1 to 1.5 hours per week to go through the content, during the weeks that materials are released.
There will be no new materials and no calls during break weeks to give you time to pause, apply and integrate what you learn and go about your life.
There are 6 modules of content delivered weekly in block of 2. Each module contains short lessons (10-30 mins videos), totalling approximately 60-75 minutes per module. Each module is made up of multiple videos, worksheets and audio recordings (guided visualisations, relaxations etc), which you can view at your own pace.
Each video is standalone, which means you can view and complete the content of each module in multiple sittings.
With 6 modules, the program has been designed to be delivered over a short period, which makes it more manageable for you. The 2 breaks also give you some time to pause and breathe.
What happens in the group calls?
The calls are an open, supportive, non-judgemental space to bring any difficulties you may have as a mother. Each call is based around the topic for that week and participants share their insights and struggles so they can be helped, coached and supported with therapeutic tools. I check in with everyone to ensure every person who wants to share something can do so, but there is no pressure for you to speak.
In practice, hearing other women speak openly about their struggles and what is going on for them helps other participants feel heard and supported and, in time, you may feel like sharing yourself.
Each call is different, depending on what the participants bring to the table. Sometimes, we may share insights, struggles or ask questions. At other times, we may use/demonstrate some of the tools and skills taught in the content.
How often are the group calls?
There will be 6 group calls in total, taking place in blocks of 2 with a 1-week break every 2 weeks (i.e., 2 weeks on, 1 week off).
Do I need to have completed all the materials to attend the group calls?
The group calls normally focus on the topic covered in the materials for that week. Going through the materials ahead of the calls will give you the opportunity to understand your own situations in a different light, ask targeted questions and put your hand up for coaching and therapeutic support. That said, life happens and sometimes, you may not have the chance to complete the materials. You can still attend the calls live, as you will benefit from hearing what others have learnt from, and applied, the materials in their own lives. You can also put your hand up and be helped live, even if you haven’t completed the materials.
Should I attend the group calls live?
Yes, as much as you can because this is where you get support, coaching and therapeutic support from me and other women on the calls and build connections with other women going through similar struggles. Live group calls are a big part of what makes this program so valuable. Attending live also gives you the opportunities to be coached and supported with your specific issue, if you so wish. As you share and are coached live, you will also have the benefit of women’s experiences and support.
Whilst replays will be available, be aware that you will be missing out on the chance to develop connections with other women and to receive tailored help, if you want it.
Will there be replays, if I can’t make the group calls live?
Yes, replays of the group calls will be uploaded each week so you won’t miss anything, if you can’t make it live one week.
Will I get access to Dr Fabienne?
Yes, all group calls are run by me (Dr Fabienne) and you will get the chance to get coached, helped and supported by me in the group sessions. You can also get personalised therapy, support and help in 1:1 sessions, if you have chosen that option.
Is there an option to have 1:1 sessions with you?
Yes, you can either do the program with group calls only or choose the option that includes group calls and 1:1 sessions. Those 1:1 sessions are tailored specifically to you and your situation. Many participants choose this option to access personalised therapy and support, especially if there is a history of trauma that you want to neutralise and clear.
What topics are covered in the program?
The program runs as follows:
In module 1, you get really clear on how you are stuck specifically and why you keep repeated unhelpful patterns. Whether your own patterns are yelling, worrying, feeling anxious, not sleeping, emotional eating, perfectionism or something else, what drives them is often not what you think and you will understand how it all unfolds for you, what's really blocking you, what it's costing you and what you want instead.
In module 2, we focus on navigating your new identity (the woman you were before and the mother you are now and how the two can still be in the picture). You will make sense of how matrescence (which is often mistaken for depression) impacts how you think, feel and behave and why you may feel like you have lost yourself.
In module 3, we do a deep dive into how the sociocultural and patriarchal context we live in shapes how we think, feel and behave, our sense of identity, success, struggle and failure as well as the dominant parenting ideology and myths about motherhood we subconsciously absorb. We examine how these factors are at the roots of why we can doubt yourself and feel like we are not good enough as a mother, and how it can get us stuck in the negative spiral of overthinking, excessive worry, perfectionism, comparison and self-doubt. We begin to shift the thinking about who you should be that keeps you stuck, angry and resentful and give you ways to discuss these issues with your partner, if you have one.
Modules 4 and 5 focus on learning to ride the emotional waves of motherhood in a healthier way. In module 4, you will understand anxiety and worry and hoe they hook you in and learn to ease them with multiple skills, tools and strategies being taught. In module 5, we address why you feel so angry as a mother. You will understand what drives maternal anger and guilt (they are related), with a focus on practical skills, tools and strategies to ease anger.
Module 6 focuses on a new perspective on basic human needs, identifying and prioritising our own needs beyond simple self-care (a 5-minute cup of tea just won’t cut it!), and cultivating our own boundaries and strengths.
