Our Certified Matrescence Practitioners

I’m passionate about supporting mothers on their matrescence journey, combining my personal experience as a mum and my background as a mental health therapist. Having gone through my own matrescence journey, I understand the transformations that come with motherhood. I'm excited to connect with mums embarking on this journey, helping them to understand, prepare for, and embrace the changes that lie ahead.

Support

Individual.

Cost

Sessions are $150 for 60 minutes. To make a booking or enquire, visit Nurture Well Therapy below.

Location

Lower Hutt, NZ or Online via Zoom.

www.nurturewelltherapy.com

Ainslee, from Baby Sleep with Ainslee, is a holistic sleep expert and a chiropractor who has been working with pregnancy, postpartum recovery and babies for the last decade. Her aim is to make sleep sustainable by supporting, educating and empowering parents and families.

She offers a holistic and responsive sleep framework which is designed to support you with sleep without using sleep training methods. Responsive sleep solutions work on aligning circadian rhythm and sleep pressure while taking into consideration your baby's temperament, your temperament, your parenting values and so much more. The aim of the game is to make sleep as easy as possible within what is biologically normal for your baby given their age and stage.

Ainslee’s focus is to educate parents and empower them in understanding how sleep works so they can navigate sleep in a way that is best for their little one and their family.

Support

Individual and Group.

Cost

Vaires depending on the service.

Location

Online.

https://www.babysleepwithainslee.com/

BA(Education), PGDipTchgLn(Primary).

Sam, mum to mischievous sons Archie and Tommy, first studied her BA in Education, with a focus on working in Policy Change within the NZ Education Sector. With a passion for providing equal opportunities for all NZ kids, she soon realised that working within the school system was the best possible way to gain first-hand experience of what challenges our youth and their families were facing. Sam has since worked in both Primary and Early Childhood Education.

“As women, we grow up with an idea of what it will be like to be a mum for the first time. We hear a lot about being tired, but that doesn’t really cut it. I was extremely lucky to have an amazing support network, but I couldn’t help but worry for those mums that don’t. As women, we just knuckle down and do what we can to survive the challenges of motherhood, quite simply because we have to. Women shouldn’t have to grin and bear it, this in itself creates a false expectation for other new mums, who are left wondering, “is it just me!?”. It is really hard, and it is okay to say so. We aim to help new mothers by preparing them for the challenges and prepping them with tools and strategies that will ultimately improve the wellbeing of both mum and baby”.

Support

Group.

Cost

Vaires depending on the service.

Location

Canterbury Region, NZ and Online.

Mumtown

Circle of Security Parenting

Kia Ora, I’m Jessie, the Founder and CEO of Dew Drops Postpartum NZ.

I am a proud mental health advocate with lived experience of recovery, in particular navigating the challenges of postpartum and matrescence. I have a passion for holding a safe space for others to be real about their experiences, while lightening the physical and mental load in the home. I believe that matrescence can bring with it profound shifts that completely correlate to how we experience parenthood. Matrescence is rarely talked about or understood, yet it is a term that could change the entire world of parenthood once we begin to understand and implement its wisdom. I believe that by holistically supporting parents through pregnancy, postpartum and parenthood, we can begin to create a significantly different world for our next generations to grow into, and create a dynamic where parents can not only survive parenthood, but thrive in it. I am passionate about a human centred approach, supporting each individual to find and access support that feels right for them, while changing the narrative around mental health and providing practical in-home support that supports the entire home and family.

Support

Individual.

Cost

Varies depending on service.

Location

Canterbury Region, NZ.

www.dewdropsnz.org

Hi, I'm Denise Ives, Breastfeeding Counsellor (DipHE), Certified Matrescence Practitioner, Certified Healing Birth Trauma Practitioner, mum and grandma!

When I'm not walking my dog I'll be doing something to help support parents on their journey, or helping the volunteers who work with me to expand their knowledge and ability to support parents too. Becoming a parent can be really hard in our modern world, and I'm passionate about helping parents to navigate this and find their way to enjoying the version of parenthood that feels right for them.

Support

Individual.

Cost

Varies depending on service.

Location

Otago Region, NZ or Online.

deniseives.com

Hello my name is Anne MacKay. I am Mental Health Community Support Worker and a New Zealand Matrescence Practitoner and a Cirlce of Security Facilitator.

I have worked in health for over 30 years , the last 16 in Mental Health. I am a Mother of 2 adults sons and Grandmother (Nannie) to a gorgeous Granddaughter. I have always been passionate about people's wellbeing , having autonomy over their journey and have a holistic approach to how I can best support/care for people. I have always been passionate about Maternal Wellbeing, and have been part of the Perinatal Mental Health Team for the past 10 years. I have always found the lack support and resources for Mothers in our community challenging. No Mother should feel judged, alone, overwhelmed and islaoted when they most need a village to support them.

In becoming a Matrescence Practitioner I have deepend my knowledge of Matrescence and waysto support Mothers to grow and flouish. I now want share these skills, knowledge and frameworks , to empower Mothers, so they find an understanding , enjoyment and new confidence in their Motherhood journey.

My name is Chantelle Van Niekerk and I am a mum of 5 incredible children who have been my best and biggest teachers in my life. They have not only opened my eyes to new ways to see the world but have also given me incredible opportunities for growth and transformation.

I have spent the last 15 years raising my family and spending any extra time studying and researching health and wellbeing as I grow my passion for supporting my own family and others’ journeys of mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. In that time I have trained to become a Breastfeeding Peer Supporter, a certified yoga teacher with a Diploma in Yoga as well as a Matrescence Practitioner with Matrescence NZ while also volunteering as a Grief and Loss Facilitator. I have a particular interest in how our bodies react to our emotions and experiences and how breath, movement and artistic expression can help these move freely through us like waves.

Everyday I hope for and work towards a future where every parent, and consequently every child, feels nurtured and supported to truly thrive in this world.

Rachel is a registered psychologist who has over a decade of professional experience supporting individuals across the lifespan in clinical, school, whānau, and residential settings. She has spent several years working closely with parents and families raising children with disabilities, and understands the unique challenges they may face, including identity shifts, relational strain, emotional stress, and burnout. She is deeply committed to inclusive and neuroaffirming practice, with a particular passion for supporting neurodiverse individuals and equipping parents with the tools and understanding needed to foster connection and confidence.

Kia Ora, I'm Nicole. I'm a wife and a mum to two daughters, and a cat and dog. My career background is in retail where I have worked for the last nearly 18 years but while on maternity leave with my first daughter, found a huge passion through my own matrescence journey in the perinatal space.

I'm a life long learner and love expanding my knowledge. I have a Diploma in Highland and National Dance, Bachelor of Building Science majoring in Sustainable Systems Engineering, Bachelor of Retail and Business Management, am a certified HypnoBirthing Educator, and now Matrescence Practitioner. I teach general antenatal classes, and The Mongan Method HypnoBirthing Classes. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my whanau, going to the beach, arts and crafts, reading, and going back to my home town Gisborne.

Support

Individual and Group.

Cost

Varies depending on service.

Location

In person Whakatane, NZ and Online.

https://www.calmiskeybirthing.com/

Kia ora, I'm Sarah. I am a mother, perinatal support group facilitator and matrescence practitioner, based in Marlborough.

Becoming a mother gave me a strong drive to improve the lives of mothers and, by extension, their whanau and communities. I strongly believe we can achieve this by educating and supporting new mums, helping them better understand and prepare for the complex changes that becoming a mother brings. I intend to put my passion into practice by launching a matrescence coaching business in the near future.

Watch this space!

Ngā mihi nui