Matrescence Education for Professionals
Develop expertise in matrescence and integrate new knowledge and skills to confidently provide matrescence-informed care in your practice.
You already care deeply about supporting mothers and now it’s time to feel confident doing it.
The Matrescence Practitioner Certification gives you the research, language, frameworks and credibility to guide mothers through the biggest transformation in their lives.
This isn’t just professional development,
it’s a profession.
The Matrescence Practitioner Certification
A unique educational course offering matrescence theory and frameworks, resources to use with clients and evidence-based strategies so you can provide matrescence-informed care. This comprehensive course provides opportunities to practice and grow your coaching and facilitation skills and become a certified Matrescence Practitioner.
Matrescence education that bridges the gap between passion and confident practice
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Evidence-based Frameworks
Evidence based frameworks to apply matrescence theory with confidence in your practice.
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Practical Resources
Practical tools and coaching skills that equip you to provide transformative support.
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Recognised Certification
Recognised certification to build your own viable, fulfilling career as a Matrescence Practitioner.
Supporting mothers is your passion. I get it - it’s mine too.
Hi, I’m Christina Bond. Psychologist, Mother and Leading Matrescence Educator.
Utilising 15 years’ experience working in the mental health sector and five years clinical experience as a psychologist and mother of two under five, I developed the Matrescence Education Learning Series as a foundation for all mother-supporting professionals.
As an emerging concept, academic research on matrescence remains limited. To bridge this gap, I have drawn together and integrated research from matrescence scholars, psychology, developmental theory, attachment theory, neuroscience, identity theory, motherhood studies, adult learning and life transitions, offering you cutting-edge models and frameworks to understand and apply the concept of matrescence.
My hope is that this information becomes the foundation of all training for those working with mothers and babies - no matter what discipline. All professionals can benefit families by providing matrescence-informed care.
My qualifications:
Postgraduate diploma in psychological practice (PGDipPP)
Masters in Science (Emotional Regulation)
Masters in Business Management
Honours in Psychology (First class)
Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences
Postgraduate Diploma in Not-For-Profit Management
Bachelors Degree in Psychology and Education
Trained in CBT, ACT and EMDR
As well as extensive professional development annually.
When I’m not with my children, you’ll most often find me here, in my office, working towards a world where every parent is adequately supported through their transition to parenthood and beyond.
My deep motivation is lifelong psychological wellbeing, which starts in infancy. My work will be done when every infant grows up with a secure attachment, knowing they are loved and safe and are set up with the foundation for lifelong wellbeing.
In order to achieve this I’ve devoted my career to equipping professionals with the core knowledge and tools they need to transform how we support mothers and families, because when we truly understand matrescence, everything changes.
I also love supporting mothers and women themselves to lead lives they truly and deeply love!
“You won’t come out of this the same person who started. That’s the nature of matrescence work, it shifts how you see mothers, how you support them, and often, how you see yourself too.”
Who’s the Matrescence Practitioner Certification suitable for?
This evidence-based, self-paced, online certification is designed for those who work with, or aspire to work with, mothers.
Our current matrescence practitioners include:
Occupational therapist
Social worker
Doula
Counsellor
Midwife
Health Professional
Holistic Sleep Coach
Therapist
Psychologist
This course is for you if you want to:
Deepen your knowledge about matrescence, learning the most up-to-date research and theory.
Enhance your coaching skills to improve the wellbeing of mothers.
Receive matrescence tools, frameworks, models and resources to easily apply matrescence knowledge.
Enhance rapport and outcomes for the mothers you work with.
Connect with other professionals who share a passion for the work you do
Have a desire to be a certified matrescence practitioner.
During this certification you will:
Gain a comprehensive understanding of what contributes to perinatal distress and wellbeing and how to validate, empower and enhance wellbeing and health outcomes as mothers navigate matrescence.
Learn unique matrescence frameworks to help mothers navigate matrescence with resilience.
Bust myths and misconceptions and replace them with evidence-based knowledge.
Receive key research summarised for you to easily utilise and communicate in your practice.
Learn how to apply your knowledge confidently to support mothers in their parenting, strengthen their identity, meet their own needs and live in alignment with their values.
This course deepens your professional practice, but more than that, it reconnects you to why you started this work in the first place.
Most students tell us it changed how they work and how they live.
Full Curriculum Details
The full course details can be viewed in our matrescence education curriculum booklet.
This PDF showcases all of the key features, call dates and the key topics included.
Remember to join the waitlist too, to receive exclusive bonuses and further information about the courses via email.
If you’re curious whether the course is right for don’t hesitate to get in touch with Christina via email - christina@matrescence.nz
Matrescence Education Course Features
What’s included?
This isn’t just professional development. It’s a full-circle journey of learning, unlearning, reconnecting, and becoming the kind of practitioner you wish you had — the one that mothers need most.
Curriculum designed for busy professionals
Bite-sized, research-backed video, audio and PDF content you can watch, listen or read anytime, anywhere. Learn at your pace, in your rhythm.Live coaching calls with Christina
Real-time support, conversation, and connection, plus recordings if you can’t make it live.Unique matrescence frameworks
Supporting you to deeply understand the concept of matrescence and apply frameworks to help mothers navigate matrescence in groups, 1:1s, or for your own self-reflection.Practitioner resource booklet
Exercises, models, plan templates, and client tools all yours to use and adapt.Individualised feedback
Personalised feedback and reflective questions to support your learning journey.Private practitioner community
A village of like-hearted professionals, because we aren’t meant to do this alone.Certificate or Certification
Depending on which course you choose.Evolving course curriculum
This is not a traditional static course. The course is regularly updated with new research, resources and tools to meet the changing needs of the environment in which we live. You will have access to all course additions for at least 12 months.Support from Christina
I genuinely and deeply care about the learning journey, both personally and professionally, of every single student who joins this course. Most professional relationships extend beyond the length of the course - this is not a one-time or one-sided exchange.
Join the next Matrescence Education Cohort
Module overview
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This certification is made up of 10 modules, all pre-recorded in short lessons, so you can watch, listen and learn at your own pace.
There are live calls with Christina, held on Wednesdays and recorded for those who can't make it.There are brief action tasks/quizzes following each module, varying from 10-30 minutes to complete.
You will be provided with frameworks, models and other resources to use with your clients.
The course content can be consumed over a few days, spaced out over 12 months or any timeframe in between.
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Learn the origins, latest research and theory of matrescence. Introducing a unique 5-part matrescence model to deepen your understanding of this complex process.
At the end of this module practitioners will:
Understand the history and lineage of matrescence
Have a comprehensive understanding of matrescence as a process
Be able to articulate and explain matrescence to clients
Gain the insight to conceptualise matrescence from an individual experience to the full universal process
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A deep dive into the common changes and and how they can be experienced as both challenges and opportunities for growth. Covering 12 key topics, such as the mental load, identity, brain changes, relationships, emotional responses, social norms and expectations, societal and cultural influences and career changes.
At the end of this module practitioners will:
Confidently identify and articulate the key challenges impacting maternal wellbeing
Recognise and name influences contributing to distress
Explain rationale for root causes from a cultural and systemic lens
Apply strategies to enhance maternal wellbeing
Understand matrescence as an internal experience and on a systemic scale
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Learn about the process of psychological transition and transformation through matrescence. Dive deep into a unique model covering three phases of transition. Utilise this model to help mothers to grow and flourish throughout their matrescence journey.
At the end of this module practitioners will:
Understand the process of transition as it relates to matrescence
Identify which phase a mother is in and how to support her
Apply practical strategies tailored to each phase to guide mothers through identity shifts with confidence and compassion.
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Learn key biopsychosocial factors influencing maternal wellbeing and distress and the latest NZ statistics. Discover the core principles of maternal wellbeing and gain strategies to support mothers to navigate emotional regulation, self-compassion, understanding overwhelm, anger, worry, guilt and shame.
At the end of this module practitioners will:
Recognise the underlying drivers of maternal distress beyond surface symptoms.
Deepen your understanding of the core pillars that support maternal mental and emotional wellbeing.
Confidently apply compassionate, evidence-based strategies to help mothers move through overwhelm, guilt, shame, and more.
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This module covers an introduction to parental and infant brain development, the nervous system, sensory system, temperament, attachment theory and infant sleep. Sleep deprivation is a major, often misunderstood factor in maternal wellbeing—this section explores normal infant sleep and busts myths around sleep expectations for both baby and mother.
By the end of this section, practitioners will:
Hold knowledge about infant development and the mother-baby dyad
Understand biologically normal infant sleep
Recognise when myths or inaccurate information can be hindering a mothers’ wellbeing related to sleep
Be equipped with understanding compassionate ways mothers can address sleep concerns
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Learn frameworks to support you to apply your matrescence knowledge immediately with clients. These frameworks support you in your ability to guide clients through matrescence either in conversation or more structured sessions.
Receive a matrescence support plan to use with clients for transformative growth.
At the end of this module practitioners will:
Have a framework to guide mothers through matrescence
Gain a matrescence support plan to use with clients
Have knowledge and frameworks to apply matrescence expertise
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Everything you need to know for your ongoing work as a Matrescence Practitioner. We look at scope, guidelines, ethics, boundaries, assessment and screening, differentiating matrescence and clinical distress, burn out and referrals. You’ll receive your very own Matrescence Practitioner Guidebook and develop a plan for continuing your role as a leading matrescence educator, how to grow your practice and maintain your own wellbeing.
At the end of this module practitioners will:
Understand their role and scope as Matrescence Practitioner
Have a plan for ongoing development and wellbeing
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Learn frameworks for developing your own group matrescence education sessions and gain a range of group facilitations skills for providing effective antenatal and postpartum group support.
Included for you are powerpoint slides and speaking notes for antenatal and postpartum matrescence sessions. -
This module is about practising applying the skills you’d like to develop. It includes a customised AI-tool you can use as a practice client, who doubles as a supervisor to provide real-time feedback, as well as submitting your questions to Christina for follow-up discussion.
This module includes a library of pre-recorded real client sessions for you to see matrescence coaching frameworks and group facilitation in action. .
At the end of this module practitioners will have the opportunity to:
Practice sessions with a customised AI-tool
Watch pre-recorded individual matrescence coaching sessions
Watch a group matrescence education session
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Your choice of 4 weekly sessions or one full block day (or both!) to observe, practice and get feedback on your matrescence coaching skills and/or group facilitation.
At the end of this module practitioners will:
Gain experience in practice sessions and receive feedback
Create and facilitate a group presentation (if you want to)
Observe coaching skills in a real session
Observe group facilitation in a real session
Develop greater confidence in your coaching skills
We’ll cover what you need to carry this work forward with clarity and integrity.
"The amount of content shared in the course exceeded my expectations, and I was especially impressed by the number of practical tools provided. The materials were clear and succinct but also comprehensive. The course has given me the confidence and inspiration I needed to expand my career in supporting mothers."
- Sarah, Matrescence Practitioner
Matrescence NZ leads the way in matrescence education
Our practitioner training goes beyond theory equipping professionals with practical, evidence-based tools to truly support mothers through one of life’s biggest transformations. This is more than professional development, it’s a movement to change the way we care for mothers.
We started the Matrescence Practitioner Certification because professionals were asking for matrescence theory, tools and how to apply them with confidence. So we created a training that bridges passion and profession, and provides mothers with the support they deserve.
Testimonials from founding Matrescence Practitioners
“During the course I was able to fully explore all concepts and knowledge around the transitions that come with motherhood and learn supportive strategies to help shift these transitions from challenges to being transformational opportunities. This course has enabled me to also process through my own matrescence journey and I have gained so much understanding and peace for my own journey too. This course has exceeded my expectations regarding the depth of knowledge and wisdom around matrescence.
Everyone working with mothers would gain so much from this course, from broadening their wisdom and understanding of the matrescence process to also being given the skills and tools to support mothers and parents throughout their own unique journeys.”
“Before starting this course I had knowledge about the changes experienced during my own journey of matrescence, but found it hard to know if these were similar experiences to other women and how to support mothers in a way that was meaningful to them as individuals. Since finishing the course, I feel more confident to deliver support to mothers that fits for their own journey, and be assured in my normalising and validation of this that I have the research and evidence behind me. I found the course to be insightful both personally and professionally, and it has given me tools I can use to work with mothers with compassion, warmth and science!”
Frequently asked questions
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The course is designed for those working or aspiring to work one-on-one or in groups with mothers who have young children, supporting them as they navigate matrescence.
Participants will extend their knowledge in matrescence and learn how to apply unique frameworks and processes in their work with clients.
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This training programme allows you to practice as a Matrescence Practitioner, as defined by the scope covered in module 7.
This certification is independent of any national training body such as NZQA, however the hours may count towards continuing professional development towards your profession.
There are no ongoing licencing fees. You can choose to be annually registered with Matrescence NZ. The cost is currently $50/year. The first year is included.
This certification will lead to eligibility to work with and contract for Matrescence NZ.
In order to gain certification all course modules and quizzes/action tasks must be completed, attendance at the block day or 4x weekly coaching sessions and 6 sessions of supervision outside of the training programme completed.
Contact us if you have any questions.
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The pre-recorded course content is approximately 1-2 hours per module, plus up to one additional hour for each action task.
There are monthly live discussion sessions, and two 40 minutes calls with a cohort learning partner.
There are also optional readings and resources.
The full certification can be completed in as little as 12 hours, depending on your learning style.
Participants will have 12 months to complete the course content to gain their certification, however can complete all required content within as little as 8 weeks.
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There are short action tasks and quizzes related to each module. This is to enhance learning, application and retention, and ensure criteria for certification is met. There is no exam or formal assessment.
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No refunds are provided as all the course material is available immediately after you log in.
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You will have access to the recorded trainings and live discussions for 12 months.
The resources shared are yours to keep and use within your work indefinitely.
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Wednesdays - recordings are available. Call dates are available in the curriculum booklet.
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Yes, so long as modules 1-6 are completed first, you can then decide to register and complete modules 7-10 to become a certified Matrescence Practitioner at a later date.
Testimonial from Chantelle van Niekerk
Founding Matrescence Practitioner
Hear from founding matrescence practitioner Chantelle van Niekerk.
Podcast: Matrescence for Practitioners
For those who feel the pull to support mothers - because motherhood was never meant to be walked alone.
Whether you’re a coach, therapist, midwife or simply someone passionate about maternal wellbeing, this is where we reclaim the missing piece in maternal care.
Join Christina Bond (registered psychologist) as she dives into all things matrescence, and discusses how you can use matrescence knowledge to support mothers navigate the most profound identity shift of their lives.
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In this first episode, I introduce myself - Christina Bond, a registered psychologist specialising in matrescence and maternal mental health - and share the story behind why I started Matrescence NZ.
Motherhood was never meant to be walked alone, yet so many mothers are navigating this massive identity shift without the support they need. In this episode, I take you through how this work became my passion.
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In this episode, we’re diving into what it truly means to be a Matrescence Practitioner. This role isn’t about fixing mothers or giving them more advice. It’s about helping them uncover the deeper layers of their experience, validate their emotions, and find their own path through the transformation of motherhood.
I’ll briefly share my personal matrescence journey and explain how a Matrescence Practitioner could have completely changed my experience—how having someone to guide me through the guilt, the frustration, and the overwhelming expectations could have made all the difference.
If you feel called to support mothers in a deeper way, this episode is for you.
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In this episode, we dive into matrescence—the powerful, complex, and often overlooked transition to and through motherhood. I’ll explain why matrescence is more than just a hormonal shift or an emotional adjustment—it’s a profound identity transformation that deserves recognition, validation, and support.
If you’ve ever witnessed a mother feel like she's losing herself in motherhood, or if you’ve been searching for language to describe what you’re seeing this episode is for you.
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Why are so many mothers struggling and blaming themselves? And why do so many practitioners feel called to support them but don’t know how to do it effectively?
In this episode, we explore why the world needs more Matrescence Practitioners. From the loss of generational wisdom to the overwhelming pressure to “do it all,” mothers today are navigating a monumental identity shift without adequate support. We’ll talk about how patriarchy, modern technology, and societal expectations are creating impossible standards for mothers—and how Matrescence Practitioners are leading a movement to change that.
If you’re feeling pulled toward this work and want to understand why it matters, this episode is for you.
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Thinking about starting your own private practice as a Matrescence Practitioner but worried it might not work out? In this episode, Christina shares the real fears, the big dreams, and the practical truths of starting a purpose-led business. If you’re craving more freedom, flexibility, and fulfilment in your work, this is your reminder: what if it does work out?