FAQs

Matrescence describes the complete transformation and identity shift of a woman as she becomes a mother – and continues becoming a mother. 

It affects her in every possible way: physically, hormonally, emotionally, socially, culturally, economically, and spiritually.

Because despite what we’ve been told, becoming a mother is more than just bringing a baby into your existing life. It’s a wholly-transformative developmental push. It’s jarring. Disorienting. And doesn’t always look how we thought it would.

And until very recently, it was completely unacknowledged. But now we know: matrescence is like adolescence.

A coach is someone trained to support clients as they navigate change.

By asking thoughtful questions, holding space for honest reflection, identifying ways to overcome obstacles, and holding clients accountable as they move towards their goals, a coach supports their clients in creating meaningful change in their lives.

Coaches don’t provide answers or tell clients what to do; instead, they focus on the future their clients want to create, and support them as they work to get there.

Per Mom Dog’s definition, a matrescence coach is someone who supports mothers as they move through the disorienting transformation of motherhood, and empowers them to become both the mom and woman they’re meant to be. 

This isn’t about returning to the badass woman you once were, nor becoming the mythical mother you should be. It’s about looking deep within yourself and deciding which parts of each deserve to be here now. 

Matrescence coaching won’t pressure you to hustle harder. It’ll ground you in who you’ve become and what you need moving forward.

Great question. Technically, I am a coach. I am a trained and certified Mama Rising facilitator, which is a coaching credential certified by the ICF (International Coaching Federation). But to me the word “coach” just feels a bit too masculine. A doula (derived from the Greek word “doulē” meaning female servant) is someone who mothers the mother. And THAT’S what I feel I do. I hold space, listen, ask questions, offer support, clarify values, and help new(ish) moms find the answers within themselves. Click here to learn more about why I use this word.

Therapists are licensed healthcare providers trained to diagnose and treat psychological issues, while coaches work with clients who are generally functioning well but want support navigating transitions, achieving goals, or making intentional changes in their lives.

Unlike therapy, which often focuses on healing past wounds or treating mental health conditions, coaching is forward-focused: centered on where you want to go and how to get there.

Coaches don’t provide answers or tell you what to do; they make space for you to clarify what you want, identify what’s holding you back, and create realistic shifts that move you toward the life you’re trying to build.

I’m an ICF certified matrescence coach, who studied and was accredited through the Mama Rising program. This means I’ve been trained specifically in matrescence and motherhood studies and been trained to support mothers in transition. 

I also spent five years running my own six-figure marketing business, and lived the tension of “doing it all” during my pregnancy, maternity leave, and well into early motherhood. As a marketer, one of the main aspects of my work was to listen to my clients, synthesize their words, and rewrite them in a way that made clear sense. This skill serves me immensely as a coach, in listening to my clients and helping them understand themselves more clearly.

I’m a 200hr RYT vinyasa yoga teacher with more than a decade of experience teaching yoga and meditation.

I’m a mother of two.

I’m also currently training to receive my Pre- and Post-Natal Yoga Teaching certificate, and what’s more practiced yoga through both of my own pregnancies and postpartum periods.

If something in you softened as you read the copy on my website, that’s often a clear sign.

If you realize you’ve depleted yourself while caring for your family, but desperately crave being taken care of yourself, that’s a good indication.

If you feel angry or resentful or heartbroken about the shadow person you’ve somehow become, that’s a signal that your cup is empty – and that it’s desperate for a refill. 

Matrescence coaching could be a good start. It isn’t a quick fix. It doesn’t provide step-by-step instructions. There’s no foolproof path to maternal happiness. But the quiet, deep work you’ll do may lay a solid, new foundation for this enormous chapter of motherhood.

Every new client begins with a free introduction call to ensure matrescence coaching feels right and that we’re a good fit.

If you decide to move forward, all programs come with a 15-day money-back guarantee – which typically covers your first one (maybe two) sessions – giving you time to make sure coaching is the right choice for you.

If you need to end our work together after the 14-day window has passed, you can request a refund equal to 50% of the price of any remaining unused sessions.

I know it can feel like time is the most precious commodity; like you never have enough of it; like it would be impossible to carve out even a second for you when you have so much on your plate already.

But you’ll never break out of the vicous cycle you’re in if you don’t make a change – and this just might be the change you need to create even more time for yourself. Time you undoubtedly deserve.

If you can find just 45 minutes when your baby is napping or when your kids are at daycare, you and I can meet and connect and talk about what might be the best use of your time going forward. But 45 minutes is all the time you need in order to get started.

Yes. I reserve a limited number of quarterly scholarships and discounted packages for clients who need financial support, because I believe costs shouldn’t prevent you from getting help during this transition. If you’d benefit from a reduced rate, please reach out via my contact form and we’ll figure something out together. It would be my honor to work with you.

Yes, with some conditions. All coaching programs (The Awakening and The Companion) come with a 14-day money-back guarantee from the date of purchase, which typically covers your first session following the free 45-min introductory call. This gives you time to make sure coaching is the right fit. If you need to end our work together after the 14-day period, you can reach out to Mom Dog directly to discuss possible refund options.

Please note that The Deep Dig is a single-session intensive and is non-refundable.

What’s more, every new client starts with a free introduction call (The First Step) to help ensure we’re a good match before making any financial commitment.

Because finding the right coach shouldn’t be adding more stress to your new mother load.

You need to know if we click, if my approach resonates with you, and if this work feels like what you need right now. I also want to make sure I’m the right person to support you through this transition.

If the chemistry feels right for us both, I’ll be happy to take the next step with you and recommend one of my programs. But if not, I’m equally happily recommend you to someone else who may be a better fit.

With the free first session, I want there to be no pressure and no strings so we can make sure this is the right move — for us both.

Start by exploring my services page to get a sense of what each program offers and what might feel right for your current situation. Then, during our free intro call, we’ll talk through what you’re experiencing and what you’re hoping to gain from coaching.

Based on our conversation, I’ll recommend the program I think would serve you best – and you’ll have the time to think it over before making any decisions.

There’s never any pressure to choose on the spot.

Yes! Mom Dog’s primary focus is with one-on-one coaching for mothers in matrescence, but I also offer Mothers Circles, private yoga sessions and workshops. Having taught vinyasa yoga since 2013, gone through two pregnancies while continuing to practice yoga, and nearly completed my pre- and post-natal yoga teaching certificate, I am able to provide in-person, virtual, or recorded yoga sessions for yogi mamas of all levels.

Click here to learn more and inquire about yoga.

Click here to stay up to date on my forthcoming Mothers Circles.

Honestly? Group support is for every mom who's ever wondered or worried over her experience of motherhood. Mother's Circles are a space to finally say the quiet part out loud — and actually be heard without judgement. There's something powerful about being in a room with other women navigating the same transformation as you: it normalizes the hard stuff, dissolves the isolation, and reminds you that you’re not failing. You're just in the middle of something big.

First things first: there are no kids, no partners, no distractions, and no bullshit.

Each Circle opens with a brief meditation and personal introductions, followed by a facilitated discussion around a theme rooted in matrescence — the all-encompassing identity transformation that motherhood brings upon a mother. From there, the floor opens up for real, unfiltered conversation filled with honesty, vulnerability, laughs, tears, and all the feels.

No way, José. Every session explores a different piece of the matrescence puzzle, which means every monthly gathering looks and sounds different. What’s more, our conversation is shaped by the women in the room — so no two Circles ever unfold the same way. While I come to each session with a seed for conversation, what grows and blooms from there depends entirely on the environment and the gardeners tending to it. (That's us. The moms.)

If you think it's worth it to...

Have one single hour devoted entirely to yourself. Understand the scientifically-studied developmental shift you're navigating. Feel seen and understood by a room of women who get it. Finally have language for what you've been feeling. Lessen the shame you feel about not doing it "right." Quiet your Inner Momster, even just for an hour. Walk away with more compassion for yourself than you walked in with. And maybe — just maybe — find some moms who become your people.

Then yeah. I think $10 is pretty frikkin worth it.