Today in a really really really long time I did nothing. I had actually planned for it 😂 but it sometimes takes planning to do nothing and it totally worked. To be clear it was not really nothing... I guess by that I mean I relied on spontaneity...hmm what do I want to do now-type… Continue reading Spontaneity days
About Aleksandra
reflections from Original Voice, Colorado, 2019
“Might as well be exactly who you are cos half of the world won’t like you anyway” Clarissa Pinkola Estés. Unapologetically. Exactly. Who you are. Original Voice training in the Colorado Mountains with the one and only Dr Clarissa Pinkola Estes, in full autumn 🍂 🍁 where do I begin...? Pictured: Dr Clarissa Pinkola Estés… Continue reading reflections from Original Voice, Colorado, 2019
Cold milk, a poem
Motherhood is hard! Talking helps…
I have a million reasons why speaking up about your worries, concerns, fears and problems can be beneficial. When it comes to Motherhood though, I believe sharing the bad and the ugly, and the not-Insta perfect, can not only normalize your experience, but it can have a long-term and wide-reaching effect on who you become… Continue reading Motherhood is hard! Talking helps…
Perfectly imperfect, thank you!
If nothing was wrong, who would you be? This is this morning’s cup of coffee I just made...When I over-grind the beans our espresso machine cannot take it, it’s just too much for the old lady...and she sputters and protests and spews all over the place, showing me right away that she has her ways...she… Continue reading Perfectly imperfect, thank you!
The therapeutic power of fairy tales
I have been fascinated with storytelling, and more specifically fairy tales, not only for the rich and indirect teachings they offer to people across ages and cultures, but also for their gentle and visceral access to issues and inner dynamics that we normally do not engage with via our linear thinking. Fairy tales, long told… Continue reading The therapeutic power of fairy tales
The Unspeakables: On mothers (not)talking about depression
In my previous post I opened the topic of the "perfect pregnancy" myth with the concept of Unspeakability, a favorite of mine and for many reasons. Here, I will delve further into it sharing my thoughts around a paper I recently published in the Journal of Feminism & Psychology. Although mothers tend to be particularly vocal… Continue reading The Unspeakables: On mothers (not)talking about depression
Perfect Pregnant Woman, deconstructed
One of my favorite academic publications, that came out of my doctoral studies on women who experience psychological distress during their pregnancy, is the one on "Unspeakability". Un-speak-ability. This is a concept which highlights the inability for women to "speak" directly about their distress or about anything dark, depressive, problematic, scary or non-perfect in relation… Continue reading Perfect Pregnant Woman, deconstructed
On the problematic nature of Self-care for Mothers (reflecting on my experiences)
I always bookend posts, discussions and any advice-resembling conversations with the disclaimer that everyone is different. Everyone has different needs, at different times, and during different stages and transitions in life. Everyone has different levels of access to time and resources and I check in with a big P my massive privilege to have the… Continue reading On the problematic nature of Self-care for Mothers (reflecting on my experiences)
Pregnancy distress, all things considered (a summary of findings from my research)
A summary of all factors that contribute to experiencing depression, anxiety or distress during pregnancy (as identified by my research)
Aleksandra Staneva, PhD - Internal Family Systems & Jung 