Mothers in Academia…oh what a topic! Riddled with controversy. This graduation day is a micro representation of the ambivalent emotions I felt all throughout my research work, starting in 2010 with my Master of Research in Psychology. My then 7 year old son on PhD graduation day My story sits outside of the “modern academic… Continue reading Motherhood and the Ivory tower of Academia
Tag: blog
on Making our own traditions: Easter
The mismatch and the discrepancy, and the consumerism around Hallmark rabbits with ribbons and (?) chocolate insanity (with all its waste of aluminum and sugar highs) as well as the arrival of autumn 🍂 here in the Southern Hemisphere, are clearly NOT in the way of celebrating Easter here in Australia - essentially a Northern… Continue reading on Making our own traditions: Easter
On Parts Work (IFS, Internal Family Systems)
When we incorporate Parts Work into our everyday language we can begin to see and experience challenges differently. Instead of: 🖤 “I am such an angry mother” try♥️ “A part of me is feeling very angry towards…”(and listen to all that Angry Part has to show you about your unmet needs) Instead of: 🖤”I feel… Continue reading On Parts Work (IFS, Internal Family Systems)
On rituals
I have been digging deep into Ritual work and gathering more and more evidence on the profound role ritual plays in our lives. Ritual is any gesture done with intention and with emotion. And the effects, when ritual is done from the heart and is well contained and held by a trusted and safe other,… Continue reading On rituals
On Soul work and the Feminine
I see a lot of women in my practice. Mothers on the verge.Transitioning into the unknown of motherhood, alone and unprepared. Or more so, unequipped and wrongly conditioned by a culture of intensive mothering, unattainable standards or push to ‘perform’ motherhood. Daughters filled with rage.Burning anger. Destructive anger.Creative anger. Boredom. Unhappiness. Trauma. Irritability. Disconnection. Loss… Continue reading On Soul work and the Feminine
A little poem about MotherWound
Mother, by Aleksandra Staneva I love weaving stories from both my clients and also those parts that resonate with my own experience. With love, Aleksandra
Gratitude challenge. Day 22. The Wise Inner Self
Gratitude Challenge @horocounselling #horogratitude Day 22. The inner core. The Wise Inner Self. It is really hard to be grateful about anything today. Really really hard. My grandfather tested positive for Covid after 2 negative tests. He is now in hospital with complications. My grandma, the apple of his eye, is slowly declining with Alzheimer… Continue reading Gratitude challenge. Day 22. The Wise Inner Self
Perinatal mental health week – what I wish I knew back then…
Today we wrap up Perinatal Mental Health week here in Australia, and the recognition of the critical care that new mothers and families need during pregnancy and early motherhood. I would argue that this care needs to be stretched from before conception to late/teenage motherhood (the one I find myself in right now). However, let’s… Continue reading Perinatal mental health week – what I wish I knew back then…
Boys to men, and the mending of souls
My husband teaching our son how to 🧵 sew! I always thought I would naturally be the one who teaches these “softer” skills while men in my son’s life would be the ones to pass on the hard ones. Wrong! This is how we change outdated traditionalist beliefs that boys should not bother with skills… Continue reading Boys to men, and the mending of souls
Befriending Anger
A frequent friend that visits my Counselling practice is Anger. It is always unwelcome, feared, dreaded, or exiled. And of course Anger does not appreciate its closeted state. It rumbles and tumbles. It scratches and escapes at the most unexpected situations. It can be explosive, hurtful and dangerous, especially to more vulnerable parts of ourselves,… Continue reading Befriending Anger
Aleksandra Staneva, PhD - Internal Family Systems & Jung 