Matrescence therapy
holistic therapy for high-achieving millennial women of color in the season of transitioning to motherhood
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Online therapy in Houston serving Texas & Massachusetts
You don’t feel like yourself anymore
But you’re not sure who you are now either.
You expected motherhood to change your life, you didn’t expect it to change you this much.
Since becoming a mom, you feel different, but not necessarily depressed or anxious.
Just… different.
Like parts of you don’t fit anymore.
Like the version of you who used to handle everything feels far away.
Like you’re becoming someone new, but you don’t know how to make sense of her.
Some days, it even feels like growth.
Other days, it feels disorienting, confusing, and hard to explain.
And underneath it all, there’s a quiet question you can’t shake:
“Is something wrong with me?” Or even: “Am I losing myself?”
So, what is actually happening?
Well, there’s a name for it And it changes everything once you understand it.
What you’re experiencing is called "Matrescence", and it's the transition into motherhood. A full-life shift that affects your identity, your relationships, your body, and your sense of self all at once.
Just like adolescence, it’s a developmental process. Which means you are not “losing yourself", but you are changing.
But because no one names this, many women are left trying to figure it out alone.
So instead, it can feel like:
• something is wrong with you
• you’ve lost who you used to be
• you should be handling this better than you are
When really—
you’re moving through one of the most significant transitions of your life
without the language or support to make sense of it.
And when you finally understand what’s happening, something shifts.
You stop trying to get back to who you were… and start learning how to move forward as who you’re becoming.
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Therapy for matrescence can help you:
How does this sound?
make sense of who you’re becoming, instead of feeling lost between who you were and who you are now
put words and language to your experience so it finally feels clearer, grounded, and easier to navigate and share with otehrs
grieve, integrate, and honor the parts of you that have changed — without feeling like you have to “go back” to who you used to be before motehrhood
explore, define, and redefine what motherhood and womanhood look like for you now, on your own terms, values, vision, and desire
understand what actually changed after becoming a mom, so you can stop feeling like something is wrong with you
This is where things start to come together
You don’t have to figure out who you're becoming in Matrescence alone
Is this only for new moms?
Not at all. While matrescence begins in early motherhood, many women move through this transition for years without support or language for what’s happening. I work with women who are months into motherhood—and women who are several years in—who are still trying to make sense of how much has changed. It’s never “too late” to understand your matrescence.
faqs
What if I don’t feel depressed or anxious—just different?
Often, it feels like:
- “something is off”
- “I’m not myself”
- “I don’t know how to explain this”
Do you only work with moms of color?
I specialize in working with women of color because our experiences of motherhood are shaped by culture, community, and systemic stress. But if my approach speaks to you and you feel like this is the right space for your healing, you are welcome here.
I still have questions. Can I talk to someone?
Absolutely. You can send an email to me directly at vanessa@matrescenceincolor.com or DM me on Instagram @matrescenceincolor and I’ll help you figure out if this is the right fit for you. And that's what the free 60-min consultation is for too; so you can ask all the questions you have. You can click here to book a consultation. Zero pressure, just real support.
Why haven’t I heard of matrescence before?
Because it’s still not widely talked about—especially in spaces that center women of color. Most models of care focus on birthing and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, but don’t fully name the identity, cultural, and systemic layers of becoming a mother. This work helps put language to an experience that has often gone unsupported.
What is the difference between matrescence and a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (PMAD)?
A perinatal mood and anxiety disorder, or PMAD, is a clinical condition — like postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, or postpartum OCD — that can occur during pregnancy or after birth and requires clinical assessment and treatment.
The two can and often do overlap. A woman can be moving through matrescence and also experience a PMAD at the same time. The important distinction is that matrescence is not a disorder — it's a transition. But that doesn't mean it's easy, or that you have to navigate it without support. This is exactly what matrescence therapy is for.
What if I’ve already tried therapy before?
This work is different because it centers:
- the transition into motherhood
- the impact on your identity and body
- and the cultural + systemic context you’re navigating
How do I get started?
The first step is booking a consultation call. We’ll talk through what’s been coming up for you, what kind of support you’re looking for, and whether therapy or coaching makes the most sense. You don’t need to have it all figured out before reaching out; that's what I am here for.
Why does this feel so much harder than anything I’ve handled before?
Because this isn’t just stress or something you can “figure out.” Matrescence is a full identity shift that affects how you see yourself, your life, and your role in the world. Many of the women I work with are used to being capable, self-aware, and able to navigate challenges. But this transition is different—because it’s not something you solve, it’s something you move through. And when no one names it or supports you in it, it can feel confusing, disorienting, and hard to make sense of. There’s nothing wrong with you. You’re in a transition that most women are never taught how to navigate.