In this episode Cath is joined by Anna Butcher. We talked about Anna's journey to motherhood, how she experiences mothering and how the act of becoming a mother is an intrusion into our lives (on multiple levels). There is some deeply personal storytelling illustrating the concepts being discussed and we focused on how control turns up for both Cath and Anna and the antidote to this.  Anna Butcher is a counselling psychologist specialising in perinatal psychology and the experience of...

Cath was joined by author and medical psychotherapist Marchelle Farrell in episode 97. Cath and Marchelle chatted about Marchelle's childhood in Trinidad and Tobago, the systems her parents operated in, how those systems still operate today, privilege, power, relationships and so much more. We talked about Marchelle's path to motherhood, the power within mothering and how she learnt to let herself be held and supported and the role of her garden in this. Marchelle Farrell is a writer, medical...

In episode 96 Cath was joined by author Molly Caro May. This rich and beautiful conversation covered so much ground. They touched on Molly’s memoir ‘Body Full of Stars’, talked about Molly’s postpartum health experiences, breaking cycles in motherhood, rage and self responsibility. Molly Caro May is an author of two books, teacher, and holder of space. For 13+ years, she has facilitated personal story workshops for hundreds of people across the globe. She is trained in (Somatic Experiencing)...

This episode is a continuation of some of the themes from episode 94 (and can also be listened to alone). Cath speaks about the core of people pleasing and how carrying this into parenting sets us up to feel bad, she touches on ‘metrics’, getting to know ourselves and having an embodied sense of our enough-ness. There is also discussion around values. If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it. To sign up for the journal...

In today's episode Cath focuses on people pleasing. She looks at how and why it arises in our family of origin, how it manifests in the way we are in relationships and how it can turn up in parenting. She suggests ways in which to counteract this urge. And next week there will be more on this subject. If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it. To sign up for the journal prompts and Nurture.Heal.Grow (on Substack) please...

In this episode Cath is joined by author and journalist Lucy Jones. Cath and Lucy discussed Lucy's matrescence journey, her most recent book (Matrescence: On the Metamorphosis of Pregnancy, Childbirth and Motherhood), how she makes sense (and continues to) of the huge transition to motherhood, what Lucy finds supportive, how we are all eco systems and some of the realities of mothering at this time in our history.   Lucy Jones is an award-winning journalist and the author of four books...

Cath was joined by Coach, Trainer and Supervisor Nicola Rae in episode 92. Cath and Nicola talked about Nicola’s path to motherhood, how she came into relationship with her needs, her divorce and how this relates to growing herself and much more. Nicola shared what she focuses on instead of focusing on being liked and how this gives her freedom.  Nicola Rae is a Coach Supervisor, Life & Careers Coach, Coach Trainer and experienced Creative Strategist who works with ambitious brands and...

Cath was joined by Kate Codrington in this episode. Cath and Kate talked about Kate’s path to motherhood, perimenopause in early postpartum, how Kate cares for and supports herself in her life and more. We also talked about breaking free from what the patriarchy says we are allowed and how we can empower ourselves with play, creativity and joy. Kate is a mentor, author, speaker, facilitator, artist and podcaster. The author of 'Second Spring: The Self-Care Guide to Menopause', which is part...

In episode 90 Cath was joined by Integrative Educational Therapist and Nutritionist Lorraine Driscoll. Cath and Lorraine talked about PANs/PANDA’s and how Lorraine supported her daughter in her healing. The impact of retained primitive reflexes and how Lorraine’s teaching career informed her move into being a therapist and educator, and much more. Lorraine Driscoll is the founder of the Building Better Brains Learning Clinic. She is an Integrative Educational Therapist and Nutritionist (and...

In episode 89 Cath answers a listener's letter. The content of this episode deals with the question: ‘How can we tend to ourselves when we realise some of our parenting has come from our own pain and trauma?’ How do we deal with the guilt and shame arising from this? What helps this shift? If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it. To sign up for the journal prompts and Nurture.Heal.Grow (on Substack) please head to...

In episode 88 Cath focuses on our needs and why starting to meet/meeting them can be so complex. Building on earlier episodes on this topic, listen to episodes 1-4 and 26. She makes a suggestion for how you can reframe times when there is self abandonment (needs not being met) to reduce shame. Having our needs met is a huge contributor to being in our own sense of power and agency. If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find...

In episode 87 of Grow Yourself Up Cath was joined by Clint Davis. Cath and Clint talked about culture and patriarchy, how Clint parents differently to how he was patented and how he continues to grow himself up in fatherhood. Cath and Clint talked about Clint’s book and how the conversations you have with your kids when they are young provide an important basis for later communication and much more. Clint Davis is an Army veteran, ordained minister, and licensed professional counselor trained...

In episode 86 Cath was joined by Psychotherapist, Speaker and Clinical Supervisor Kemi Omijeh. Cath and Kemi talked about Kemi's journey to motherhood, how her own parenting differs from the parenting she received and how she centres her children and supports them in getting their needs met. Kemi talked about being a changemaker in workplaces which are predominantly white and how exhausting that is, fawning, people pleasing and much more about Kemi continues to grow herself up and be her...

In this episode Cath answers a question she receives a lot which is some version of 'why do I identify so much with your content when I did not think I had childhood trauma'. Cath speaks to this through the lens of culture, what we learnt as children would keep us safe, generational trauma and parenting practises to explain why this might be the case.  If you're enjoying this podcast. Please leave a review and rate the podcast, this really helps others to find it. To sign up for the journal...

In this episode Cath is joined by Emily Adler Mosqueda. We discuss Emily's mothering experience. Emily shares how her postpartum time after the birth of her second daughter was much more challenging than her first. We examine what contributed to this touching on cultural expectations, perfectionism, rage, meeting our inner child in parenting, mental health, support and learning to make space for ourselves as mothers. Emily shares the arc of her journey explaining how she has landed in her own...

In episode 83 Cath was joined by Nutritional Therapist Thalia Pellegrini to talk about her mothering experiences, how she learnt to support herself better with nutrition and how she centres her own well being in motherhood. Thalia shared how she continues to grow herself up in motherhood and how changing her perspective supports her in tricky times and more. Thalia Pellegrini is a registered nutritional therapist (DipION mBANT CNHC). After graduating from Cambridge University, she spent a...

In episode 82 Cath was joined by Dr Caroline Boyd to discuss her experience of motherhood and intrusive thoughts in the postpartum period. Caroline shares some of her own experience of intrusive thoughts and she highlighted how these thoughts are driven by anxiety and our stress response being dialled up in early parenthood. Caroline shares her own research into intrusive thoughts, the different types of thoughts and what our own emotional response to these thoughts indicates (based on...

In this the first episode of 2024, Cath shares some reflections on how complex it is to move away from perfectionism and how when we have these tendencies we are never satisfied with where we are in life. Many of us have scripts (or radio shows!) running in our heads that are much more about the past and hamper our enjoyment of our lives. Cath shares an example of this from her own life and suggests an exercise for you to do at the beginning of 2024, an exercise to celebrate and honour...

In this special bonus episode released on Christmas Day, Cath speaks about relationships, family of origin, expectations and obligations. And how we can get all tangled up with our childhood roles when we are back in our family of origin. She suggests some ways to protect your peace and honour yourself, your family and others as sometimes it can be tricky to extend to others what we are trying to extend to ourselves. To sign up for the journal prompts and Nurture.Heal.Grow (on Substack)...

In the episode this week, Cath is joined by Colleen Adrian. Colleen is an author, and a connected parenting coach for parents of sensitive spirited kids. She’s a Mom, a Stepmom, and a Grandma, and lives on a small island on the west coast of Canada. Cath and Colleen talked about how Colleen has grown herself up in motherhood, how discovering neuroscience and better understanding her nervous system and that of her child's shifted everything for her and how she continues to surrender to her...

In this episode Cath speaks about resourcing yourself over the holiday period and what that might look like. There may be more rage and ruptures at this time and she speaks to how you might support yourself and the benefits of working through ruptures, why these are so important and welcoming in repair.  Also, don't forget to come over and follow Cath on her website and social media. To sign up for the journal prompts and Nurture.Heal.Grow (on Substack) please head...

In the episode this week Cath was joined by Stephen Terrell. Steve Terrell is a Healer, Teacher, and Author and sees clients at Austin Attachment and Counseling Center in Austin, Texas. He founded this center over 20 years ago for the treatment of Developmental Trauma and Adoption related issues. He has a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and a Doctorate in Psychology California Coast University and sees his clients under his license as a professional...

In this deeply heartfelt and personal episode, Cath speaks to the complexity of managing family relationships around the holidays and high days (particularly when we have not had our needs met in childhood). How can we remain in touch with people who we may deeply love, have a lot of history with and yet the relationship may also have a lot of potential for pain? How can we turn up in these relationships, own our own stuff and still find joy in the present moment? Through the use of personal...

In the episode today Cath was joined by author and Early Years consultant Mariana Castaman. Cath and Mariana talked about slow parenting, being present for the children we have, growing up in parenthood, learning to hold space for our children when that was not done for us in childhood and honouring the work done in mothering/parenting.  Mariana is an Early Years Consultant, Published author — of a book written in her mother-tongue Portuguese (the title of the book is 'Esse Não é Mais um...