More Than Mothering Podcast

Ever notice how the same patterns keep showing up in your relationships even when you wish to do things differently from your parents? This podcast episodes discusses How attachment styles are formed and passed down through generations The mind-body connection and nervous system for why regulation matters Navigating rupture & repair and moving toward earned secure attachment The grief of reali...

Ever felt like if one more person touches you, you might just explode? That’s being touched out—but it’s not just about exhaustion. It’s the crushing weight of constant physical contact, relentless mental load, and a world that refuses to support mothers. In this episode, we dive into: Why mothers experience sensory and emotional overload. The unequal distribution of household and parenting labour...

Are attachment styles set in stone? Do you have to be a perfect parent to raise a securely attached child? In this episode, we’re breaking down the biggest misconceptions about attachment theory and what people often get wrong. We’ll explore why attachment is fluid and can change over time, how avoidant attachment isn’t about not needing people but rather a learned response to emotional neglect, a...

It’s been a while since I’ve shown up here, and today, I’m coming back to chat with you - unfiltered and real. Life has been a whirlwind, and in this first episode I’m sharing my journey through burnout and multiple miscarriages. This wasn’t a planned break from social media, but it became necessary as I found myself overwhelmed by the pressure to keep creating and the negativity that came with it...

Join Gemma, a Perinatal Counsellor, and me as we talk about discovering the empowering journey of motherhood beyond the picture-perfect façade. We explore the real challenges, how to seek professional support, the importance of connecting authentically with fellow mums, and how to navigate the dynamics of social media. Embrace the 'sh*t-show' moments and find strength in the collective experience...

Read the Blog Post 'Parenting From a Place of Fear' Are you a parent who struggles with fear and uncertainty? My latest podcast episode with Danica from Little Bloom explores the different ways fear can show up when parenting. From feeling judged by others to worrying about the future, we talk about what helped us overcome our fears and create a more supportive environment for our children. Tune i...

Read the Blog Post ' Finding Your Calling During Early Postpartum ' Sami is a preconception, pregnancy and postpartum Doula living, working and mothering on Turrbal country in Brisbane's North West. She is passionate about providing continuity of connection to mothers, women and birthing folk in both an in-home and online capacity. Her professional and educational history centres on public health,...

Read the Blog Post: 'Postpartum Insomnia: Causes, Warning Signs, and Effective Solutions for New Mothers'   Allison shares her experience of motherhood and insomnia, and how she found sleep again. She is a 39-year-old mother of a two-year-old and a four-week-old and works as a clinical pharmacist.   Book a Counselling session with me https://thegentlecounsellor.com/counselling-services/ Instagram...

Read the Blog Post: 'Why Emotional Regulation Can be Challenging for Some Children Despite Gentle Parenting: Tips and Strategies for Parents' Yvette Knights works with families who have children with a range of delays in their foundational skills. These delays impact their behaviour and attention, social skills, emotional regulation, motor skills, balance and neurological readiness for learning. S...

Common struggles for parents, childhood experiences and family dynamics, insecure avoidant and anxious attachment styles, and effective communication.   To book a Counselling session with Crystal click here .  Click here to download the Transcription for this episode. Instagram  TikTok Website  

What is real self-care? It is real and radical. Real – truly deep to your soul-nourishing. Life-changing and life-giving. Radical – unapologetic, and without guilt or shame. Quite literally taking care of yourself. Examples of real – seeing a mental health professional, setting and maintaining boundaries, learning self-regulation strategies. Examples of radical – learning from triggers instead of...

The clash between what we thought parenting would be like vs. the reality. Societal pressures and expectations on parents especially mothers and the imbalance of expectations between mums and dads. How those following gentle parenting can feel the pressure to ‘get it right’ all the time.    To book a Counselling session with Crystal click here .  Click here to download the Transcription for this e...

I am hosting the annual Mums’ Mental Health Summit which is a 2-day event of Guest Speakers and Workshops with mums sharing all about mental health and motherhood. If you’ve been feeling the pull to do something for yourself, then this is the event for you. Its happening over October 8th-9th at the Mantra Legends Hotel in Surfers Paradise, in QLD. It’s the ultimate self-care for mums event. There...

I am joined by De from Mama Nourished Co who is a Postpartum Doula passionate about mothers deserving postpartum support. In this episode De shares some of her practical tips for how we can receive and ask for support during this vulnerable and important time. After this chat, we decided to make a Facebook group for those who are looking to create their own or be a part of someone else's postpartu...

I went Live on Instagram with Tiffany to talk about the duality of motherhood. Here is the replay on Instagram. We can love it and we can find it hard. We can enjoy playing with our children and dislike pretend play. We can wish for our children to sleep through the night and miss the cuddles when they do. We can be snappy some days and be working to be more gentle. There is so much we can be as M...

In today's episode, we're going to be talking about what it means to be a cycle breaker, and what does this mean for our children. For many of us who are making a conscious decision to parent differently to the way that we were parented and raised, we can feel like we're going against the grain. If you were not modelled to parent in this gentle parenting way, you need a lot of information and supp...

Did you know that the way you were parented impacts you? In this episode, we are adding to this conversation by talking about the four attachment styles which is something I am really passionate about. Remember, it's never too late to form a secure attachment. If you would like to learn more about the attachment styles, I have a course on my website 'Understanding Your Attachment Style: explaining...

If I were to ask you if you believe the way you were parented or raised has impacted you in a positive or negative way, what would you say? It is likely that every person I ask would give me a different answer. There may be some similarities in emotions felt, family dynamics, or cherished holidays. But each one will hold unique details that ultimately contribute to how you were shaped into who you...

Welcome to the More Than Mothering Podcast. I am your host Crystal Hardstaff from The Gentle Counsellor where I specialise in maternal mental health and gentle parenting. Let me ask you a question. Are you tired? If you are a mum listening to this, then your answer is probably YES. Ok, here’s another one. How is your energy level right now? A bit lacking, feel like the toddler is sucking it right...

Welcome to the More Than Mothering Podcast. I am your host Crystal Hardstaff from The Gentle Counsellor where I specialise in maternal mental health and gentle parenting. You may have noticed that this podcast has a new name as it was formerly The Gentle Counsellor podcast. There are a few reasons I decided to rename it with the main points being that I want listeners to know what this podcast is...

This is a replay from the Live Aussie Mums' Mental Health Virtual Event hosted by Crystal Hardstaff from The Gentle Counsellor. Click here for more info on this event and to access other recordings including transcriptions www.thegentlecounsellor.com/freebies Crystal Hardstaff: The Unnoticed Grief & Loss @thegentlecounsellor ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Crystal is a registered Counsellor with a background in Child D...

This is a replay from the Live Aussie Mums' Mental Health Virtual Event hosted by Crystal Hardstaff from The Gentle Counsellor. Click here for more info on this event and to access other recordings including transcriptions www.thegentlecounsellor.com/freebies Jen Gallagher: Mental health and single motherhood @singleparentingsolutions

This is a replay from the Live Aussie Mums' Mental Health Virtual Event hosted by Crystal Hardstaff from The Gentle Counsellor. Click here for more info on this event and to access other recordings including transcriptions www.thegentlecounsellor.com/freebies Sascha Kowalenko: Why Good Enough Parenting is Perfect @thesilverliningcollective ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Sascha is a Clinical Psychologist and her vision...

This is a replay from the Live Aussie Mums' Mental Health Virtual Event hosted by Crystal Hardstaff from The Gentle Counsellor. Click here for more info on this event and to access other recordings including transcriptions www.thegentlecounsellor.com/freebies Dr Robyn Miller: The Mental Load @mentalloadproject Robyn is a mother, wife, medical doctor and founder of The Mental Load Project, an onlin...

This is a replay from the Live Aussie Mums' Mental Health Virtual Event hosted by Crystal Hardstaff from The Gentle Counsellor.   Click here for more info on this event and to access other recordings including transcriptions www.thegentlecounsellor.com/freebies   Tiffany Ross: Surviving Toddlerhood @inspire.learn.teach   Tiffany is an early childhood specialist now working within the high school a...