The Next Wave of
The Motherhood Studies Practitioner Certification
Beginning 19th May 2025
The world's first sociological professional development certification training that transforms how you support mothers
Interested? Get Early Access Information
With a Special Early Enrolment Offer
Program begins: May 19th, 2025
Trusted by 300+ professionals
Across 20+ countries worldwide
Certification Quick Facts
This certification is the world's first professional development training in Motherhood Studies developed by a PhD sociologist specialising in Motherhood Studies.
The certification has been developed from 13+ years of research experience and has been refined through delivery to over 300 past participants.
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Start Date: 19th May 2024
Format: Self-paced online learning with optional live support
Time Commitment: 2 hours per week (to complete within 10 weeks) plus any live calls you choose to attend
Access Period: Ongoing access to course materials
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8 Comprehensive Modules covering the social systems of motherhood, maternal identity, and frameworks for support
Practitioner Toolkit with ready-to-use resources, worksheets, and presentation materials
Implementation Guides for applying concepts to your varying professional settings
Certification: Become a qualified Motherhood Studies Practitioner upon completion
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12 months worth of live group calls included - timezones suitable worldwide. See call schedule here.
Direct access to Dr Sophie Brock on live calls to ask questions and seek feedback
Resource library for optional readings
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Watch/listen to all 8 modules - via video platform or private podcast
Live call attendance is optional
Complete assessment in your own time - combination of multiple choice and short answer questions
No timed exams or mandatory assignments
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Full Program: $4,299 AUD (Live calls valued at $500 AUD are included)
Early-Bird Price for Waitlist: $3,799 AUD (Limited time only)
Payment Plan: 12 monthly payments available
Immediate access to bonus materials upon enrolment
Developed by Dr Sophie Brock, Motherhood Studies Sociologist with a PhD from The University of Sydney.
The certification draws from over a decade of rigorous research and teaching experience in this specialist field, and is endorsed by Prof Andrea O’Reilly - the founder of the entire discipline of Motherhood Studies.
This certification gives you both the big-picture understanding and everyday tools to help mothers in a whole new way.
You'll learn ideas that researchers call "ground-breaking" but explained in ways that make sense to you and the mothers you work with.
By the end of this certification, you'll be able to help mothers see their struggles differently and make real changes that last.
What you learn will change how you see motherhood, how you talk about it, how you experience it if you’re a mother yourself, and every aspect of your work in mother-support.
“There is nothing else like this anywhere else and I am so glad I decided to enrol and learn from Sophie.”
The Motherhood Studies Practitioner program was simply amazing!
I learned so much from all of the modules and was able to understand both my own experience as a mother more deeply and how I could better support my clients professionally.
If you are looking to explore motherhood studies - this is the place!
-Marisa Burgess, Coach, Marisa Burgess Coaching
What You'll Receive
The Next Wave Curriculum Content
Transform how you understand and support mothers with this revolutionary course content based on 10+ years of academic research and real-world application, delivered through a series of short videos, with audio-only options for easy listening.
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Live Implementation Support
Never feel alone in your learning journey with 10 weeks of ‘springboard’ calls to get you started, and then ongoing monthly calls for a total of 12 months of ongoing support, valued at $500AUD.
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Professional Development Toolkit
Apply cutting-edge frameworks directly to your practice or business with practical tools, client-facing resources, and implementation guides to help you put into practice what you’ve learned and save hours of your time in developing workshops and courses.
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Certification and Professional Recognition
Stand out in the maternal support field as a certified Motherhood Studies Practitioner with specialised knowledge that sets you apart.
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Transformative Learning Journey
Experience profound personal and professional growth as you integrate these revolutionary concepts into your life and work with mothers.
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Private Podcast Access
Learn on your schedule, wherever you are with audio versions of all course materials optimised for busy mothers and professionals.
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Latest Research Integration
Be at the forefront of Motherhood Studies with content that incorporates the latest academic insights and evolving frameworks in this emerging field.
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This certification is designed for busy professionals who support mothers – whether you're already working in mother care or aspire to.
You're likely juggling your own mothering journey alongside running a business or practice, and possibly other studies too.
That's what this program has been designed for, with a flexible structure that fits into real life.
The content is delivered in manageable chunks with multiple formats to match your learning style, so you can make meaningful progress even with limited time.
You'll build your expertise step-by-step through a specially designed learning journey.
How Therapists and Psychologists Apply This Certification
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Dr Pree Benton
Registered health psychologist with a special interest in women's health.
“As a psychologist and a mother, I found the certification deeply beneficial both professionally and personally.”
The Motherhood Studies Certification is a comprehensive study of the social factors and experiences of motherhood. Professionally, I feel much more equipped to support mothers in better understanding the factors that help and that hinder our experience of motherhood. Personally, I found the certification so validating and enlightening, giving me language to better understand my social experience of motherhood, and through this I have become more empowered to mother in a way that works for me and for my children, as opposed to mothering how I think I 'should' be.”
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Casie Walker
Clinical Psychologist
“This certification program expanded me, my knowledge and practice in the best ways.
It provided education, literature, many catalysts for reflection, and opportunities for connection that absolutely have added dimension to the way I practice in my clinical work and how I make sense of and weave this together with my drive for activism for social and cultural change for women and mothers.Sophie is an amazing teacher and role model in this space.
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Bhumi Mehta
Hope From Therapy
“I never realized how much of the patriarchy I had internalized around mothering. I came into motherhood with a set of rules for being a good mother. And when I couldn’t live up to those expectations, there was a sense of failing. I found Sophie through an article and then began listening to her podcast the Good Enough Mother.
It gave me a language for what I was feeling. The course allowed me to dig deeper into what the literature says about the motherhood journey and along the way I got to voice all the things I was feeling with a group of women on their own journey to understand and support mothers.
I am using the tools I have gained from this course in my counseling practice: Hope From Therapy.”
Want a detailed look at what you’ll learn?
Get free instant access to the detailed curriculum walkthrough and how this certification will transform your mother-care work
Curriculum Overview
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Establish a solid foundation with core frameworks that will transform your mother-support work. The revolutionary Fish Tank Model helps mothers see how their struggles connect to larger social patterns rather than personal failings. You'll gain tools to help mothers break free from both the Perfect Mother Myth and the Perfect Child Myth, while addressing the elusive "work-life balance" through the Care Career Conundrum framework. These foundational concepts give you immediate language to shift mothers from self-blame to systemic understanding.
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Expand your perspective by understanding motherhood as a social system rather than just a personal experience. You'll develop the ability to identify patterns across mothers' experiences, validating what they feel but often struggle to articulate. Discover powerful frameworks around mental load, emotional labour, and maternal thinking that make invisible maternal work visible, providing profound relief for your clients and enhancing your ability to offer meaningful support.
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Deepen your understanding by exploring the power dynamics that shape motherhood. The Good Mother/Bad Mother Binary reveals how impossible standards contribute to maternal anxiety. Learn about the Maternal Panopticon to help mothers recognise why they feel perpetually judged, and the Social Conditioning Pyramid to illustrate how society's rules become internalised beliefs. These tools create powerful "aha moments" that forever change how mothers relate to external expectations, and the expectations they place on themselves.
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Transform how you support mothers' emotional experiences by understanding their sociological roots. Learn to help mothers distinguish between guilt stemming from personal values versus systemic pressures, break the exhausting anger-guilt cycle, and reframe maternal anger as valuable information rather than something to suppress, avoid, or feel shame about. These approaches normalise mixed maternal feelings, offering genuine pathways to emotional relief that is only possible through contextualised social understanding.
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Explore how societal expectations shape maternal relationships and family dynamics. You'll gain insights into how the "Fish Tank" affects fathers and non-mother caretakers, reducing blame and increasing understanding in partnerships. Discover how families can become powerful sites for resisting harmful social norms, enabling you to support not just individual mothers but entire family systems in creating more balanced and fulfilling relationships.
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Navigate the profound identity shifts of motherhood with a one of a kind framework. The Maternal Self in Motion model provides a visual map for maternal identity transformation, helping mothers understand they're not lost but in a dynamic process of evolution - which includes but goes beyond matrescence alone. Drawing on this framework also helps mothers beyond limiting labels of "stay-at-home" versus "working" mother to support authentic integration of women's whole identities.
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Connect theoretical understanding to tangible action by finding your place in the maternal revolution. Discover how your work creates meaningful change in ways that feel energising rather than overwhelming. Learn concrete strategies for activating maternal agency and applying matricentric feminist (O’Reilly) principles in everyday practice, positioning your work within a larger movement while creating immediate impact for the mothers you support.
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Complete your certification journey by integrating all you've learned into your professional practice with confidence. Reframe "imposter syndrome" as a sign of integrity and growth, learn ethical ways to incorporate these frameworks into your business, and receive guidance on how to communicate your specialised knowledge. As you earn your certification, you'll join a global community of change-makers revolutionising maternal support with evidence-based, sociological approaches.
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Amplify your impact with a comprehensive collection of ready-to-use resources for your mother-support work. This valuable toolkit includes templates, worksheets, presentation decks, speaker documents, and client-facing materials that allow you to immediately implement what you've learned. These practical tools save you countless hours of development time while enhancing your professional offerings with evidence-based, transformative frameworks.
By completing this certification, you'll transform both your professional practice and personal understanding of motherhood.
You'll stand out in your field with unique knowledge, attract clients seeking deeper support, develop signature offerings based on these frameworks, and join a movement creating lasting change for mothers.
How Coaches Transform Their Practice Using the Certification
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Emma Majstrovich
Matrescence and motherhood practitioner, Motherground Coaching
“This course sets the standard for motherhood studies - it has been thorough, well researched, easy to engage with and transformational.”
The structure of the course and opportunities for reflection and personal insight were well thought through.
Dr Sophie Brock is a professional and warm guide, through complex topics that she is clearly expert in.
I cannot recommend this certification highly enough.”
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Kendra Blake
Integrative perinatal therapist and matrescence coach
“I came into this space with a vision to expand my professional knowledge and have left it feeling deeply held, seen, challenged, changed and supported as a mother.
I cannot describe how life changing this course is.
Sophie's passion for this work is infectious and I would highly recommend engaging in this course to anyone who wishes to learn from someone who has embodied the work themselves and continues to remain open and receptive to their own growth.
It is this and the breadth of knowledge and diversity of topics that make the course well worth investing in!”
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Emma Mehlhopt
Counsellor, Matrescence educator/coach and Motherhood Studies Practitioner
“This course has exceeded my expectations.
I find myself thinking about motherhood through this sociological lens on a daily basis with nearly everything I do in this area of life.
The concepts, theories and knowledge I have obtained will be incredibly useful moving forward, personally and professionally.”
Turn your passion for supporting mothers into deeper, more effective practice.
Created by Dr. Sophie Brock, using insights from 10+ years of research in motherhood studies, this training helps you see what's really going on for the mothers you work with.
“It's been an incredibly profound experience both personally and professionally and something that I'm going to continue to draw on, no doubt for years in my work with mothers.”
“I embarked on the certification not quite realising just how much it was going to shape my own understanding of myself as a mother and how my beliefs had been formed, and also how I perceived myself in my mothering according to many of the incredible models in which Sophie has created to help us understand and unpack and reimagine our motherhood. I'm just so grateful for Sophie creating this work and dedicating herself so diligently to this practice of motherhood studies and this field of scholarly research which really is so underdone in our culture. I feel privileged to have been able to study it with Sophie and bring these concepts into my work with mothers”.
Bridget Wood
Transformational Coach & Podcaster
Nourishing the Mother
Learn powerful frameworks that help you:
Understand the social context that sets mothers up to struggle
Explain to mothers why they feel overwhelmed, guilty, or inadequate
Create lasting change with specially designed tools and processes
Stand out in your field with unique sociological approaches
Transform how mothers experience motherhood.
The Certification gives you 10+ unique frameworks to transform your mother-support work.
How Healthcare Professionals Integrate Certification Frameworks
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Georgie Stephen
Naturopath & SOS Feeding Therapist
“It exceeded my expectations, the course content was so detailed, thought provoking, and transformative.
Thank you Sophie for the wonderful experience throughout the certification.
I got more out of this experience than I imagined, both personally and professionally - it's stretched me in a personal capacity, prompting a lot of reflection and understanding about my own motherhood journey, as well as deeply enriched my business and understanding of how to best support the mothers I work with…
But I think most importantly what I've learned though the certification is already impacting individual mothers, helping them to have meaningful shifts in perspective and make changes that benefit themselves & their families.
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Corina Fitch,
Certified Professional Midwife and Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse
"The Motherhood Studies Certification Program provided insights and frameworks that helped me give new language to the work that I am already doing with mothers and deepened my understanding of the way that motherhood is an institution steeped in patriarchal, racist, and capitalistic ideologies.
As a midwife I work one-on-one with mothers and as a transformational facilitator I work with groups of mothers to life shame and isolation within their experience of mothering.
What I learned in the certification is going to help me immensely in the work that I am doing and provide new arenas of work."
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Nadja Dinneen
Family Acupuncturist
“The concepts and theories Sophie has shared with us has been incredibly important because what this offers women is a reason for why they may be feel so angry disconnected and lost.
By understanding the impact that the social system of motherhood has had on us we can then begin to say no, not this a begin to align with new values and beliefs that do support mothers, her children, families, communities and the world at large to thrive!!!”
“it's been completely life changing personally as a mother but also in my clinic, and I really couldn't recommend it enough.
…her course has really given me a vision and helped me gain the tools and even an understanding and the words needed to explain the process that mothers go through and how to really challenge belief systems that limits us as mothers. So I've been able to work much more profoundly with my clients and really help them see… how they can revolutionize their own motherhood journey, so that they feel more fulfilled and overall, happier and in their motherhood journey.
Laila
Naturopath and Nutritionist
Inside This Comprehensive Certification You’ll Gain:
Complete Practice-Transforming Frameworks
Evidence-based frameworks and concepts that revolutionise how you support mothers
Access the complete theoretical foundation that has transformed hundreds of participants’ lives
Gain clarity on how social structures shape maternal experience
Develop confidence in addressing root causes rather than symptoms
Practical Implementation & Client Impact
Take your practice to the next level to help facilitate profound client breakthroughs
Implement proven frameworks that create lasting change by bringing in a sociological lens
Access practical tools at the end of the course for immediate integration into your practice or business
Develop expertise and confidence in addressing complex maternal challenges
Professional Evolution & Leadership
Position yourself as a thought leader in maternal support
Develop a point of difference in your field with Motherhood Studies research-backed information
Gain language and frameworks that elevate your communication with clients
Join a lineage of practitioners creating systematic change
Business Growth & Professional Development
Position yourself to do work that truly lights you up and fills you with purpose
Articulate your value with newfound clarity and confidence, resting on a foundation of ‘academic backing’
Have the information and knowledge that will clarify your marketing message to reflect a deeper expertise
Develop program offerings and services that create meaningful transformation
Ongoing Access & Learning
Complete self-study access to all certification materials
Comprehensive workbooks and implementation guides
Foundation for advanced learning and specialisation
Options to upgrade to receive access to live calls, community, and personalized support
This certification has become the cornerstone of transformative practice for hundreds of mother-supporting professionals. It provides not just knowledge, but a complete paradigm shift in how you understand and support maternal experience.
“In my work the certification program gave me vocabulary, concepts, and ultimately the confidence to go deeper into the work of Motherhood support.”
As a coach for mothers as they journey into and through Motherhood, now this work is woven into everything that I do… It has transformed my work.”
Cayley Benjamin, Coach and facilitator of 14 years
Transform Your Professional Practice, Personal Journey, and Client Impact
The Next Wave of The Motherhood Studies Certification doesn't just add knowledge - it fundamentally shifts how you understand, support, and empower mothers in your work and life.
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Create diverse service offerings from comprehensive frameworks and resources in the Practitioner’s Toolkit
Implement and build out transformative workshops on maternal guilt, identity, matrescence, and more
Increase your potential of improving client retention after adding the depth of sociological understanding to your work
Position yourself as a thought leader in an emerging, cutting-edge field
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Launch workshops immediately after access to the Practitioner’s Toolkit at the end of the certification, with plug-and-play presentation decks
Enhance client experiences with professional worksheets and handouts
Explore the possibility of expanding and scaling your impact from 1:1 work to group settings
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Stand out with unique frameworks that set you apart in the maternal support landscape
Attract clients seeking deeper support beyond surface-level approaches
Be sought out for your specialised perspective
Develop signature offerings grounded in sociological understanding
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Develop workshops, groups, and digital products from certification materials
Offer specialised programs targeting specific maternal challenges
Differentiate your work with one of a kind tools that mothers won't find outside of working with a certified Motherhood Studies Practitioner
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Transform imposter syndrome with evidence-based expertise
Connect to a larger purpose within mother-support
Build confidence in your unique contribution to maternal wellbeing
See the world differently through an expanded sociological perspective
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Help facilitate profound relief from maternal guilt, shame, and self-blame
Help clients understand personal struggles in their broader social context
Guide the journey from perfectionism to authentic mothering
Break cycles of judgment and internalised surveillance
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Access the latest research and frameworks in motherhood studies
Develop expertise in emerging concepts that few other practitioners can articulate
Be among the first to bring matricentric feminist concepts into practical application
Future-proof your practice with foundational theories that inform emerging maternal support approaches
Connect to a growing global movement of practitioners advancing motherhood studies
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Gain language for experiences you may have struggled to articulate in your own motherhood journey
Recognise patterns in your own maternal experience through sociological frameworks
Develop a more nuanced understanding of your own maternal identity formation
Apply the same transformative frameworks to yourself that you'll share with clients
Transform how you view your own mothering choices and experiences
Join the pioneering wave of practitioners who are revolutionizing maternal support with evidence-based, sociologically-informed approaches.
“It has been a truly expansive experience for me, it has absolutely exceeded all of my expectations”
Stephanie Jade, Holistic Mothercare Practitioner and Feminine Embodiment Leader
How Social Workers Use the Certification to Deepen Their Impact
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Erryn James
Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, Nurtured Mothers Wellbeing
“I have LOVED every element of Sophie's Motherhood Studies Practitioner Certification.
Sophie has an obvious passion in supporting mothers and those in mother work, and has a high level expertise in the area of Motherhood Studies.
The certification has supported in deepening my knowledge and understanding of Patriarchal Motherhood (the fish tank of motherhood) in a clear and helpful way to be able to pass on to those I support.
I cannot see the world in the same way I did prior to completing the Motherhood Studies Certification. I thank Sophie for opening my eyes.”
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Rachael Flack
Social Worker, A Mama is Born
"This course has given me the language and the concepts that i can share with mothers to help them understand and navigate their motherhood.
The motherhood studies certification is for any practitioner that wants to next level your work in the mothercare space.
This certification looks deeply into how our modern day mothering practices have developed, and how mothers have come to form their identity due to this.
This course has given me the language and the concepts that I can share with mothers to help them understand and navigate their motherhood.
It has also been the perfect space to allow me to reflect on my own motherhood experience.”
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Bronte Taylor
Accredited Mental Health Social Worker
"I have a deeper knowledge base and understanding of mothers' experiences.
The motherhood Studies Practitioner certification has been beyond what I thought I would receive from it.
This course helped me to understand the different layers of mothers' experiences and reflect on my own experience through a process of unlearning and re-learning.
The dedication Sophie has in this space is amazing and I felt held throughout the duration of the course.
I highly recommend this course if you are working with mothers.”
“the course just went above and beyond what I thought. I’ve gained so much knowledge and such an amazing way to view the macro structures of motherhood and also the micro what's actually going on day to day.”
Grace Taylor, Doula.
How World-Class Researchers and Cross-Disciplinary Practitioners Use The Certification
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Dr Haya Zedan
Maternal Mental Health and Wellness in Saudi Arabia, Maternalwellnessksa
“Every mother or person who works with mothers should know this!
Working with Sophie was an amazing experience. She has an awe-inspiring depth and command of this knowledge.
The course both centered and enlightened me.I felt the concepts that were discussed and their applicability to my own motherhood journey so deeply and appreciated their universality.
I look forward to the potential to bring motherhood studies further out in the world, with Sophie and my fellow practitioners.”
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Dr. Jodi Pawluski
Behavioural Neuroscientist & Psychotherapist
"I really loved it, it was exactly what I was looking for.
And in fact, I feel I have a better understanding and framework to work with when learning about motherhood and working with mothers and being a mother myself.”
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Emily Adler Mosqueda
Author, Assistant Clinical Professor, & Speech-Language Pathologist
"Learning from Sophie, and the community of people who were on the course, was transformative both professionally and personally.
The course surpassed all my expectations and as it went on, it became clear that it was an investment and experience of a lifetime.
After a few weeks, I began to have a shift of vision in how I viewed the world around me, including my personal life.
Midway through the course the content hit a chord within me that was deep and very personal. Sophie, and the community, were marvelous in how they supported me through that period of growth and integration.
My outlook is forever impacted by the content, relationships, discussions, and reflection I engaged with during and since the course.
THIS is the course to invest in for yourself and your future projects with mothers and families."
What Sets The Motherhood Studies Certification Apart
Access exclusive, original frameworks: Leave with a comprehensive practitioner's toolkit containing one-of-a-kind models and frameworks developed by Dr Sophie that you won't find anywhere else.
Get "done-for-you" client resources: Receive ready-to-use worksheets, visual models, workshop and course outlines, and client-facing materials that help you implement what you've learned immediately without creating everything from scratch.
Developed by Dr Sophie Brock: One of the world's few PhD-qualified sociologists specialising in Motherhood Studies, with over a decade of research and teaching experience.
See what others miss: Learn to spot the hidden systemic patterns causing mothers to struggle, helping you provide support that creates lasting change. Motherhood Studies is rarely ever included in tertiary training for mother-care professionals.
Get to root causes: Move beyond quick fixes to address the root causes of maternal overwhelm, guilt, and identity challenges.
Stand out in your field: Join over 300 practitioners who've transformed their work with mothers using these practical, evidence-based frameworks and concepts taught within this world-first professional development training.
Find the words that really land: Gain language and concepts that instantly resonate with mothers, helping them feel truly seen and understood. Feel confident that what you do is ‘backed up’ by research and a whole academic field.
Build confidence in your practice: Replace uncertainty with clear, proven approaches backed by research and refined through years of practical application
Create transformative client experiences: Practitioners report clients having profound "aha moments" when understanding the systemic nature of their struggles, and doors open to diversifying your services to deliver mother-support in a variety of ways.
Apply insights immediately: Translate academic concepts into practical tools you can use in your very next client session.
Is This Certification Right for You?
A Quick Check
This certification welcomes diverse backgrounds and career paths - from established practitioners to career-changers, content creators, entrepreneurs, and those who don’t yet work in mother-support but feel they’d like to in the future.
You're a good fit for this certification if:
You work with mothers in any capacity OR are planning to - whether as a practitioner, coach, content creator, entrepreneur, program developer, or innovator
You're seeking frameworks that explain the patterns you see in maternal experiences, and/or have experienced yourself
You want to address root causes like perfectionism, identity challenges, and systemic pressures rather than just symptoms
You're in career transition and drawn to meaningful work supporting mothers
You're exploring possibilities in the maternal support field and seeking clarity on your path forward
You want to understand the deeper patterns and systemic factors affecting mothers' experiences
You're developing products, services, content, or spaces for mothers and want research-backed frameworks to inform your work
You're looking to diversify your offerings within your mother-support business or practice, and develop resources such as digital products, courses, programs, or host retreats
You value flexible learning that accommodates your current life circumstances (gently paced learning plus 2 years of access)
You feel called to contribute to changing how motherhood is understood and supported, even if you're not yet sure exactly how
“From day one of this course, I felt like I made a great decision taking this course… I could find my own voice and what I value in my life, as a mother, as a woman, and as a person. ”
Sakie, working mother of 3 children, Japan.
In Their Words: Graduate Experiences
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“This course was just the level of deepening I was looking for in my work in the birthing/motherHood world.”
Marieke van den Ouden
Coach
Kiki Mae
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“The Motherhood Studies certification has broadened my knowledge so much and I have learnt so much that I can use within my work in supporting mothers.”
Emma Townley
Founder of the Non Perfect Parents Club
The Non Perfect Parents Club
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“This course is so well-developed and executed!”
Dantrel Perryman
Perinatal Mental Health Coach
Another Perspective 4U
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“This program has been one of the most influential experiences in my life. I feel confident moving forward working with mothers.”
Rachelle DeCoud
Career coaching/mentoring for moms
Liberated Mothers
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“This course is truly the missing piece I was searching for.”
Amy O’Brien
Classical Chinese Herbalist, Acupuncturist, Birth Support Person and Motherhood Studies Practitioner
Reverence Story
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“You have helped give words and language to what I had been feeling and experiencing but unable to truly communicate. Thank you so much Sophie for this wonderful course. Not only are these teachings relevant to my business but also to my life and work as a mama and woman. This work is truly a gift to the world and I'm so excited to help spread it in my community."
Belinda
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I found the course to be exceptionally well laid out, thought provoking and well held. There is a wonderful mixture of theory and also learning through self reflection and group discussion. The work is applicable to every stage of motherhood and across all different mediums of work as it explores the fundamental roots of the systems and narratives that we live in. I hope to repeat the course and delve further into each topic.
Sasha Kerman
Motherhood and transformational life coach
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“The material and presentations were wonderfully thorough, clear, well planned, and motivating! The depth of knowledge and passion that Sophie has for this material is evident!”
Danielle Kenney, LICSW, PMH-C
Clinical social worker
Danielle Kenney
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“I have loved every second of this course. It has really opened my eyes up to more than just what i believed motherhood/matrescence to be. It has given me insights into different cultural perspectives on motherhood and also helped put names to a lot of the different experiences I have had since becoming a mother and allowed me to feel 'normal' again. Thank you Sophie for all your work and effort that goes into creating a course such as this."
Mikahl
Senior Practitioner within Uniting Wimmera Integrated Family Services Team
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“This course has been incredible. It’s allowed me to work through my own experiences of Motherhood, while learning and understanding how I can vastly improve the support I offer mums I work with. Sophie’s ability to break down and explain big and complex theory’s is amazing. Her knowledge and kindness both carried me through the course feeling fully supported. "
Bea Christie
Motherhood Coach
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“This course has been amazing. It has given me a language to explain everything I have felt over the last few years. It has healed me in so many ways. I have made contacts with amazing women. Most importantly though, I have felt more like me! Time to think, reflect, process... I cannot thank you enough."
Julia D’Orazio
Social Worker
Julia D’Orazio Perinatal & Family
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“It is uniquely both rigorous and profound. I am ever grateful to you Sophie for the depth, richness and inspiration of this certification course. It has transformed my work with mothers in a way that supports their lived experiences with academic research and theoretical frameworks that demystify the constructs and complexities of motherhood.
Kamya O’Keeffe
Women’s Rites of Passage Guide and Mentor
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“I loved this course! Sophie is such a generous and knowledgeable educator and facilitator. The depth and breadth of her Motherhood Studies knowledge is immense. Through this course, Sophie shares clear and easy to use frameworks and models that help communicate and explain really complex and challenging topics in an authentic and accessible way, whilst also sharing research and further information to enable you to delve deeper into topics as and when you choose. I highly recommend this course you anyone who is currently or is interested in working with and supporting mothers. It is invaluable.”
Kat King
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“I'm very emotional the course is finished. It was one of the greatest, if not the greatest journey and learning I've ever gone on. Everyone will have a special place in my heart after our time together in the container you created and held so supportively for us."
Lisa Collins
Business coaching for Mums in business
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“My perspectives of myself, my children, the people around me, other mothers and the broader society in which we mother has shifted and evolved – thanks to Sophie and the other women in this course. Sophie’s knowledge and articulation of deep, broad, varied and diverse topics, concepts, histories, intersections and contexts is phenomenal. As is her access to leading motherhood scholars and academic material. This certification includes a lot of content, nuance and complexity, distilled in a uniquely digestible way."
Kirsty Oliver
Mother Mentor, Writer, Changemaker Collaborator
“I feel much more confident… I can place what I do within a much wider sociological context.
Sophie manages to encapsulate really complex ideas in a very understandable and accessible way, that you can then go and implement into your work with mothers, with families. I’ve been doing this work for a very long time, but I’ve never really had the language or the theories, or the references to back that up.”
- Ali Pember
Coach, counsellor, mindfulness and hypnobirth practitioner. Specialist in maternal mental health and wellbeing.
It’s time to use our collective power to reclaim and revolutionise Motherhood
FAQs
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The certification is designed to be very manageable for busy mothers and professionals:
Course Content:
Each module contains no more than 2 hours of core content
Total course content is approximately 15 hours across all 8 modules
Content is delivered in digestible segments that fit into a busy schedule
If you dedicate 1-2 hours per week to listening to course content, you’ll have completed your certification within 3 months.
Live Calls (Optional but Recommended):
During the 10-week Springboard Period: Optional 1-hour weekly implementation call
After the Springboard Period: Optional 1-hour monthly implementation call for 12 months
The program is intentionally structured to be accessible and flexible.
You can choose to follow the recommended pace of one module every 1-2 weeks during the Springboard Period, or complete all content at your own pace after all modules are released.
Many practitioners complete the certification while balancing client work, family responsibilities, and other commitments.
You'll have 2 years of access to course trainings, and will be able to download and keep forever the resources included in your Practitioner’s Toolkit.
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Key Dates:
May 19th, 2025: Official program start with first module release
May 19th - July 21st 2025: 10 week ‘springboard’ of course class calls as module content is progressively released
July 2025 - May 2026: monthly live class calls for integration support
See full course call schedule here: https://drsophiebrock.com/certificationcalls
Course Structure:
Progressive learning: 8 comprehensive modules released over a 10-week Springboard Period from May 19th 2025
Self-paced continuation: After the Springboard Period, continue at your own pace with ongoing access to all materials
Multimedia format: Video lessons, downloadable resources, and private podcast version of trainings for on-the-go learning
Implementation support: Monthly live group calls until May 2026 to deepen understanding and answer questions
Practical application: The Practitioner’s Toolkit includes frameworks and tools you can immediately apply in your work with mothers once you’re certified
Certification: Upon completion of listening to course content and answering multiple choice and short answer questions about course content, receive your official Motherhood Studies Practitioner certification
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All content is accessed through an online learning platform, New Zenler.
Each learning module contains a series of short video lectures. These lectures are all that you’re required to complete in preparation for the short-answer assessments to gain your certification.
The live classrooms and community connection sessions are held on Zoom. Live classrooms will be recorded and available to watch on New Zenler.
You will also have access to a private podcast that you an access via Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Overcast, or Pocket Casts where you can listen to all module content. -
Calls are scheduled at alternating times (10am and 8pm NSW Australia time) to accommodate participants from different time zones around the world.
If you can't attend live, all Zoom calls are recorded and available to watch as replays. You can see a complete schedule of all call dates and times to check compatibility with your local time zone here - https://drsophiebrock.com/certificationcalls
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‘Practitioners’ include social workers, counsellors, doulas, midwives, coaches, occupational therapists, psychologists, GPs, lactation consults, breastfeeding counsellors, activists, writers, and any others who are passionate about maternal advocacy.
The training is also appropriate for those considering university research and study, wanting to gain foundational understanding of maternal scholarship that complements interdisciplinary fields of education, social work, psychology, sociology, midwifery, nursing, and media and communications, among others.
Participants who join range in experience from being brand-new to motherhood-support, to having decades of experience.
If you aren’t sure if this course is right for you, email info@drsophiebrock.com and I can give you any extra information you need.
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The amazing thing about the participants who have joined in the past is the wide range of skills and backgrounds they have. This has varied from scientists to people already working in motherhood support services to mothers who are at the beginning of their journey into this work and want an in-depth holistic view from the beginning.
I can’t tell you if it’s right for you or not, but I do believe that if there is something calling you to do this work then there is likely something here for you.
I have condensed this highly-academic work into accessible concepts and language so you can learn and benefit from it in your own life and in your career or business endeavours. There is no requirement for formal education to benefit from and understand the materials in this course.
If you’re not sure if it’s right for you, reply to this email letting me know a bit about yourself and where you're at in your journey and I will share any extra information you need to help you make the right decision for you. -
Matrescence is a concept that refers to the developmental stage and transition into/through becoming a Mother. It has been drawn upon as a tool to teach practitioners to support Mothers through and explore maternal identity transformation.
Motherhood Studies is an academic discipline - so a broad area of study - that includes a wide variety of concepts, tools, and frameworks.
The Motherhood Studies Certification offers you training in both the broader cultural context of Motherhood, and provides specific practical approaches and frameworks.
These frameworks can be used to support mothers in a variety of ways and with a diverse range of maternal experiences including guilt, anger, identity challenges, emotional labour, and relationships.
If you are interested in supporting mothers in their matrescence specifically, The Motherhood Studies Certification offers you a range of tools including one specifically for supporting mothers through their matrescence.
This is included in Module 6 - Matrescence Mapped: Your Toolkit for Supporting Identity Evolution. This framework helps practitioners guide mothers through identity shifts while understanding how these personal experiences connect to larger social systems.
Take a look at the curriculum of what else is covered in The Motherhood Studies Certification on this webpage, or email info@drsophiebrock.com if you have any specific questions.
You will get value from courses focused on matrescence, and on Motherhood Studies, as both are complementary in their connected focus on mothers.
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Yes, many participants discover their unique contribution to the field during and after they complete the certification. The frameworks often help clarify your direction and potential offerings.
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As an independent sociologist and working as an autonomous academic with a PhD in Motherhood Studies, Dr Sophie created the certification to respond to the gap that exists within the majority of tertiary institutions when it comes to Motherhood Studies. The certification program isn't accredited by an external governing body or institution.
Many past participants have successfully claimed between 15-25 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) with various professional associations including nursing, midwifery, social work, and psychology boards.
Please check with your specific professional association to confirm if it counts toward your CPD/CE requirements if this is relevant for you.
If you need an CPD information sheet or paperwork to support any funding applications, please email info@drsophiebrock.com with your request.
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Many of our participants are balancing multiple commitments. The completion requirements of the certification are less time-intense than many other professional development qualifications on offer.
With 2 years of access and flexible study options, you can integrate this certification with other studies, especially since the content complements many fields.
Ultimately, only you can decide if this is the right time for you to join the certification or not. If you need any further information to help you make this decision, please reach out to info@drsophiebrock.com
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We offer a number of scholarships and subsidised places to support participation for those who otherwise would not be able to join the certification.
Scholarships are for those experiencing economic disadvantage and/or marginalisation. Please read through the selection criteria before applying.
You can read more and fill in an application here.
“I really loved it, it was exactly what I was looking for. And in fact, I feel I have a better understanding and framework to work with when learning about motherhood and working with mothers and being a mother myself.”
Dr Jodi Pawluski, Neuroscientist and Therapist
“This course you’re doing, Sophie, is so important and so amazing, it really is. I just wish everybody would take it – and not just Mothers.
Social workers, doctors, nurses. I wish everyone would take a… mandatory course on Motherhood, because I think everyone would think, ‘Wow I had never realised that, I never thought about that, how different my perceptions are now… So it is an intervention into the master narrative, what you are doing.”
— Professor Andrea O’Reilly, Maternal researcher and scholar who coined ‘Motherhood Studies’
“The impact of this course for me on a personal level was completely worth the time and money alone. It is hands down the best training I’ve ever undertaken.
I feel like my inner world has been blown apart… I feel like I’m seeing in colour. I embarked on this course months ago to benefit my practice, better service my clients & to grow my offerings.
Honestly? I’ve come away with SO much more. It’s felt life changing.
-Fern Bishop
Paediatric Sleep Consultant and Postnatal Care Practitioner
Fern Bishop - Paediatric Sleep and Postnatal Care
Your investment in The Next Wave of the Motherhood Studies Practitioner Certification
$4299 AUD
$3,799 AUD
Waitlist Only Offer - Limited Time Only
Available on a 12 month payment plan
Those who join the waitlist will have access to a this early enrolment offer along with a suite of other bonuses
“This course was by far and away the best investment I have made - both personally and professionally.
Not only have I gained the language, theories, concepts and references to deepen and expand the work I do in supporting mothers, but I also learnt so much more about myself personally, and has liberated me on levels that I could not have foreseen or expected.
Sophie is so gifted at summarising and encapsulating very complex theories and concepts so that they are much more digestible and relatable, so I feel so confident and empowered to be able to implement my learnings into my own practice and work with mothers.
A truly transformative and expansive experience!”
-Harriet Mandak, Holistic Life Coach & Spiritual Mentor
WHEN YOU ENROL IN
The Motherhood Studies Practitioner Certification™
YOU WILL GAIN:
8 Deep-Dive Modules Forming the Certification
12 months of access to live group calls with Dr Sophie
Private Podcast Access for Trainings On-The-Go
Completion Certificate and Emblem
Bonus Practitioner Toolkit of Ready-to-Implement Resources
2x Matrescence Masterclass Trainings
“The course, along with Dr. Brock’s compassionate mentorship, has opened my eyes to the invisibilization of maternal work and has given me the language and tools to challenge Patriarchal Motherhood, not only in my own life but also in my mission to support other moms through my work in motherhood support.
As a mother of three and a motherhood advocate in the early stages of forming my business, I have been a “quiet follower” of Dr. Sophie Brock and her work for many years, taking tidbits of encouragement and planting seeds of curiosity for further exploration.
I reached a point in my journey where I sought a deeper understanding of the societal pressures and cultural narratives shaping modern motherhood. Truthfully, this was the only course I considered before signing up. I was confident that the Motherhood Studies Practitioner Certification would be nothing short of transformative.
Dr. Brock’s teaching is grounded in rigorous research and delivered with compassion and inclusivity. Her ability to weave together complex theories and relatable examples allows me to feel validated and seen in my own experiences while also helping me view the institution of motherhood through an entirely new lens.
The frameworks I learned have become foundational in supporting my work and creating content for my community.
To anyone considering this course: it’s more than an education—it’s a journey of empowerment, connection, rethinking, deconstructing, and revolutionizing modern motherhood.
It takes an extraordinary person to hold space for the space-holders, and Dr. Brock does so with grace and humility. Whether you’re a professional working with mothers or seeking to redefine motherhood for yourself, this program will give you the tools to create meaningful change.
Nicole Bonaire
Founder of Authentically Imperfect Mama
What Your Journey Includes:
Structured Learning Path: Clear progression through carefully curated modules
Flexible Completion Options: Study the course as its released live over the 10 week period from May 19th, 2025 - or complete in self-study mode at your own pace
Integration Period: Time to absorb and apply concepts while still able to seek support and ask questions
Accountability: Regular check-ins and implementation guidance
Community Connection: Shared learning experiences with like-minded professionals
Professional Development: Ongoing support for 12 months as you implement your learning
Transformation: Both personal growth and professional advancement
Hollie Swanton, Occupational Therapist with a special interest in the intersection of maternal bodyfulness and mental health
“Sophie’s course is a must do for anyone working with mothers.
Being able to see, for myself, both as a mother/woman how my experiences of motherhood have been shaped and influenced by patriarchal structures, has allowed me to give a language to what I was feeling and continue to navigate this.”
Professionally, the course has been incredibly comprehensive and will continue to be a source of reference with the amount of literature and resources that Sophie has shared, for many years to come.
This course has enabled me to explore depths of motherhood that I feel confident to guide me as I support women and mothers in their own motherhood journey. Sophie is gentle and knowledgeable, and has a wonderful ability to hold space for all participants who are unpacking, unlearning and weaving together her teachings personally and professionally during the lives calls, as this course will change your relationship to many things, once you see patriarchal motherhood, you can’t unsee it!”
Learn more about your course teacher and facilitator
Dr Sophie Brock
Starting a new learning journey like this can be both exciting and a little overwhelming! It’s important to feel confident that the person leading an online course like this is qualified and experienced. I take my role as a teacher and guide seriously, and I create this learning space with a deep level of respect, sensitivity, and awareness.
I have spent over thirteen years researching motherhood and have a PhD in Sociology, specialising in Motherhood Studies from The University of Sydney. My research focuses on how society and culture shape the lives of mothers. I’m also a mother myself.
I have experience teaching both in person and online, creating courses and programs for hundreds of mothers and professionals. As a social scientist, I know that learning about motherhood is an ongoing journey - it’s deep, broad, and always evolving. That’s why I stay open, curious, and always learning.
My passion is helping those who work with mothers bring a sociological understanding of motherhood into their work. My hope is that through sharing this knowledge, Motherhood Studies Practitioners can become beacons of light for Mothers. Beacons of light who do not represent another pedestal for which we need to strive, but who illuminate parts of Motherhood that have been overshadowed and silenced for too long - including our power and voices. Beacons of light who signify hope and possibility - who Mothers can turn to when they are feeling alone, isolated, challenged, and not enough.
By gaining this knowledge, I hope that students of Motherhood Studies can advocate for and champion Mothers and the reimagined possibilities of what Motherhood can mean - for us and future generations.
AS SEEN IN
Research Foundations & Dr Sophie’s Credentials
Education
PhD, Sociology specializing in Motherhood Studies, The University of Sydney (2017)
Bachelor of Arts with Honours (Class 1), The University of Sydney
Relevant Conference and University Presentations
2024 - IAMAS Conference: "Mothering and Motherhood: Past, Present, and Future”, Matricentric Feminism in Action: Stories from Mothers and Mother-Supporting Professionals
2024 - Queensland University of Technology - Centre for Child and Family Studies Research Forum: Intensive Mothering
2023 - The Australian National University - “Birthing Work and Matrescence: The Neglected Aspect of Maternity Care”
2019 - The University of Sydney - Maternal Scholars Australia: Beyond Mothering Myths? Motherhood in an Age of Neoliberalism and Individualisation
2016 - RMIT University, Melbourne - Australian Motherhood Initiative for Research and Community Involvement (AMIRCI), "Motherhood, Feminisms and the Future," RMIT University, Melbourne
2015 - Maynooth University, Ireland - "Motherhood & Culture: International and Interdisciplinary Conference”
2014 - Hellenic Education & Research Centre, Athens, Greece - Motherhood Initiative for Research and Community Involvement (MIRCI), Mothers, Mothering and Motherhood
From Ancient to Contemporary Times2013 - Toronto, Canada, Motherhood Initiative for Research and Community Involvement (MIRCI), "Mega Motherhood Conference: Academic Motherhood, Mothers & Work, and Communicating Motherhood”
Academic Publications and Teaching Experience
PhD, Sociology specializing in Motherhood Studies, The University of Sydney (2017)
Bachelor of Arts with Honours (Class 1), The University of Sydney
Brock, S. (2024). "The Theory and Praxis of Matricentric Feminism in the Lives of Motherhood Studies Certification Course Participants." Chapter 8 in The Mother Wave: Theorizing, Enacting, and Representing Matricentric Feminism, edited by A. O'Reilly & F.J. Green.
Bueskens, P. & Brock, S. (2019). "Introduction. Matricentric Feminism: Abjection and Disruption in Australian Stories of Mothering." Hecate, 45(1/2), 13-22.
Brock, S.A.M. (2017). The Experiences of Women who Mother Children with Disabilities: Maternality, Relationality, Subjectivity. PhD Thesis, The University of Sydney.
Brock, S.A.M. (2015). "The Individualization Thesis and Mothering Children with Disabilities." Journal of Family Studies, 21(3), 261-281.
Brock, S. (2014). "The Impact of 'Good Mothering' Ideology on Identity Perception for Mothers of Children with Disabilities." Hecate, 40(1), 20-35.
Tutoring - Macquarie University
Lecturing and Tutoring - The University of Sydney
“Sophie is a true leader in her field and her unique concepts and teachings approach motherhood in a way that makes sense and is also revolutionary.”
A truly eye-opening and unique course that you won't find anywhere else (trust me, I did my research!).
There were so many aspects to the course that I would never even have thought of and yet when pulled together they create a vision of motherhood that is both deeply affirming and deeply challenging.
I will be reshaping my business as a result of undertaking this course and believe the knowledge I have learnt will allow for me to offer a truly unique and much needed service that not many others have the knowledge to create.
The community was full of inspiring, interesting women and I miss our regular calls already. I would highly, highly recommend this course to anyone considering.”
Katherine Winny
Triple certified life coach, Equus Coach, hypnotherapist and Motherhood Studies Practitioner
Interested? Get Early Access Information
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The Next Wave of Motherhood Studies
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“Choosing the red pill In The Matrix movie (1999), Morpheus offers Neo a choice: ‘You take the blue pill,’ he says, ‘the story ends’. With the blue pill nothing will change, your life will be the same or ‘You take the red pill (…) and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.’
With the red pill you will have access to a deeper truth or in other words, you will continue to learn about the invisible conditioning messages that were set in the world to break them and get freedom.
Taking this motherhood studies certification was like choosing the red pill.
After the training, I could not see motherhood and mothering with the same lens.
It is an eye-opening course about our socialization as mothers and women. How the social construct of motherhood can be oppressive and how mothering can be a place of agency, power and resistance.
The certification brings the language, the concepts, the bigger narrative which contributes to supporting other women along their mothering journey.
I do believe that the web of motherhood studies practitioners that are spreading certification’s learning are planting invisible seeds of change.
In the movie Neo chooses the red pill and joins the rebellion.
Are you ready to join the web of invisible seeds of change?”
Margarida Sousa, Portugal.