Matrescence Practitioner Certification

Matrescence Education
for Mother-Supporting Professionals

Develop expertise in matrescence and apply new knowledge and skills in your practice with confidence.

Supporting mothers is your passion. I get it - it’s mine too.

What I don’t get is why it’s not our whole society’s number one priority - but until it is, it’s you and me. Together, we can support mothers through the greatest transformation of their lives: matrescence.

Become a Matrescence Practitioner and gain the skills you need to help mothers navigate matrescence, while growing your motherhood practice.

Hi, I’m Christina Bond Psychologist, Mother and Leading Matrescence Educator.

When I’m not with my children, you’ll most often find me here, in my office, working towards a world where every parent is adequately supported through their transition to parenthood and beyond.

My deep motivation is lifelong mental wellbeing, which starts in infancy. My work will be done when every infant grows up with a secure attachment, knowing they are loved, safe and mean the world to their primary caregiver.

  • Matrescence knowledge is essential for anyone who works with mothers.

Who’s the Matrescence Practitioner Certification suitable for?

This evidence-based, self-paced, online certification is designed for those who work with mothers.

This course is for you if you want to:

  • Deepen your knowledge about matrescence, learning the most up-to-date research and theory

  • Enhance your coaching skills to improve the wellbeing of mothers

  • Receive matrescence frameworks, models and resources to easily apply matrescence knowledge

  • Revive your passion for the work you do (by gaining new tools to see transformation in your clients)

  • Enhance rapport and outcomes for the mothers you work with


Become a matrescence practitioner and support mothers to grow and flourish through matrescence.

Support mothers through one of the most transformative life experiences.

We are the leading provider of matrescence education in New Zealand.

Maternal mental health has a significant impact on the long-term wellbeing outcomes of children and mothers deserve to enjoy motherhood for themselves. Join the revolution in helping mothers access the care and support they deserve, to flourish in mothering within a New Zealand context.

Join our next intake in 2025

Become a Certified Matrescence Practitioner.

Change the way you work with mothers.

During this certification you will:

  • Gain a comprehensive understanding of what contributes to perinatal distress and wellbeing and how to support mothers to navigate matrescence.

  • Develop awareness of individual and systematic factors impacting wellbeing

  • Bust myths and misconceptions and replace them with evidence-based knowledge

  • Be able to identify what’s impacting a mothers experience and collaboratively discuss strategies through a matrescence lens that validates, empowers and enhances wellbeing and health outcomes.

  • Support mothers to feel confident in their parenting, strengthen their identity, meet their own needs and live in alignment with their values.

  • Receive key research summarised for you to easily utilise and communicate in your practice

  • Provide mothers with life-changing support through their transformation to and through motherhood

Mothers deserve better support.


You can help them experience motherhood in a whole new way.

  • “If you work with mothers, be part of the revolution in changing the ways mothers are supported and improve mental health outcomes for our society.”

Matrescence Practitioner Certification

Next intake September 2025.

By completing this certification you will receive:

  • Evidence-based learning modules

  • Fortnightly group discussion sessions with Christina

  • Feedback on your mini-assessments

  • Completion certification certificate

  • Emblem to use on your website

  • Practitioner resources to use for a lifetime

  • A Matrescence Practitioner listing on our website

  • Growing cohort of Matrescence Practitioners community support

Matrescence Practitioner Certification Investment for 2025: $3499NZD.

  • We haven’t evolved to parent in the modern world. Conditions such as living in nuclear families, pressures and expectations on mothers and the fast-pace of modern life are not working in favour of mothers.

  • Raise awareness, educate and compassionately support mothers to create the conditions that will help them parent in alignment with their values.

  • Sharing the latest research to improve wellbeing outcomes for mothers and infants.

  • "Parenting is the process most critically implicated in the survival and continuity of life on earth."

    - Dr Ruth Feldman

Matrescence Practitioner Certification Course Content

  • This certification is made up of 5 modules, all pre-recorded in short lessons, so you can watch, listen and learn at your own pace.

    There will be 5 fortnightly live calls with Christina, initially held on Tuesday mornings from 9am - 10am, and recorded for those who can't make it.

    There will be brief assessments following each module (from quizzes to self-reflective writing), varying from 10-30mins to complete.

    You will be assigned a partner from your cohort to discuss concepts, develop a reflective practice and apply your learnings, meeting with them twice during the course.

    You will be provided with frameworks, models and other resources to use with your clients.

    The course content can be consumed over a few days, spaced out over 12months or any timeframe in between.

    Live group support is available fortnightly for 3months. If all course content is completed, you can receive your certification within 10 weeks.

  • Learn the orgins of matrescence, the latest research and theory of matrescence. Introducing a unique matrescence model to deepen your understanding of this complex process.

  • Covering key areas of change and how they can be experienced as challenges and opportunities for growth Topics such as the mental load, identity, brain changes, relationships, emotional responses, social norms and expectations, societal and cultural influences and career changes.

  • Learn about the process of psychological transition and transformation through matrescence. Dive deep into a unique model covering three phases of transition. Utilise this model to help mothers to grow and flourish throughout their Matrescence journey.

  • Learn frameworks to support you to apply your matrescence knowledge immediately with clients. These frameworks support you in your ability to guide clients through matrescence either in conversation or more structured sessions. Also receive a matrescence support plan to use with clients for transformative growth.

  • Learn key biopsychosocial factors influencing maternal wellbeing and distress and the latest NZ statistics. Discover the core principles of maternal wellbeing and gain strategies to support mothers to navigate emotional regulation, self-compassion, understanding overwhelm, anger, worry, guilt and shame.

    This module also covers an introduction to a range of topics including parental & infant sleep and brain development, the nervous system, sensory system, temperament, and attachment theory. These topics provide the foundation of essential knowledge for those working with mothers and babies.

  • Everything you need to know for your ongoing work as a Matrescence Practitioner. We look at scope, guidelines, ethics, boundaries, assessment and screening, differentiating matrescence and clinical distress, burn out and referrals. You’ll receive your very own Matrescence Practitioner Guidebook and develop a plan for continuing your role as a leading matrescence educator, how to grow your practice and maintain your own wellbeing.

  • Module 7 supports you to apply your Matrescence knowledge to a group setting. Included in this you will receive Matrescence NZ PowerPoint slides to use in your group classes.

Certification Completion Criteria

To receive your Matrescence Practitioner Certification you must:

  • Complete all evidence-based learning modules

  • Attend/watch four group discussion sessions

  • Pass all mini-assessments

  • Meet online 2x for collegial discussions with cohort partner

Testimonals

“This is the first step in the right direction towards our society recognising, valuing and supporting the journey into and through motherhood that is so needed. I love that it truly captures the holistic and intertwined impact on the mother as well as the ripple effect into the family and the need for the village. Thank you."
- Workshop Participant

"I was very inspired by the way you have embodied these critical tools and information for families. The webinar was tremendous and I really enjoyed the stories Christina and Sam told to bring the theory to life and to make the information truly relatable... I’d like to introduce Matrescence and it to my midwifery colleagues to share with their clients.”
- Webinar Participant

About Christina

Registered Psychologist | Matrescence NZ Co-founder

Five years ago when I was pregnant with my first daughter I had never heard of the word matrescence. After a decade of tertiary study, registering as a psychologist and then becoming a mother, I have devoted my career to specalising in matrescence and maternal mental health.

I have been drawn to this work from a very young age and I am incredibly passionate and privileged to walk alongside mothers, drawing on both personal experience, while raising 2 young daughters, and clinical expertise. I am honoured to have supported hundreds of mothers and professionals in perinatal wellbeing and utilise thousands of hours of clinical practice to bring together this certification.

My qualifications:

  • Postgraduate diploma in psychological practice (PGDipPP)

  • Masters in Science (Emotional Regulation)

  • Masters in Business Management

  • Honours in Psychology (First class)

  • Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences

  • Postgraduate diploma in Not-For-Profit Management

  • Bachelors Degree in Psychology and Education

  • Trained in CBT, ACT and EMDR

As well as extensive professional development annually.

Frequently asked questions

  • The course is designed for those wanting to extend their knowledge in matrescence and learn how to apply unique matrescence frameworks and processes in their work with their clients.

    It is designed for those working 1 on 1 or in groups with mothers with young children wanting to support mothers to navigate matrescence.

  • This training programme allows you to practice as a Matrescence Practitioner, as defined by the scope covered in module six.

    This certification is independent of any national training body such as NZQA, however the hours may count towards continuing professional development towards your profession.

    There are no ongoing licencing or registration fees.

    This certification will lead to eligibility to work with and contract for Matrescence NZ.

    Contact us if you have any questions.

  • The scholarship places have been filled for 2025. We will update here, prior to 2026 enrolments.

  • The pre-recorded course content is approximately 1-2 hours per module, plus up to one additional hour for each action task.

    There are 5 fortnightly live discussion sessions.

    There are 2× 40min calls with a cohort learning partner.

    The full course can be completed in as little as 12 hours, depending on your learning style.

    There are optional readings and resources.

    Participants will have 12 months to complete the course content to gain their certification, however can complete all required content within as little as 8 weeks.

  • There are short action tasks related to each module. This is to enhance learning, application and retention and ensure criteria for certification is met. There is no exam or formal assessment.

  • No refunds are provided as all the course material is available immediately after you log in.

  • You will have access to the recorded trainings and live discussions for 12 months.

    The resources shared are yours to keep and use within your work indefinitely.

  • Tuesdays at 9am - recordings are available.

Services for Professionals

Further learning opportunities to support your career development.

  • Individual Support

    1:1 Private Support

    Enquire to book.
    $220 for 60minutes.

    Book an individual session with Christina Bond for supervision, consultation or mentoring to support you in your work with mothers.

    Book now

  • Professional Community

    Matrescence Facebook Community

    For professionals working or interested
    in working with mothers.

    Join our matrescence Facebook community to connect with other perinatal professionals. You can also subscribe to our mailing list to stay up to date with all things matrescence.

    Learn more

  • Matrescence Practitioner Certification

    Next intake: March 2025

    Join our Matrescence Practitioner Certification in 2025. 

    Sign up to our waitlist and receive further information about this comprehensive training.

    Register Interest