The Centre for Healing Podcast

SHOWNOTES

In this deeply insightful episode, Ryan Hasson sits down with Rebecca Barnes from the UK to explore the profound transformation of motherhood through the lens of matrescence, trauma-informed care, and embodied healing.

Rebecca shares her personal and professional journey — from working in residential childcare supporting traumatised children to becoming a certified Trauma-Informed, Seasons of Matrescence™ Educator & Guide, and Embodied Processing Practitioner. Together, Ryan and Rebecca unpack the emotional, physical, psychological, and spiritual shifts that occur in motherhood, and why so many mothers feel unsupported during this life-changing transition.

This conversation offers a compassionate and honest look at grief, identity loss, nervous system regulation, societal pressures, and the importance of creating spaces where mothers can truly be seen, supported, and understood.

About Rebecca Barnes

Rebecca is the founder of Becoming the Mother. She is a certified Trauma-Informed, Seasons of Matrescence™ Educator & Guide, and Embodied Processing Practitioner.

Above all, Rebecca considers her most sacred and important role to be being the mother to her four beautiful children.

Rebecca spent many years working in residential childcare supporting children with histories of trauma. Alongside her extensive study of matrescence, trauma, and nervous system regulation, she also brings lived experience through multiple matrescence transformations of her own.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

What matrescence is and why understanding it changes the way we view motherhood

Rebecca’s journey from hairdresser to embodied processing practitioner

The “Seasons of Matrescence” framework and how mothers move through emotional seasons

Why grief, rage, sadness, and fear are normal parts of motherhood

How unresolved trauma impacts parenting, relationships, and identity

The systemic gaps in support for mothers and families

Why compassion is more healing than judgment when working with parents and children

How embodied processing supports nervous system regulation and emotional healing

The importance of practitioners doing their own healing work

Key Takeaways

Motherhood is not just a role — it is a full developmental transformation.

Many emotions experienced in motherhood are normal responses, not signs that something is “wrong.”

Healing happens when emotions are safely processed instead of suppressed.

Nervous system regulation and embodied practices can support deeper emotional healing.

Supporting mothers early and compassionately has ripple effects for future generations.

Practitioners who do their own healing work are better equipped to support others.

Resources & Links

Website: https://becomingthemother.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/becomingthemother/

Book a call with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebecca-becomingthemother/30min

Why You Suffer

There are 2 forms of suffering in this existence of being human; Necessary & Un-necessary

We find the vast majority of people are stuck in unnecessary suffering.
So let's talk about it...

Presented by the creators of Embodied Processing, Ryan Hassan & Matt Kay.

Join us to discuss:

- What is Suffering
- Suffering and Trauma
- Dissatisfaction/Deficiency
- Craving and Aversion
- Stored Suffering
- NS states
- Inner conflicts
- Relationship to Suffering
- Suffering vs Pain
- Veils/Beliefs
- Inner Unification and Resolution

Whether you’re working with clients now or are on a personal journey of healing (or both), this class is sure to add value to your life.

When we understand the body, the nervous system & its adaptations we can remove shame and create true transformation in our lives.

We look forward to seeing you in the class.

More info on the Somatic Therapy EP here: https://www.thecentreforhealing.com/embodied-processing

In this wide ranging discussion Daniel Maté speaks with Ryan Hassan & Matt Kay (creators of Embodied Processing) about the interesting dynamics between adult children and their parents.

Daniel goes in depth around the challenges and healing he has had with his father Gabor Maté. Also the need to move away from the term 'boundaries' and more into an attitude of working out what environment we need to create in order for us to thrive as humans.

It's a relationship dynamic that isn't discussed very much in this context. We hope you enjoy the discussion and can take some value for your own life.

Here are recordings of 2 Hello Again workshops facilitated by Daniel & Gabor Maté:
Hello Again 2016
Hello Again 2022

Get in touch with Daniel:
Walk with Daniel - https://www.walkwithdaniel.com/
Daniel Maté website - https://www.danielmate.com/
Lyrics to Go on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyRD8upUhMmCsiQvkFYKQlQ
Daniel Maté instagram - https://www.instagram.com/danielbmate/
Daniel Maté twitter - https://twitter.com/danielbmate

Interview with co-author of The Myth of Normal, Daniel Maté

Ryan & Matt, co-creators of Embodied Processing had the pleasure of recording a conversation with Daniel Maté.
Daniel is co-author with his father Gabor of the new groundbreaking book The Myth of Normal; Trauma, Illness & Healing in a Toxic Culture.

In this wide ranging discussion Daniel talks openly about:
- Bringing such an important book to life
- How the book has been received & how his life has changed since
- What healing actually can look like on an individual & collective level
- His own healing process (involving a Mexican immigration jail)
- The strains & healing in the relationship with his father Gabor
- Whether we should be hopeful or pessimistic about our future as a society

We hope you enjoy the chat as much as we did!

Get in touch with Daniel & Gabor:
Walk with Daniel - https://www.walkwithdaniel.com/
Daniel Maté website - https://www.danielmate.com/
Lyrics to Go on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyRD8upUhMmCsiQvkFYKQlQ
Daniel Maté instagram - https://www.instagram.com/danielbmate/
Daniel Maté twitter - https://twitter.com/danielbmate
Gabor Maté website - https://drgabormate.com/
Gabor Maté twitter - https://twitter.com/DrGaborMate

Episode Summary

In this powerful and paradigm-shifting conversation, Melissa Hiemann sits down with Dr. Tina Vitolo—licensed clinical social worker, rebel educator, and founder of The Black Sheep Therapist—to explore how therapists can ethically integrate spiritual, somatic, and alternative healing modalities into clinical practice.

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t quite “fit” within traditional mental health systems… this episode will feel like a deep exhale.

Tina shares her journey of challenging outdated frameworks in the therapy world and reveals how practitioners can move beyond fear, confusion, and rigid rules—without losing their license or integrity.

Together, Melissa and Tina explore what it really means to be an embodied practitioner, how innovation happens in healing, and why the future of mental health lies in integration—not separation.

What We Cover in This Episode:

What it means to be a “Black Sheep Therapist” and why it’s a gift

The hidden limitations within traditional mental health systems

The truth about “evidence-based practice” (and what therapists often misunderstand)

Whether you can legally and ethically integrate modalities like:

Astrology

Somatic work

Energy healing

Breathwork

Why therapists fear losing their license—and what’s actually true

How to use informed consent, language, and transparency as protection

The difference between therapy vs. separate coaching/healing businesses

How to integrate alternative modalities within a clinical container

The importance of embodiment vs. just learning techniques

Why innovation in healing is essential for better client outcomes



Key Takeaways

You are licensed—not the modality you use

Ethical practice is about transparency, competency, and client choice

Evidence-based practice is broader than most therapists think

Integration (not separation) is the future of healing

Your lived experience and embodiment matter just as much as your training



About Dr. Tina Vitolo

Dr. Tina Vitolo is a licensed clinical social worker, rebel educator, and founder of The Black Sheep Therapist—a global community for clinicians who feel called to practice outside the traditional mold.

With nearly 20 years of experience in mental health, Tina helps therapists ethically integrate spiritual, somatic, and complementary practices into their work—without fear.

She is the creator of the Innovative Practitioner Accelerator (IPA) and author of The Black Sheep Therapist: Integrating Spiritual and Energy-Based Modalities into Clinical Practice.



Connect with Dr. Tina

Website: https://www.theblacksheepguide.com

Facebook Community: Black Sheep Therapists: Embracing Unconventional Practices in Mental Health https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1G4FWJ6oxo/

Instagram & TikTok: @theblacksheeptherapist

Special Offer: Tina is offering a free ebook download of her book from April 13–15. https://theblacksheepguide.com/book-optin-page