S4E10: Understanding Maternal Rage: A Guide for Therapists | Dr Caroline Boyd

S4E10: Understanding Maternal Rage: A Guide for Therapists | Dr Caroline Boyd

EPISODE SUMMARY

Is it just anger—or is it maternal rage? Dr. Natalie Stott sits down with Caroline to unpack why mothers feel rage so acutely, and why it matters to name it as a distinct experience. We look at the four contextual forces shaping maternal anger, how cultural myths make mothers feel inadequate, and how therapists can best support clients when rage is shrouded in shame. The episode covers practical steps for mapping client “parts”, bringing the body into therapy, and normalising anger in the context of motherhood and clinical practice. There’s also discussion on therapist disclosure, staying mindful of your own triggers, and ways to deepen your work with mothers. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) gets a mention in passing, but this conversation keeps the focus crisply UK-centric.

TIMESTAMPS

• 00:00 Definition and importance of maternal rage

• 00:10 Four contextual forces behind maternal anger

• 08:05 Therapist perspectives: bringing your own experiences into sessions

• 10:40 Asking mums about their own upbringing and anger

• 15:12 Mapping parts, parts work, and nervous system regulation

• 21:13 Impact of childhood experiences on adult anger

• 27:04 Using body awareness for anger management

• 41:06 Mapping parts and relating to “adult self”