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”
• 44:32 Therapist disclosure and managing activation
• 51:00 Courses and resources for therapists and mums
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Maternal rage is distinct from everyday anger—it’s shaped by societal, cultural, and personal forces.
• Mapping parts (IFS-informed) helps clients understand protective, wounded, perfectionist, and avoidant pieces of themselves.
• Normalising anger, referencing current research, and naming its prevalence helps reduce client shame.
• Therapists should sensitively explore how anger was held and expressed in clients’ upbringing.
• Body-based techniques and nervous system regulation are essential for helping mothers manage anger.
• Consider the impact of perfectionism and inner critic parts, which often drive maternal distress.
• Therapist disclosure needs careful consideration—check your motives and the client’s readiness before sharing.
GUEST
Clinical psychologist Dr Caroline Boyd has over 10 years' experience working in the NHS and mental health settings, and she supports parents from pregnancy to childbirth and beyond. Caroline offers anger courses, workshops and 1:1 therapy, alongside training and supervision, in her independent psychology practice, Parent Therapy Hub. Caroline is the author of Mindful New Mum, and her published research explores mothers' experiences of intrusive thoughts about their babies. Her work has been featured in You magazine, Grazia, the Telegraph, and BBC R4’s Woman's Hour. She is an Ambassador for UK perinatal mental health charity, PANDAS, and appeared as an expert guest on ITV’s daytime show, This Morning, to discuss postpartum depression. Caroline shares psychology ideas on Instagram and in the media to help parents feel less alone and more connected - to themselves and their children.d writes extensively on maternal rage, using parts work and body-based approaches.
Contact her- Website
Instagram
RESOURCES
• Caroline’s maternal rage course for mums use MASTERINGTHERAPY code for £100 OFF
Training & Supervision for therapists: HERE
The course helps mums move from anger and shame to understanding and repair - in just six, manageable video lessons designed to fit around busy family life.
You don’t need to be experiencing full-blown rage to benefit. Many mums take the course simply to understand their emotions better and reconnect with themselves and those they love.
It’s for every mum who’s ever felt stretched too thin by:
🎯 Broken sleep that leaves you on edge
🎯 The invisible mental load that never ends
🎯 Toddler meltdowns that test every ounce of patience
🎯 Feeling unseen or unsupported by your partner or family
🎯 The pressure to do it all perfectly and sacrifice your own needs
Ghosts in the nursery reference
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For private psychology services and therapy visit www.drnataliestott.com
*****
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SUPERVISOR PLATFORM
Supervisor Platform is an online directory designed for therapists, psychologists, counsellors, and other mental health professionals to connect with qualified clinical supervisors. It makes it easy for practitioners to browse, compare, and contact supervisors based on their expertise, approach, and availability, while giving supervisors a professional space to showcase their services.
Supervisor Platform (with 3 months free trial code 'WELCOME3')
To search for a new supervisor visit HERE
For free resources on supervision visit HERE
Disclaimer: The Mastering therapy podcast and the information provided by Dr Natalie Stott (Dclinpsych, HPCP reg), is solely intended for informational and educational purposes and should only be used by qualified professionals.
Mentioned in this episode:
Maternal rage course- £100 pounds off
For access to Dr. Boyd's self-paced maternal rage course. Use the affiliate link here.
Maternal rage course- £100 pounds off
For access to Dr. Boyd's self-paced maternal rage course. Use the affiliate link here.
UK