Language: English
Level of audience: All

What happens to our identities when we become TA professionals, and are on a journey through parenthood?

From our experiences of becoming mothers and of accompanying other professionals in their journeys, we got to see parenthood – by choice or a result of one’s life journey – as an existential experience impacting our identities.

By journey through parenthood we account for the varied experiences in relation to being parents, encompassing also the experience of those not having children (childless/childfree) and/or providing parental functions. We honour the many intimate experiences encountered so far (considering parenthood, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, adoption, IVF, surrogacy and beyond, including loss and joys), and the many more lived by the participants. By interplay we refer to the mutual influence of being a professional and on a parenthood journey (as described above).

We experienced the tremendous benefits of creating spaces in which this interplay – and the multitude of narratives about it – was intentionally addressed and compassionately held.

Therefore, treasuring the legacy of our TA and psychoanalysis ”Parents”, we invite us to co-create such a space in which to give voice to and reflect on our experiences of the interplay, expanding our awareness and competencies. We will also share TA concepts and models able to guide us.

Honouring the ongoing nature of this process, we propose identifying together ways to continue exploring beyond this workshop, to support ourselves and our clients.

The workshop is experiential, aiming to co-create a sense of community and legitimise these intersections of our identities, through balancing contact, presentation moments, individual/group reflection and discussion.

Past experiences have shown us that these topics elicit vulnerability, and also that the group is a powerful container, within a shared framework of dialogue and cultural humbleness