You’ve read the books. Now let’s bring it into your body.
The Softening
An intimate eight-week circle for parents who know the theory of Aware Parenting or hand in hand, respectful parenting, and are craving a space to do their own inner work. This is a group container to slow down, soften and come back to your centre.
You know how you would like to show up, but the days often feel long and hard and you’re exhausted and trying to hold it ALL together.
But who is holding you?
You’re a reader. A researcher. A learner. You’ve got the books on your bedside table, the podcasts in your ears, the gentle reminders written down. You know about listening to feelings. You know about attachment play. You know about staying with your child through a big cry.
But damn this way of parenting feels hard.
And lonely…
I want you to know:
Firstly, I have been here, you are not alone,
Secondly, I’m sending lots of love and compassion to you,
Thirdly, it’s not that you don’t know enough.
We are parenting in a different paradigm to the one most of us grew up in. It is extremely hard to offer something to our children that we may not have received ourselves.
It is hard to hold and listen to our children without also tending to our own emotional needs.
Where is the space for your feelings?
What is ‘The Softening’
A space to do your own inner work, with support.
The Softening is an eight-week group program where you get to show up and work on whatever is coming up for you. Not more theory. Not another list of tools. A small, held space where you can slow down, drop into your body, and let yourself feel whatever is showing up in your inner world.
What’s Included
Eight weeks. Sixteen live calls. A small circle, spaces limited.
8 Sunday morning circles: Sundays, 8–10am ACDT, (Adelaide time), on Zoom. This will be approx two hours to slow down, share, be listened to, and work on what’s coming up for you.
8 Wednesday night Q&A calls: Wednesdays, 7.30pm ACDT, (Adelaide time). Bring your questions about your kids. What’s going on, we will workshop things to try, play ideas, loving limits. This is where theory turns into embodied practice.
Pre-recorded inner work modules: There will be a few pre-recorded modules on some practices and processes you can keep coming back to. These draw from The Marion Method, CranioSacral Therapy - bodywork practices and somatic work. You can watch and use whenever suits you.
A private community space: One place for everything: recordings, modules, and a space to share, connect and ask questions between calls.
Every call is recorded, and you keep lifetime access to the recordings and modules.
The Investment
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Hi, I’m Shelley
Physiotherapist, CranioSacral Therapist, Aware Parenting, Hand in Hand Parenting Instructor and Marion Method Mentor…
But beyond all the things I have studied, my biggest teachers have been my three children and the many many hours I have spent in experiential containers and 1:1 support diving into my own process. My children have shown me all of the places I still had/have left to discover about myself. They are wonderful mirrors, ones I will spend the rest of my life looking into.
I also don’t know what I would have done on this parenting journey without support for myself. I’ve needed a space where I can explore what is happening for me and my inner process. Over the years this has looked like courses, group containers, training programs and 1:1 support. All forms have been extremely helpful in my journey.
As my one-to-one work clinic work reaches a capacity, I wanted to find a way to support more parents and I have witnessed first hand the power of a group container and sharing your inner process with other parents who are on a similar path.
I would love to have you join.
Frequently Asked Questions
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You don’t need to have worked with me before. You do need some understanding of Aware Parenting, or of Hand in Hand parenting, and feel aligned with the philosophy. There won’t be much of the basic teachings, this is a space for your own inner processing.
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That’s completely fine. Every call is recorded and the replay will be waiting for you in the portal.
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No. There are no have-tos. You can watch quietly in the background and take what you need. Come exactly as you are, in your pyjamas, unwashed hair, cup tea, however you like.
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No. The Softening is a group coaching program, for educational purposes. It isn’t therapy and doesn’t replace one-to-one therapy or considered medical advise.
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Yes, and that’s wonderful. Please keep seeing them. The Softening can sit alongside the other support you have.
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The calls are Sunday mornings 8–10am hoping that, if you have a partner at home, they can take the kids so you get a couple of quiet hours for yourself. I know that is not always possible so you are welcome to join and leave the calls as you need to. Please tend to your own needs there is never any obligation to stay or join the sessions.
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The sunday calls will be 2 hours in length, the wednesday Q and A will be 90mins. Outside of the call times, there will be a 4 pre-recorded modules on practices and processes that can assist with your own inner processing. There’s no homework, nothing to study, this is a space for own emotional process. You don’t need to watch the modules to come to the calls. Just come as you are.
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Absolutely. The Softening is open to anyone who is willing and wanting a space to do their own inner work. The price is for one place in the circle. If you and your partner would both like to join, send me a message and I can offer a discounted price for two places. Because this is individual work, each of you having your own seat at the table is what creates such powerful change.
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You keep lifetime access to the call recordings and modules, so you can come back to them whenever you need to.
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I know. The cost of living is hard right now, and parents need support at every price point, so I'll be creating lots of lower-cost offers and ways to learn. The Softening is different. It's high-touch: a place to ask your questions and learn directly from me. I've priced it between a self-paced course and one-to-one support, so that if you'd love to go deeper but one-to-one work isn't possible right now, you can still find that support in a group.
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This paradigm of parenting and inner work isn't a quick fix, and I can’t promise that eight weeks will sort your life out! This is an ongoing process, and the inner work alongside it is lifelong. In The Softening, you'll have the space to work on one particular piece: a pattern, a trigger, or a part of a relationship that feels hard. The changes will be very individual and there is no guarantee in this work. My hope is that if you show up willing and ready to work on a pattern, you will find the support, practices and processes to see some changes in yourself and your family.
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Yes, for those who show up. If you come to the first two Sunday circles live, and after 2 weeks feel it isn't right for you, let me know by Monday 2 November and I'll refund you in full. I'm not able to offer refunds if you don't attend, or after that date. This doesn't affect your rights under Australian Consumer Law.
Disclaimer
The Softening is a group coaching program provided for educational purposes. It is not therapy and does not replace individual medical, psychological or allied health care. If you are concerned about your own or your child’s health, please speak with your healthcare provider.