The House is Getting Quieter. Now What?
When we talk about matrescence, the profound transition of becoming a mother, the conversation usually stops after the toddler years.
​
Learning how to let go as your children grow, change, and need you in entirely different ways is one of the most intense, unscripted transitions a mother will face. You spent years answering to someone else’s schedule, someone else’s hunger, and someone else’s emotional weather. You learned to be the anchor, the manager, and the constant safe harbor.
Now, they are stepping into their own autonomy.
​
Nobody prepares you for the quiet grief of your children growing up. You celebrate their milestones, but you are also learning how to unclench your hands. It is okay to mourn the little person who no longer exists, and to feel disoriented by the space that is left behind.
​
It is also time to ask the question you haven’t had room to ask in years:
Who are you when you aren't managing everyone else?
About the Group
Tides of Matrescence is a closed, 7-week therapeutic circle designed to hold the ache of these changing seasons while actively reclaiming your own sovereign, creative identity.
​
This is not a parenting class, nor is it a traditional talk-therapy group where we sit and give each other advice. Instead, we use trauma-informed somatic nervous system practices (breathwork, postural grounding, and sensory tracking) alongside tactile expressive arts (working with clay, torn paper, ink, collage and textiles) to process the transition.
​
We bypass the cognitive loops and use our hands and bodies to give shape to the things that are too heavy, messy, or complex for words.
​
Zero art experience is required. You do not need to be "creative" to do this work. You just need a willingness to show up for yourself.
​
The Details & Logistics
​
-
Location: Secure Online Zoom Video
-
Time: Saturday Mornings 10am - 1130am, September 19 - November 7, 2026
-
Duration: 90 minutes weekly for 7 weeks. (No Group Thanksgiving Weekend)
-
Size: Strictly capped at 6 to 7 women to ensure a safe, intimate, and deeply connected space.
-
Investment: $50 CAD per session ($350 total for the 7 weeks).
​
How to Register
​
Because this group balances deep grief with active identity work, I meet with every prospective member for a brief conversation before registration. This ensures the group is the right fit for your current season.
​
Step 1: Book a free, 30-minute call using the link below.​​
Step 2: We will chat briefly about where you are at, what you are looking for, and ensure the group container feels safe and supportive for you.
Step 3: Once confirmed, you will receive a registration link, consent forms, and a simple list of household art materials to gather before our first session.
​
Facilitated by Chari Tomczak
RP(Q), CT, RTC, Professional Art Therapist
​
Chari brings a deep reverence for the non-verbal spaces of healing. Drawing on clinical neurobiology, somatic pacing, and expressive arts, she helps clients navigate grief, life thresholds, and relational repair without relying solely on traditional talk therapy. Tidewaters Therapy Services is based in Alberta, providing grounded, trauma-informed care across the province and all of Turtle Island.
​
​
