524: The Motherhood Myth with Vanessa Bennett
From Therapy Chat by Laura Reagan, LCSW-C
April 20, 2026 · 49 min
About this episode
Laura Reagan and Vanessa Bennett discuss the complexities of motherhood and female identity through the lens of depth psychology.
With Mother's Day approaching, this week we are revisiting one of my favorite conversations of 2025. My guest is Vanessa Bennett, LMFT, author of "The Motherhood Myth: A Depth Therapist's Guide to Redefine Parenting, Reimagine Intimacy, and Reclaim the Self." So many of us who were socialized as women are considering what it means to exist in a female body, and expectations around womanhood and mothering in a colonized culture - Vanessa and I discuss the shadow and light aspects of this identity, and our experiences, in this soulful conversation. Through the lens of depth psychology, Vanessa Bennett explores themes of motherhood, including the archetypal wounds that women carry. You may be familiar with the mother wound, and we also talk about how we carry sister wounds, witch wounds, father wounds and more. We discuss societal myths surrounding motherhood and the importance of reclaiming one's self and intuition after becoming a parent. Vanessa Bennett, LMFT, is a licensed depth psychotherapist, author, and facilitator known for her no-nonsense yet compassionate approach to personal growth and healing. She is the coauthor of the bestselling relationship book "It’s Not Me, It’s…
People in this episode
Host: Laura Reagan
Guest: Vanessa Bennett
Topics covered
- motherhood
- depth psychology
- female identity
- personal growth
- societal myths
- archetypal wounds
Keywords
- motherhood
- depth psychology
- archetypal wounds
- personal growth
- female identity
- societal myths
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Cheaper Than Therapy
Books & works: The Motherhood Myth
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