Mother Hunger®
HEALING THE MOTHER WOUND
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HEALING THE MOTHER WOUND ✴
Mother Hunger®
WHAT IS MOTHER HUNGER?
Mother Hunger® is a term brought to life by psychotherapist and author Kelly McDaniel, illuminating a profound yet often unnamed ache many women carry. It represents the longing for the nurturing, protection, and guidance of a mother figure—a yearning for love that feels safe, consistent, and unconditional.
For many, the search for this maternal connection becomes a lifelong journey. The ache may not stem from physical loss alone; even women whose mothers are still alive can feel the void of unmet emotional needs. This yearning can leave behind a quiet, persistent emptiness, but healing begins when we give it a name—Mother Hunger®.
The Heart of Mother Hunger®
Mother Hunger® is not just about loss through death; it’s about the emotional yearning for the love and care a mother provides. For women who lost their mothers early or grew up without the nurturing they needed, this hunger can manifest as a deep ache, shaping relationships, self-worth, and emotional well-being.
But this journey is not without hope. Healing from Mother Hunger® begins by acknowledging what was missing and understanding that it’s not too late to nurture yourself. By exploring these unmet needs, you can gently untangle the loneliness and reclaim the love, protection, and guidance that still live within you. Mother Hunger® reminds us that grief takes many forms, but so does healing. Together, we can honor your longing, understand its roots, and build a pathway toward self-compassion, connection, and the care you deserve.
Mother Hunger Online 8 week live via Zoom Psycho-Education Course
A LIVE ONLINE GROUP FOR WOMEN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED MOTHER HUNGER.
Mother Hunger® speaks to an ache that often feels impossible to name—the longing for the love, protection, and nurturing of a mother figure that may never have fully been there. Maybe your mother experienced her own generational trauma, leaving her unable to give you what you needed. Maybe she passed too soon, or you’ve never felt truly close, even with her presence in your life.
This course is a space to honor that ache and begin to heal it. Over eight live, weekly sessions, we’ll explore the heart of Mother Hunger® together—understanding its roots, naming its impact, and finding tools to rebuild the care and nurturing you deserve.
MEET THE FACILITATOR
Angela Schellenberg, Mother Hunger Certified Facilitator
Discovering Kelly McDaniel’s work on Mother Hunger® was a pivotal moment in my life. It was as though every thread of my experiences—both personal and professional—was finally woven together into something I could truly understand. Mother Hunger® illuminated so much of what I had lived and witnessed, making it a cornerstone of my practice.
From an early age, I faced profound loss and disruption. At eleven, I lost my mother to mental illness and became her caretaker. Her love for me was deep, but her illness meant the nurturing and protection I needed often felt out of reach. That loss continued when my father was murdered just a few years later, propelling me into foster care and a life filled with searching—searching for safety, for identity, and for a sense of self-worth.
Those experiences shaped not only my personal journey but my work as a therapist. They taught me the profound importance of consistent care, guidance, and protection—and what happens when those essentials are missing.
Now, I guide others on their own healing paths, helping them name their longing, understand its roots, and find the strength to rebuild. Together, we can honor your story and create space for the healing you deserve.
My Journey in Experiencing Mother Hunger
I know the deep ache of longing for something that feels just out of reach—a connection, a sense of safety, a love that feels unwavering. While I was fortunate to have my mother during my early years, her own struggles with childhood trauma and abuse left gaps that shaped my understanding of how difficult it can be to give what we ourselves didn’t receive.
Healing those early attachment wounds and addressing generational trauma requires patience, compassion, and an unshakable belief in the possibility of growth.
As a certified elementary teacher turned LMHC trauma attachment therapist, I’ve dedicated my work to helping individuals navigate the profound effects of trauma, grief, and loss. From working with Motherless Daughters to Parentless Parents and those grappling with sudden, unimaginable loss, my background allows me to walk beside those facing these unique challenges, offering a space of understanding and care.
My journey has also taken me across the world. As the director of the I AM WHO? program in Asia, I had the privilege of training orphanage leaders to foster identity, self-worth, and safety in children who had lost so much. This work underscored how essential nurturing, protection, and guidance are—not just in childhood but in shaping who we become as adults.
I’ve also co-facilitated early Mother Loss Retreats with Hope Edelman, author of the New York Times bestseller Motherless Daughters. These retreats, and Hope’s compassionate guidance, have been transformative for so many, including myself. Through this work, I’ve seen how Mother Hunger® impacts women whose mothers could not provide the love and support they needed, whether due to early loss or emotional absence.
Remember this: You are not defined by what happened to you. Your experiences do not determine your worth or your potential for healing.
Healing is a journey, and every step forward—no matter how small—is a step toward rediscovering your strength, reclaiming your story, and creating a life filled with self-compassion and connection.
Mother Hunger Consultations
Mother Hunger® touches a tender place within—a space shaped by the longing for love, guidance, and safety. As a certified facilitator in Mother Hunger®, I am here to walk with you through this deeply personal journey. Whether you’ve read Kelly McDaniel’s book and want to unpack what resonated, or you’re simply beginning to explore this concept, I’ll provide the support and tools you need to heal.
Together, we’ll navigate the layers of trauma, attachment wounds, and grief that arise from unmet maternal needs. In our sessions, you’ll have the space to reflect, process, and begin rebuilding the nurturing and protection that still live within you.
This is your invitation to take the first step toward healing. Reach out today to begin your recovery journey, one rooted in self-compassion and growth.
Mother Hunger Retreat
Unveil the hidden truths, embrace your story, and find comfort in a compassionate community that understands your journey.
This retreat is a sacred space for reflection, connection, and renewal. Together, we’ll uncover the threads of Mother Hunger® that have shaped your story, explore pathways to healing, and create moments of connection with those who truly understand.
Stay tuned for more details and be the first to reserve your spot in this transformative experience. Let this retreat be your next step toward rediscovering yourself and reclaiming the nurturing you deserve.
Have Questions?
Call us at (425)628-3354
Located In
Santa Monica, California
Business Hours
By appointment only. Mon-Sat 9am-3pm
