Parenting is seen as ‘natural’ but we need MAPS to navigate us through the challenges, especially in the first few weeks of parenthood.

Manager of Meerilinga Parenting Services, Belynda Smith, and Sharon Cooke, a parent-infant therapist, discuss the need to slow down and be present with their little one. Sharon shares her experience helping to develop Mother-Baby Nurture and how this short, 10-week programme can form a foundation for a lifelong connection.

Discover MAPS for Parenting: mindfulness, attunement, play and self care by following us online or viewing our YouTube playlist.

Find more support at Meerilinga: https://www.meerilinga.org.au/

About Sharon Cooke, Parent-Infant Therapist:

Sharon Cooke originally trained as a Registered Midwife and Child Health Nurse. In the first half of her career, she worked in early parenting—supporting families through consultations and parent education, with a special focus on children’s sleep and behaviour. As a mother of three herself, Sharon was motivated to really understand the mysteries of parenting, and she dug deep into it all. Over time, though, she realised something was missing. When it came to family trauma and loss—the struggles that most needed compassionate support—her professional toolkit felt empty. This is what sparked her curiosity about family relationships, trauma, and the way patterns of relating are carried from one generation to the next. To explore this further, Sharon completed a Master’s in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health and trained as a Parent-Infant Therapist. Drawing on attachment science and neurobiology, she went on to author Mother-Baby Nurture—a reflective group for mothers and infants that addresses the transmission of trauma, a subject that’s rarely spoken about. Today, Sharon trains and supervises a multidisciplinary team of clinicians delivering Mother-Baby Nurture in 13 communities across WA. This free program supports families with newborns, helping them start life together on strong and nurturing foundations.

The MAPS for Parents podcast is recorded on the lands of the Whadjuk Noongar people. Meerilinga would like to recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community and pay our respects to their culture and to elders past, present and emerging in the spirit of reconciliation.