Perinatal Psychology
I see clients experiencing a range of issues including: perinatal anxiety and depression and/or stress; loss/grief in the perinatal period due to miscarriage or stillbirth; pregnancy decision making and issues around termination; fertility problems or assisted fertility; preparing for birth, dealing with childbirth related distress/trauma; the transition to parenthood; bonding and early parenting.
I will work with you to explore, understand and work towards your therapeutic goals.I draw from evidence-based approaching, including predominately Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), as well as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and schema therapy. I am also a registered circle of security parent educator, an evidence-based approach for parents in building secure relationships with their babies and toddlers.
I am trained in both Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to treat post-traumatic stress associated perinatal trauma (including birth trauma, loss, premature delivery, termination). Please read here about EMDR therapy during the perinatal years.
Perinatal mental health
- Pre-conception, during pregnancy, post-partum
- Intrusive thoughts, rituals
- Depressive disorders during pregnancy and post-partum
- Trauma associated with birth, loss, premature delivery, termination
Adjustment to parenthood
- Preparing for parenthood
- Managing role and identity shifts
- Relationship changes
- Managing stress and self-regulation
- Navigating return to work and life transitions
- Promoting bonding
- Understanding and breaking
- Intergenerational trauma
Read my articles on managing the mental load and uncertainty in new parenthood
Conception and pregnancy
- Emotional challenges with conception
- Impact of infertility treatments
- Coping with unplanned pregnancy or perinatal loss
- Navigating emotional and physical changes
- Coping with medical diagnoses in mum or baby
- Preparing for birth
Grief and loss
- Processing and coping through grief following miscarriage, termination, still birth and newborn
- Adjusting to life without children
- Coping with other losses in the perinatal period
- Pregnancy after loss, managing anxiety and fear