Perinatal Psychology

I work with adults experiencing emotional, psychological, and relational difficulties during pregnancy, the postpartum period, pregnancy loss, birth experiences, and adjustment to parenthood.

This period can involve anxiety, grief, overwhelm, identity changes, relationship strain, or feeling unlike yourself during a significant period of change. There is no “right way” to feel. Experiences are deeply personal, and therapy a offers space to understand your experience, in a more compassionate and flexible way, and develop ways to cope.

Therapy may support people experiencing:

  • antenatal and postnatal anxiety and depression

  • perinatal loss, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, neonatal death

  • processing birth experiences

  • adjustment to parenthood, identity changes, and relationship strain

  • emotional overwhelm, guilt, resentment, self-criticism, or disconnection

  • pregnancy and conception-related distress

  • understanding the impacts of past trauma which can be activated during the perinatal period

Therapy Approach

My approach is relational psychodynamic and attachment-informed, while also drawing on interpersonal therapy and trauma-informed strategies where helpful. Therapy is interested not only in symptoms and difficulties, but also in understanding the emotional, relational, biological, and personal context in which they occur.

In perinatal work, this may include thinking together about relationships, role transitions, grief and loss, identity shifts, expectations around pregnancy, birth, and parenthood, the impacts of early life experiences, and the emotional patterns or coping strategies that become more visible during this period.

Begin enquiry

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No. People seek therapy for many reasons during the perinatal period, such as fertility difficulties, pregnancy loss, anxiety during pregnancy, relationship changes, or uncertainty about becoming a parent.

  • Perinatal loss can have a profound emotional impact and may involve grief, trauma, guilt, loneliness, uncertainty, or changes within relationships and sense of self. Therapy can provide space to process these experiences thoughtfully and at your own pace.

  • This is a common experience. Pregnancy and parenthood can activate earlier experiences of care, attachment, vulnerability, or loss. Therapy can help make sense of these experiences and how they may be affecting you in the present.

  • Yes. I work with adults experiencing emotional or relational difficulties during the perinatal period, including pregnancy, postpartum adjustment, relationship changes, grief and loss, and transitions into parenthood.

  • Yes. I offer in person sessions in East Melbourne and telehealth for flexible access to therapy for adults in Australia.