The transition to parenthood is a unique process for each person. While news of a pregnancy can be a time of excitement, many people will also experience feelings of apprehension or anxiety about what this pregnancy means for them and how it will impact their future. The arrival of a baby can create equally mixed emotions as a parent navigates the adjustment to parenthood.
The perinatal period encompasses the time frame from one year before to 18 to 24 months after the birth of the child. This period is a broad umbrella term which includes antenatal or pre-natal (i.e., ‘before birth’) and postnatal or postpartum (‘after birth’).
A psychologist in the perinatal field has an in-depth knowledge of the issues that face women during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period; as well as individuals as they navigate the transition to parenthood. Specifically, they take a more family-centred, developmental life-span approach to mental health and psychosocial wellbeing. This means that while the psychologist is working with the individual/ parent to support their social, emotional, mental and psychological wellbeing, they also keep baby in mind in the greater perspective.
Vibe Psychology has specialist training in the area of Perinatal Mental Health.
PERINATAL PSYCHOLOGY SERVICES
Vibe Psychology sees many individuals in the Perinatal Period. Some of the difficulties we support are:
- Planning: infertility, the emotional process of fertility treatment, mixed emotions about pregnancy, single mother conception, depression, anxiety and stress, planned terminations
- Pregnancy: Depression and anxiety, bonding to your foetus, an unplanned pregnancy, pregnancy related illnesses, preparing for parenthood, perinatal loss
- Postpartum: Adjusting to parenthood, depression and anxiety, birth trauma, premature birth, fatherhood, your couple relationship, anger management/RAGE, emotion regulation difficulties, sleep issues, couples conflict, intimacy after birth
- Parenting: Bonding to your baby and attachment, fostering your baby’s emotional development, relating to your infant or toddler, understanding your toddler’s behaviour
- Pre-existing mental health disorders during pregnancy and postnatally
- Other issues: changes in self-identity, transition to work, feeding issues, sleeping issues, exploring parents experience of attachment and being parented as a child, family relationships, situational stressors, child illness or disability, relationships with other family members or friends, perfectionism, assertiveness
- Practicing strategies such as EMDR, CBT, EFT, ACT, Narrative therapy, Mindfulness
- Circle of Security Parenting training
If you would like to find out more about our treatment for any of the above conditions, or to book an appointment, please email natalie@vibepsychology.net.au
** If the concerns you are seeking support for are not in the above list, please reach out via email to provide information and we can problem-solve together the next steps.
Referral Process & Stakeholder Collaboration
Vibe Psychology is experienced in working with individuals in the perinatal period to provide assessment and intervention. Individuals may opt to work privately with Vibe Psychology or referral from the GP for therapy under a Mental Health Care Plan. We can work closely with midwifes, NSW health providers, GP’s and Psychiatrists to improve the mental wellbeing of our clients if our clients provide written consent for stakeholder involvement.
A collaborative, holistic approach to mental health and wellbeing underpins our work at Vibe Psychology, and to have a meaningful understanding of past specialist involvement we want to read any reports you have already gathered that may help us in addressing the referral question.
Telehealth Appointments
We are offering telehealth appointments to our perinatal clients (available through phone and/or video consultations). Telehealth appointments are eligible for Medicare rebates with a valid Mental Health Care Plan from your doctor or you can access these telehealth sessions privately for yourself.
Please note, Vibe Psychology is not a Crisis Support Service or a service that supports severe and complex Mental Illnesses. More information provided below for these issues:
Perinatal Infant Mental Health Services (PIMHS)
NSW Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Services (PIMHS) is a free, statewide mental health service that helps women and parents who:
- have a severe, acute or complex mental illness, or are at risk of recurrence
- are pregnant or have a child under the age of two.
Depending on where you live and your situation, this service is offered at clinics, hospitals, community health centres, at your home or via telehealth.
To access services, you will need to:
- get a referral from your doctor, midwife or health worker
- or call the Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511.