‘Perinatal’ describes the period during pregnancy (antenatal) as well as the year following birth (postnatal). Women can develop symptoms of depression and anxiety before, during, or after the birth of a child, or may experience symptoms throughout. When considering the huge life adjustment associated with being a new mum, on top of the demands of a pregnancy or a newborn, it is unsurprising that some women experience depression and/or anxiety.
Many women worry that the transition to motherhood should be effortless and joyful, and feel frustrated or confused when this is not the case for them. If you are experiencing perinatal depression or anxiety, you may be distressed by your mood and inability to enjoy aspects of the pregnancy or newborn period. You may be noticing ongoing changes in your mood, sleep, motivation, confidence, appetite, and have begun to withdraw from family and friends. If this is the case for you, it is important to speak with a professional. In some cases, without seeking support, symptoms of perinatal anxiety and depression can have a lasting impact a woman’s self-esteem.
Motherhood presents some of the greatest challenges and joys in life. For some women, pregnancy and birth does not go as planned, and they encounter emotional difficulties they didn’t anticipate. For example, you may have had a positive and uncomplicated pregnancy in the past, and are surprised to now be experiencing perinatal anxiety.
You may identify with some of the factors which are believed to contribute to perinatal anxiety and depression:
Previous mental health problems
Life stressors such as relationship concerns, financial strain, medical concerns, etc
Lack of practical support – e.g. single parenthood or absence of family support
Lack of emotional support or a breakdown in relationships with close friends or family
Complications with pregnancy or labour, including premature delivery
Breastfeeding difficulties
Having unrealistic expectations about pregnancy or motherhood
If you are pregnant, and are beginning to experience symptoms of anxiety and depression, early intervention is vital as a protective factor against ongoing symptoms after your baby is born. As a new mum, you are the most influential person in your child’s life. The maternal bond is an extremely precious and unique relationship. However, the maternal bond does not always form instantaneously, and is influenced by both emotional and physical components of your health. Therefore, it is extremely important to take care of both your physical and mental health. From infancy, a child needs an attentive, emotionally responsive caregiver for their healthy physical, social and emotional development: a relationship in which the infant feels secure promotes later psychological wellbeing.
Don’t struggle with perinatal anxiety and depression alone, seek support from a psychologist. At someone.health, some our practitioners are specialised in providing support to mothers experiencing perinatal anxiety and depression.
Meet the someone.health psychologists currently available to see new clients for Perinatal Depression & Anxiety counselling.
Hi, my name is Donna. I am looking forward to meeting you. I have a calm and welcoming manner and hope to create a space for you to feel comfortable and engaged. I have always had a passion to improve people’s mental health and work from a person-centered perspective. This means, I want to listen and understand things from your...
View ProfileKatherine has worked with a wide array of presentations, including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, grief, trauma, anger management, bullying, relationship difficulties and personality disorders. Katherine has worked as a School Counsellor for five years and an English teacher for over thirty years. Katherine is experienced in dealing with adolescent development and parenting issues. She has a keen interest in working...
View ProfileI love getting to know you as an individual and what makes you tick. I enjoy working in a collaborative and holistic way, incorporating your strengths and values into your therapy journey. My style is conversational, warm and natural with a dash of humour thrown into the mix.
View ProfileI look forward to working with you on this journey through collaboration to understand your goals and work towards developing a plan tailored to achieving these goals. I have a client centered approach to counselling and ensure that focus is on ensuring that any treatment is individualised to suit your needs which is aimed to promote functional, psychological, and social...
View ProfileWith over 30 years as a psychologist, Lisa has worked with a diverse range of clients and is very interested in working with adults who are having issues with self-confidence and interpersonal communication, depression, stress, anxiety, loss, family conflict, fears, career or work problems, emotional distress, post-natal stress or depression, or relationship difficulties.
View ProfileMy combined professional and life experiences make me highly aware of the types of difficulties encountered by people from all walks of life and the impact on their and others’ lives these obstacles to wellbeing can have. My efforts and professional skill are dedicated toward helping to make a difference and to assist people in developing their greater potential
View ProfileWelcome and hello to you, I am looking forward to understanding who you are as an individual. I am hopeful that through our time together we can put in place some steps and strategies to assist you in achieving the outcomes you desire.
View ProfileI am looking forward to meeting many and varied clients to work with together to bring the very best in your life. My style is relaxed and friendly and I like to focus on the relationship we build together. I have practiced for over 30 years with all range of problems so I welcome all or any struggles in your...
View ProfileThe goal of Xiaoping's counselling is to assist you to be powered with a series of healthy concepts about your life as well as equipped with a bunch of abilities for all of life's challenges. With Xiaoping's counselling, his clients are led to have more awareness about themselves, more confidence to face their challenges and more skills to find solutions.
View ProfileI look forward to meeting you, getting to know you and forming a supportive and trusting therapeutic relationship that is centered on working together to create the life you wish for. I have worked extensively with young people from the ages of 5-18 and their families with the goal of always being respectful, an advocate and assisting clients to navigate...
View ProfileMelita is a caring, authentic and empathic person.,A counselling session with her will feel natural, conversational and purposeful. She loves helping others to learn, both about themselves as individuals and about their brain and why it does the things it does. Her passion for helping others to build their skillset and confidence in themselves led her to refocus her career...
View ProfileJovana has a Masters in Organsiational Psychology and is trained in various therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Psychodynamic therapy. Jovana has worked previously in corporate settings, assisting employees, managers and executives to manage various work and life stressors, as well as provide individual coaching. She then transitioned to focus on secondary school aged...
View ProfileGeoff has over 10 years of experience working as a psychologist and has a keen interest working with people who are experiencing depression, anxiety, procrastination, interpersonal difficulties and low self esteem. Geoff is trained in evidence-based approaches including CBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy and Motivational Interviewing.
View ProfileI am looking forward to getting to know you as a unique individual and working together to create the life you wish for. I am honoured and privileged to support you in your life journey by providing non-judgmental, compassionate safe space to open- up and address the mental health challenges you are experiencing at this time of your life. I...
View ProfileSue has experience working with many people of different ages across the lifespan, children, adolescents, and adults - including ‘seniors’. The diverse range of challenges she has provided support and counselling for include people with work and relationship issues; helping parents find joy in their relationship with their children, including those with behavioural difficulties or medical and disability concerns.
View ProfileI believe all humans share the experience of suffering and that it can be helpful to seek out professional help when this suffering becomes overwhelming. I think every person will benefit from different experiences in therapy and that its really important to work with someone who sees you as a person who is unique.
View ProfileI am excited to listen and get to know you as we work together to make sense of, predict or change areas of life. My practice has always been to actively listen, to explore and to experiment using a range of psychology tools. I work using innovative approaches that highlight your strengths whilst also addressing issues or areas that are...
View ProfileJade has more than 20 years experience in working with people of all ages, across both private and government settings. She has a special interest in weight management psychology, as well as mood disorders (anxiety and depression), stress management and health psychology.
View ProfileTegan has worked as a psychologist for over ten years. She has largely worked supporting children and families impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault and feel very passionate about human rights and equality. She is also a parent of three children ranging from toddler to teenager and hopes that adds further practicality to her support.
View ProfileDarren has been helping people from a psychological perspective for over 17 years. He is experienced working with depression, anxiety, PTSD, stress, anger management, loss and grief, as well as intellectual, physical, developmental disabilities. Darren has also experienced life as a wine merchant, martial artist, security officer and as a tradesman.
View ProfileRosa strives to help clients to gain greater insight into their lives to understand and overcome their presenting issues, develop their self-confidence and make meaningful changes in their lives. Rosa provides psychological services in both English and Spanish.
View ProfileShe has experience working with children, adolescents, older adults and CALD communities. Sharilee has worked extensively with individuals on the Autism Spectrum and with other developmental disorders. She has experience with Attentional difficulties in both neurological/biofeedback and behavioural approaches. She has also worked extensively with Anxiety and Mood disorders.
View ProfileSarah uses a person-centred, strength-based approach, working in collaboration with clients to reach their therapeutic goals. Sarah is highly focused on the therapeutic relationship using a calm and relaxed manner, positive communication strategies, empathy, and understanding during therapy sessions.
View ProfileHi, I am very excited to meet you, get to know you as a person and work together to achieve the change you desire, the life you would like for yourself. I am committed to working with you, the whole person and I will treat you as a real person, not just see your issue. I want you, us, to...
View ProfileDeciding to see a Psychologist is a big step, so congratulations for coming this far. Once you choose a therapist, stepping into a their virtual therapy room is the next big step, and for many people this can feel overwhelming. A big part of my job is to help you feel comfortable and safe. All you have to do is...
View ProfileI am committed to helping my clients discover their unique strengths to overcome the challenges they may face in their life journey. I value everyone of my clients as a special person, working with them to achieve the personal goals they want to develop through counselling.
View ProfileJessie has expertise with the psychological impact of perinatal loss, the topic of her Ph.D. She has worked with adults experiencing mood disorders, personality disorders, procrastination, anxiety and grief. Jessie offers a supportive, non-judgmental and accepting environment for her clients to feel safe so that they can openly discuss the issues that they would like to change.
View ProfileRosemary welcomes clients concerned with personal issues such as anger, stress, anxiety, and depression, self-esteem, phobias, adjustment, behavioural change, eating disorders, smoking cessation, grief and loss, and relationships. She also welcomes clients with workplace issues such as career development, motivation, performance, and interpersonal conflict. Rosemary only provides video consultations.
View ProfileAlicia is a Clinical Psychologist who has extensive experience treating low self worth, child attachment and behaviour management and family of origin issues. This includes the experience feeling different to others growing up, family domestic violence, emotional abuse, being criticised or bullied, having low self worth or other trauma growing up.
View ProfileMy passion is helping people, in good times and tough times, and that is my aim when meeting you. I want to get to know you and help you through whatever challenges are facing you. I like to celebrate successes, even the little ones, and work through the next steps towards more success. I see every barrier or bump in...
View ProfileYakira is a naturally warm and empathetic Psychologist who is passionate about helping people to become “unstuck” and find meaning again, and in turn enhance their relationships with themselves and others. Yakira has experience working with people who have issues relating to depression, low self-esteem, trauma, stress, anxiety, grief and loss, anger, relationship and family breakdown, abuse, eating disorders, and...
View ProfileJames' approach to mental health is about mind-body integration and looking at the “whole person”. Mental health influences how we feel, think and move, how we communicate and relate to the world, and can seriously impact our physical health. James will hep make sense of how this all fits together, to explore unhelpful thoughts and behaviour, and identify different options.
View ProfileHi there, Well done for considering getting help as it can be hard to reach out when you’re struggling. I’ve been working as a psychologist for many years and regard it as a privilege to hear people’s personal stories and help them move forward in life. I listen deeply to help you feel heard and understood and together we can...
View ProfileKathie enjoys helping a broad range of people aged 16 years and over, and has a keen interest in helping people adjust to various life transitions such as changes in work, relationships, and parenthood. Kathie also has extensive experience in helping women work through issues related to sexual intimacy. Kathie uses evidence-based treatments including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance...
View ProfileBilyana's 20 years’ experience is vast, having started my career in nursing before embarking on study to become a Clinical Psychologist. She sees people presenting with a broad spectrum of presentations, including trauma, depressive and anxiety based disorders, workplace bullying, phobias, relationship issues, stress disorders, schizophrenia, self-harm, suicidal behaviour, personality disorders, grief and relationship issues.
View ProfileI am excited to be able to support you in meeting your goals and managing challenging circumstances. I am passionate about delivering accessible Psychology sessions by telehealth. I am committed to working with you based on your priorities and values.
View ProfileI am committed to working with clients through a collaborative client-centered approach. I view acceptance and a non-judgmental interaction as critical components to the client-therapist relationship. I believe in focusing on strengths and self-observation skills as the keys to client change, growth, and development. I look forward to the opportunity of working with clients who are seeking to move forward...
View ProfileIoanna has over 30 years of experience working with a diverse range of clients including adolescents, adults and seniors in both rural and urban settings. Ioanna is keen to work with clients who experience anxiety and depression, low self esteem, family and/or relationship conflicts, amongst other areas or simply to be a sounding board.
View ProfileJenny has been a registered Psychologist since 2005. Jenny’s key areas of interest are stress and health management, mood and anxiety disorders, parenting, managing life transitions, executive functioning and neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
View ProfileCourtney is best situated to assist with the following areas: Intimacy issues and relationship dynamics, metabolising challenging life experiences and transitions, self esteem and identity, traumatic experiences, existential concerns, wellbeing and resilience, family and parenting issues, somatic and nervous system regulation, emotional regulation and coping, stress and perfectionism, Highly Sensitive People (HSP), and developing insight and reflective functioning.
View ProfileMichelle has extensive experience working with people with mental health difficulties with co-morbid sleep, diet, and activity problems. Michelle has a keen interest to work with people with low mood, self-esteem, anxiety, adult attention-deficit disorder, and interpersonal difficulties. She retains an active research profile into sleep disorders, mood problems, and brain dysfunction, across the lifespan.
View ProfileTrisha has experience working with a diverse range of clients including children, community from different cultural backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, and LGBT+ community.
View ProfileMelissa has extensive experience in working with teen conflicts including peer conflicts, relationships, exam stress and fitting in. In addition to that she has an interest in PTSD and trauma, poor health, covid-related adjustment and loss, HIV and cancer. Melissa can provide support for LBGTQ conflicts including coming out.
View ProfileI am passionate about psychology and take an individual approach to psychological services from a broad worldview and framework of practice. I seek to understand your unique experiences and situation. I believe in personal empowerment using a strengths based approach. I consider it a privilege to provide support as you take steps towards your health and wellbeing goals.
View ProfileRosara has a keen interest in working with children, adolescents and adults who are experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma including PTSD and adjustment disorder, OCD, bipolar disorder, gambling and other addictive behaviours, alcohol misuse, work/personal stress and domestic violence survivors.
View ProfileFor over a decade Racquel has worked with adults who have experienced difficulties with emotional regulation, substance use, trauma, stress, depression, anxiety, and antisocial conduct. She has a deep understanding of women specific issues (e.g., domestic violence and parenting concerns) as she has worked predominantly with women.
View ProfileCaroline is very approachable and believes that positive change is sustainable, working holistically and using practical strategies, developing new skills and psychological interventions to achieve the best outcomes for you. She has been the principal psychologist and proprietor of Pure Gold Christian Counselling and Psychological Services for eight years.
View ProfileAs a mother myself, I know how difficult it is to see your child struggling. And I know that bringing them to therapy is such a big step for both of you. So welcome, and congratulations on taking that first step - I am so looking forward to working with you.
View ProfileColela has an interest in working with people experiencing anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, anger management, sleep difficulties and stress and relaxation management. Colela uses a client centered approach where she values you as an individual and works collaboratively during treatment and developing plans to assist you to live the best life you can.
View ProfileSharon has been working as a psychotherapist and clinical psychologist for over thirty years with adults, university students and older adults. She has a keen interest in working with people who have difficulties with self- esteem, interpersonal difficulties, early parenting issues, anxiety and depression. Sharon does not provide any written reports.
View ProfileClaire works with a range of clients across the lifespan, including children, adolescents, adults and the elderly. Claire has a keen interest in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and is listed as an ACT therapist. She is also interested in Neurodliversity with an emphasis on autism and ADHD. Claire uses a trauma informed approach and uses schema and narrative therapy.
View ProfileSimon is a qualified primary school teacher as well as a registered psychologist. Simon has a keen interest in working with people experiencing anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder and behaviour and emotional disorders in children. He has a relaxed, easy going nature and likes to provide people with the skills to manage life's challenges.
View ProfileHi, my name is Rachel and I'd love to meet and support you. What makes therapy with me different? We will work in the moment. I will meet you where you are at and walk alongside you using my wealth of tools and my deep intuition. You are not a diagnosis or a label to me. You are precious and...
View ProfileRenata has twenty years of experience, supporting women with a number of issues, including: stress, depression, anxiety, social isolation, grief and loss, pre and post-natal distress and parenting.
View ProfileAmanda has experience working with various clients including adults across the lifespan, adolescents, and LGBT+ community members. Areas of focus include depression, anxiety, relationship challenges, substance use, living with chronic health-related illness, unresolved trauma, and grief and loss.
View ProfileJeraldine has significant experience working with people experiencing anxiety and interpersonal difficulties. Jeraldine is trained in evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
View ProfileI believe that therapy is an opportunity to gain a better understanding of ones self in a professionally supportive environment. My goal is to empower my clients to believe and better handle life stressors through utilizing their own strengths. I see life stressors as a way to help us build resilience and as a journey to better oneself. I assists...
View ProfileWith twenty years of experience as a psychologist specialising in child, youth and young adult mental health, my passion is helping young people navigate some of the hardest times they will experience in life as they grow into maturity. Young at heart, I remember what it’s like dealing with a multitude of issues including family, school, friendships, romance, hormones, puberty,...
View ProfileI have learned that deep and lasting change is possible, that long-term issues can be resolved, and people can be free of emotional pain they carry by making sense of difficult experiences together, both past and present, and moving towards a place of self-understanding. Michiel works with adults and adolescents using an integrative approach which is based on empathy and...
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