Perinatal Counselling and Psychology
in Sydney and the Sutherland Shire

In Australia, around one in five women experience anxiety, depression or both during pregnancy or after birth.

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At Evolving Minds Counselling and Psychology in Menai, our psychologists and counsellors provide pregnancy, perinatal and postnatal counselling for women across Sydney and the Sutherland Shire.

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What is perinatal mental health?

 

Perinatal mental health refers to emotional and psychological experiences during pregnancy and after birth, including postnatal depression and postnatal anxiety.

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How you feel during this time can be influenced by fertility challenges, pregnancy loss, birth trauma, adjusting to a new baby, or changes in roles and relationships.

 

Changes during and after pregnancy can also affect body image or eating patterns, which may connect with eating disorder counselling. For some women, this is a new experience. For others, it may connect with earlier experiences of trauma, loss, anxiety or depression.

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What can perinatal mental health feel like?

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Some women notice:

• Persistent low mood or sadness

• Anxiety, worry or panic

• Irritability or feeling on edge

• Intrusive thoughts 

• Feeling overwhelmed

• Disconnection from yourself, your baby or others

• Difficulty sleeping, even when the baby is sleeping

• Guilt, inadequacy or feeling unlike the parent you wanted to be

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When should you consider perinatal counselling?

 

Perinatal counselling can help you understand the changes you’re experiencing and find practical ways to manage them. This may include working with anxiety or low mood, adjusting to parenthood, processing birth trauma, managing changes in relationships and identity, or talking through concerns about your connection with your baby.

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Psychological therapy may also form part of postnatal depression treatment, alongside support from your GP or other health professionals where appropriate.

 

​Where helpful, additional support outside of therapy can be found through PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia), a national helpline for expecting and new parents experiencing perinatal mental illness.

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What approaches do we use in perinatal counselling?

 

Our clinicians draw on evidence based approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and attachment-informed therapy, depending on your needs.

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For couples adjusting to parenthood, Gottman Method Couples Therapy may also be incorporated.

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Perinatal counselling in Sydney and the Sutherland Shire

 

If you have been searching for a perinatal psychologist, postnatal psychologist, pregnancy counselling, postpartum depression counselling or postpartum counselling near you, our psychologists and counsellors work with women across Sydney and the Sutherland Shire.

We see clients from Menai, Miranda, Caringbah, Cronulla, Kirrawee, Engadine, Sutherland and surrounding suburbs. Appointments are available in person at our Menai practice and via secure online appointments across Australia.

​​If you’re unsure where to begin, our Client Care Team can assist. Call 02 8519 4197 or use the button below to request an appointment.​​