Welcome
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The Antenatal & Postnatal Psychology Network is a professional collaboration of Psychologists who specialise in conception, pregnancy, the postnatal period, and the early parenting years.
Known for our expertise, and dedication to the field of perinatal mental health, we are committed to providing care that is compassionate, non-judgemental and evidence-based. The childbearing years are full of challenges. If you are struggling as a hopeful, expectant, or new parent, we are here to help you find the support you need. Please make direct contact with the Psychologist you choose. We trust this initial contact with your selected Psychologist, will assist you to feel as comfortable as possible when taking the first step towards reaching out for help. Dr Renée Miller Principal Clinical Psychologist & Founder |
About usOur Network is a collective of independently practising perinatal Psychologists located in a number of areas around Melbourne and Victoria. Our Psychologists have exceptional training and extensive experience working with women, men and couples (including same-sex couples) struggling with issues relating to conception, fertility, pregnancy, birth, the postnatal period, and the early parenting years. |
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Counselling for...
Why people seek helpTrying to fall pregnant, pregnancy, and new parenthood, can involve a multitude of physical and emotional stressors. Many women, men and couples are affected by anxiety, stress, depression, worry, exhaustion, grief, or adjustment difficulties during these times. |
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When Perinatal Psychiatry is required
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Some women (and men) require additional assessment or ongoing support from specialist pregnancy and postnatal Psychiatrists. If you have a history or family history of serious mental health conditions (e.g. psychosis, bipolar disorder), you may want to talk to your GP about a referral to a Perinatal Psychiatrist. We work closely with some of Melbourne's leading Perinatal Psychiatrists. These Psychiatrists provide assessment, treatment and medication (where necessary) within a framework of safety and well-being for both mother and baby, during pregnancy and the postnatal period. |
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Postnatal psychosis
If you are a friend or family member of a new mother whose mental health appears to be deteriorating rapidly, be aware of the critical emergency that is postnatal psychosis. If the new mother seems to be losing touch with reality and behaving in uncharacteristic ways. she may be developing postnatal psychosis which has a rapid onset, and needs to be assessed immediately.
Postnatal psychosis is a rare condition that can result in harm to the woman or her infant.
Immediate medical help and hospital admission is required. To know more about postnatal psychosis, visit
Centre of Perinatal Excellence.
Postnatal psychosis is a rare condition that can result in harm to the woman or her infant.
Immediate medical help and hospital admission is required. To know more about postnatal psychosis, visit
Centre of Perinatal Excellence.
Finding your Psychologist
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We understand that seeking help can feel daunting, which is why we provide a warm and personalised service whereby direct, confidential contact is made with the Psychologist of your choosing. Please read more about our Psychologists and their locations, below. When you have selected a Psychologist, please phone the Psychologist directly to briefly discuss your needs, to enquire about availability, fees and rebates, to determine whether her style of practice is compatible with what you are seeking, and to book your appointment/s. To support you further, we provide evidence-based, helpful resources on motherhood and parenting. You can read our information posts here, or follow us on Facebook. 
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More about our Psychologists
Rest assured that the Psychologist you choose has the specific training and experience necessary to assist with the particular difficulties that arise around conception, pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period. All of our Psychologists are registered with the Psychology Board of Australia and are members of the Australian Psychological Society. Professional criteria for inclusion in our Network is maintained at the highest standard.
Dedicated to staying professionally up to date, we support research into perinatal mental health, and we coordinate and participate in the professional development of allied health professionals through Perinatal & Infant Mental Health Professionals Networks (MHPNs). We also work closely with community services that support you.
Dedicated to staying professionally up to date, we support research into perinatal mental health, and we coordinate and participate in the professional development of allied health professionals through Perinatal & Infant Mental Health Professionals Networks (MHPNs). We also work closely with community services that support you.
Meet our Psychologists
South East & Bayside
Caulfield North
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Dr Renée Miller (Principal) is a Clinical Psychologist who conducted doctoral research on postnatal depression, anxiety and stress in first-time mothers. Renée has worked for over seventeen years exclusively with women and couples facing difficulties with conception, pregnancy, birth, postnatal adjustment, reproductive loss, and pregnancy/parenting after loss. Renée established the Antenatal & Postnatal Psychology Network in order to facilitate a high quality, Melbourne-wide, perinatal psychology service that provides timely assistance to women and couples in need.
In a culture saturated with pregnancy and parenting 'dos and don'ts', Renée is a passionate advocate for the dissemination of evidence-based, emotionally nourishing information for pregnant women and new parents. To this end, Renée curates our Facebook page, where she posts meaningful and responsible articles for hopeful, expectant and new parents. Read more... Please scroll down to select a Psychologist in your area, and contact the Psychologist directly. |
Caulfield North
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Dr Megan Andrew has worked as a Clinical Psychologist in the perinatal field for 12 years, both in maternity hospital outpatient settings and in private practice. She has provided individual and group-based treatment for women and families experiencing antenatal and postnatal depression and anxiety, difficulties adjusting to parenthood, parent-infant relationship difficulties, and reproductive grief and loss. Among various evidence-based therapeutic approaches, Megan has a particular interest in helping women (and men) tackle self-criticism, overly high expectations, self-doubt and feelings of shame, using a Compassion-Focussed approach to therapy. This is particularly relevant for people struggling with anxiety and stress around fertility, pregnancy, the postnatal period, and early parenting. Megan is actively involved in speaking to groups of new mothers about parenting within a Circle of Security framework. Read more…
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Caulfield North
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Dr Michelle Kornblum is a Clinical Psychologist who for the past 14 years, has worked with women, men and couples in pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and the postnatal periods, and has assisted many new parents in their early parenting. Having worked at Tweddle Child and Family Health Service, Michelle continues her keen interest in enhancing the parent-child relationship especially when postnatal depression, anxiety or stress may be hindering these relationships. Michelle brings particular experience from her clinical background in eating disorders, assisting women when the re-emergence of eating disordered thoughts and behaviors affect their pregnancies or their postnatal well- being. Read more...
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Caulfield North
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Bianca Whiteman holds a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology, with research focussing on an Australian perinatal informational support service for new parents. Bianca sees women and couples who have sadly lost pregnancies, experienced stillbirth, who are working through tough decisions in the face of pregnancy anomalies, as well as those who are experiencing infertility and assisted reproduction. She draws from a background of volunteering on the 'front line' of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, having provided supportive counselling to women and families on the PANDA helpline.
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Albert Park & Hampton East
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Dr Karola Belton conducted masters and doctoral research on pregnancy and parenting after IVF treatment. For the past fifteen years Karola has supported women and couples experiencing antenatal and postnatal depression and anxiety, pregnancy loss and grief, and adjustment to pregnancy and parenting. She has a special interest in working with women and couples experiencing conception difficulties, undergoing assisted reproductive treatments, and managing the impact of infertility. Read more...
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South Yarra & Box Hill
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Vickey Annakis is a Clinical Psychologist and a Family Therapist. Vickey brings to the Network a wealth of experience in the perinatal field. With 28 years in private practice, including eight years in a Mother-baby unit, Vickey works with women, men, couples and families who are experiencing difficulties during the antenatal and postnatal periods. These include difficulties with fertility, conception, pregnancy, or birth, adjustment to pregnancy or the postnatal period, reproductive loss. In addition, she works with clients struggling with issues related to family of origin experiences, previous trauma, grief and loss. Read more...
Please note that Vickey will not be taking new clients until August 2018
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Inner East
Kew
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Hettie Dubow holds a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology and an additional Graduate Diploma in Infant Mental Health. Hettie has worked in perinatal mental health (both in private practice and in parent-infant units) for many years. Hettie has a particular interest in working with parents to strengthen their relationships with their infants, especially when a parent is struggling with depression, anxiety or adjustment problems. Hettie also works with women during pregnancy, and following reproductive loss and trauma. Hettie is a sought-after educator and clinical supervisor to practitioners in the perinatal field. Read more...
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Kew
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Yolanda Romeo holds two Clinical Masters degrees – one in adult clinical psychology, and the other in child and adolescent clinical psychology. With further training in the Graduate Diploma of Parent-Infant Mental Health, Yolanda brings many years experience working with women in pregnancy and the postnatal period, as well as with parents of infants, parents of older children, and the children themselves. In her private practice, Yolanda works with perinatal depression and anxiety, birth trauma, perinatal loss, bonding and attachment issues, as well as helping parents deal with family of origin issues and emotional issues that emerge during pregnancy and the postnatal period. Read more...
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Inner East & North East
Kew & Rosanna
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Kanthi Sayers holds a Masters degree in Counselling Psychology. Kanthi has extensive experience working with women and couples experiencing depression, anxiety and stress during pregnancy and the postnatal period. Kanthi also supports women and couples who have experienced pregnancy loss and birth trauma. In her previous role as a senior clinician at Tweddle Child and Family Health Service, Kanthi applied knowledge gained from her research into parent-child attachment and parenting stress, to assist new parents with their parenting challenges. Kanthi is a trained Circle of Security parenting group facilitator helping mothers and parents to enhance their bonds with their babies. Read more...
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Outer East
Doncaster East
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Rachel Watts is a Clinical Psychologist with 20 years experience working with women and families transitioning through partnering, pregnancy and the postnatal period. She works both individually with clients, and facilitates postnatal depression and anxiety groups. Rachel works with women who have a history or a perinatal onset of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Rachel assists women and couples in their adjustment to parenting, as well as supporting people through reproductive loss. Rachel enjoys mentoring and supervising early career psychologists – a role she currently undertakes in both private practice, and at the Austin Health Parent Infant Clinic and the Parent Infant Research Institute. Read more...
Please note that Rachel will not be taking new clients until October 2018 |
Burwood East & Boronia
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Dr Delwyn Carpenter is a Clinical Psychologist who has worked with pregnant and postnatal women in inpatient, outpatient and private settings. Bringing 15 years experience to our network, Delwyn sees women (and men) with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and eating disorders. Delwyn assists mothers and fathers in adjusting to parenthood, with parent/infant relationship difficulties, parenting stress, birth trauma, reproductive loss and grief, and infertility. Read more...
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North
North Carlton
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Dr Emma Symes is a Clinical Psychologist who works specifically with women, men and couples experiencing perinatal anxiety, depression, and stress; parent-infant relationship/bonding issues; childbirth-related trauma; reproductive loss; ambivalence about pregnancy; premature birth; and infertility. Having worked as a Clinical Psychologist at Tweddle Child and Family Health Service - a state-wide Early Parenting Service which provides residential and outpatient psychology services to parents and infants - Emma recognises the importance of early intervention when there are emotional difficulties for parents with infants. Emma is a registered Circle of Security parent educator which underlies the work she does with parents in helping them to read and respond to their child’s emotional needs and cues. As a registered supervisor with AHPRA Emma offers supervision to psychologists. Read more...
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West
Newport
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Dr Shikkiah de Quadros-Wander is a Clinical Psychologist who following her training at the Infant Clinic at the Austin Hospital, worked at Tweddle Child and Family Health Service. Shikkiah provides assessments and therapy to parents, infants, and couples in the antenatal and postnatal periods. Shikkiah works with antenatal and postnatal depression and anxiety, trauma, attachment, and parenting difficulties. Shikkiah has a special interest in working with parents who have experienced a pregnancy loss, and who are adjusting to pregnancy after loss. Read more...
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Newport
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Tonia Bainbridge holds a Masters of Clinical Psychology, and works specifically with mothers and fathers who are struggling with depression, anxiety, stress, difficulties in the transition to parenthood, parenting of infants and young children, pregnancy uncertainty/decision making, and pregnancy grief and loss. Tonia is particularly interested in supporting parents to develop healthy relationships with their children through the acquisition of new skills and enhanced self awareness in their parenting. With a background in hospital, university and private settings, Tonia brings seven years of expertise in working with conception-, pregnancy-, and parenting-related difficulties. Read more...
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Niddrie (Essendon)
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Kanthi Sayers holds a Masters degree in Counselling Psychology. Kanthi has extensive experience working with women and couples experiencing depression, anxiety and stress during pregnancy and the postnatal period. Kanthi also supports women and couples who have experienced pregnancy loss and birth trauma. In her previous role as a senior clinician at Tweddle Child and Family Health Service, Kanthi applied knowledge gained from her research into parent-child attachment and parenting stress, to assist new parents with their parenting challenges. Kanthi is a trained Circle of Security parenting group facilitator helping mothers and parents to enhance their bonds with their babies. Read more...
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Maribyrnong
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Dr Michelle Kornblum is a Clinical Psychologist who for the past 14 years, has worked with women, men and couples in pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and the postnatal periods, and has assisted many new parents in their early parenting. Having worked at Tweddle Child and Family Health Service, Michelle continues her keen interest in enhancing the parent-child relationship especially when postnatal depression, anxiety or stress may be hindering these relationships. Michelle brings particular experience from her clinical background in eating disorders, assisting women when the re-emergence of eating disordered thoughts and behaviors affecting their pregnancies or their postnatal well- being. Read more...
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Werribee
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Vickey Annakis is a Clinical Psychologist and a Family Therapist. Vickey brings to the Network a wealth of experience in the perinatal field. With 28 years in private practice, including eight years in a Mother-baby unit, Vickey works with women, men, couples and families who are experiencing difficulties during the antenatal and postnatal periods. These include difficulties with fertility, conception, pregnancy, or birth, adjustment to pregnancy or the postnatal period, reproductive loss. In addition, she works with clients struggling with issues related to family of origin experiences, previous trauma, grief and loss. Read more...
Please note that Vickey will not be taking new clients until August 2018
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Mornington Peninsula
Mornington & Red Hill
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Dr Hannah Woolhouse has worked with women in the perinatal period for over 15 years. With a passion for women's mental health, Hannah brings vast clinical and research expertise to her work with pregnant and postnatal women. Among a range of evidence-based treatment approaches she uses in therapy, Hannah has a particular interest in Mindfulness and the application of Mindfulness skills to depression, anxiety, stress, grief, and other psychological or social difficulties that arise for hopeful, expectant and new mothers. In an influential paper published by Hannah and her colleagues from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, it was demonstrated that maternal depression is more common at four years postpartum than at any time in the first postnatal year. Hannah enjoys working with mothers of young children in the early years of parenting. Read more...
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Regional Victoria
Ballarat
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Dr Angela Gent is a Clinical Psychologist whose research interests have included parental depression, anxiety, stress and fatigue. Angela works with pregnant women and new parents, treating depression, anxiety, stress, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumtic stress disorder, parenting difficulties, and reproductive loss. Angela is a supervisor for early career psychologists, with a keen interest in supervising their clinical practices in the area of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Read more...
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The Antenatal & Postnatal Psychology Network supports community services that support you
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