Background
Beverley Marcus is a Clinical Psychologist with an additional background in Speech and Hearing Therapy and Social Work. Prior to obtaining a Masters in Clinical Psychology, Beverley qualified as a Speech and Hearing therapist, and worked in this field. Her Honours thesis looked at the impact of Autism on the family. Her degree in Speech and Hearing Therapy contributed to an interest in helping parents process the impact of genetic complications and the social and emotional impact of special needs children in the family system. This interest inspired Beverley to further her studies first in Social Work, then in Clinical Psychology.
Beverley obtained first class Honours in Psychology. She continued her training in Clinical Psychology, completing a Masters thesis on the topic of gender construction and relationships. She completed an internship at the Tara Psychiatric Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, where she worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings. She also worked in the adult psychiatric ward at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. Beverley has since been in private practice as a Clinical Psychologist for over 14 years. Beverley has also supervised Clinical Psychology interns. Over the course of her work in clinical practice, Beverley developed a special interest in Perinatal Psychology.
Beverley completed additional training in parent-infant psychotherapy. This approach focuses on the relationship between the parent and the child when there are various difficulties, in order to help promote the child's attachment, to support the child's development, and to enhance the way in which the parent and child are relating to each other.
She also co-developed a course for parents and caregivers aimed at facilitating age appropriate speech and language development and emotional awareness associated with the baby’s first three years of life.
Current practice
Beverley supports clients through pregnancy difficulties and fertility struggles, with an understanding of the vulnerability that can be present for women (and couples) at these often-stressful times. She assists women and couples who have received diagnoses of fetal anomalies, or diagnoses of genetic/developmental conditions in young children. Beverley has a deep sense of compassion for women and couples who go through the devastating experience of losing a baby at various stages of pregnancy or after birth. She also works with birthing and non-birthing people who have experienced birth trauma.
With respect to parenting, Beverley helps clients work through the trans-generational transfer of trauma in order to promote healthier parent-infant bonds and secure attachment in children. Beverley works with clients to process experiences from their past to make sense of their current responses and triggers, and to build more robust self-identities and relationships in the transition to parenthood. Beverley works primarily from a Psychodynamic approach which aims to understand the patterns that are unconsciously being repeated in order to bring about change and create space for new and healthier experiences.
Beverley recently published a book entitled “The Storm inside Katie”. This book is aimed at helping parents assist their children in managing difficult feelings through characters that are easy to relate to for both parents and children.
Approach to therapy
As a psychologist, Beverley understands that the perinatal period often entails going through experiences that leave one feeling vulnerable and unsettled, sometimes with a loss of trust and hope. Beverley provides a gentle, non- judgemental space in which clients can work through difficult experiences and emotions, with the aim of finding meaning and bringing about change. Beverley tunes into her clients with insight, sensitivity and compassion. She recognises that there are common experiences in pregnancy and new parenthood, but everyone’s situation is unique, and that everyone is different.
Beverley works from a Psychodynamic perspective (exploring the ways in which past experiences impact the present), but she is mindful to tailor therapy to meet the individual’s needs, drawing on Person-Centered Therapy, mentalisation, DBT, Systems Theory, and Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy.
In her work with parents and infants/children, Beverley holds space for the feelings of both the parent and their child in a containing and non-judgemental way, aiming to understand difficult behaviour as well as conscious and unconscious communications, in order to facilitate change and further enhance the parent-child attachment.
Professional affiliations
Member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS)
Registered The Perinatal Loss Centre
Registered Circle of Security parent educator
Member of the Australian Association for Infant Mental Health (AAIMH)
Clinician at the Littlies Clinic