Background
Carmel is a Clinical Psychologist who for over 13 years has supported families in the perinatal period and beyond across roles in public, community, school and private settings. Carmel previously worked in the perinatal inpatient unit at Mitcham Private Hospital, providing individual and group therapy to parents presenting with challenges in the antenatal and postpartum periods.
As part of her postgraduate clinical and research training, Carmel worked closely with the families of primary-school aged children experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties. This worked sparked an interest in the powerful role of a secure attachment relationship in facilitating positive emotional outcomes for parents and children.
Research
Carmel has contributed to perinatal academic research through her doctoral research and subsequent research roles, where she worked on a number of projects, including an attachment-based intervention for parents experiencing depression and anxiety in the perinatal period.
In addition to clinical and research work, Carmel is involved in the clinical education of postgraduate clinical psychology trainees at Monash University
Current Practice
With deep compassion, Carmel supports people who are struggling during the pre-conception, pregnancy and postpartum periods.
Carmel assists people with a broad range of issues, including anxiety and mood difficulties, pregnancy and birth complications, adjustment difficulties, reproductive grief and loss, difficulties bonding with baby, parenting toddlers and young children, and navigating relationship changes. Carmel is especially passionate about supporting families through the lens of culture, understanding the role that culture can play in people's experiences during the perinatal period.
Approach to Therapy
Carmel recognises the profound nature of readiness to conceive a baby (the highs and lows of this time), and the ways in which pregnancy and birth change people’s identities, roles, routines and relationships.
Carmel’s approach centres around supporting parents to feel ‘held’ in their roles as parents, so that they can then feel equipped and able to hold their child’s emotions and inner world. She provides a warm and validating space for clients to navigate and explore the many challenges that parents can face.
Carmel incorporates a range of approaches based on the needs of the client, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), schema therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Carmel also draws from Circle of Security parenting, and a parent-infant psychotherapy perspective to address relational issues such as bonding, attachment and transition to parenthood.
Professional Affiliations
Registered with the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA)
Endorsed by the PsyBA in Clinical Psychology
Member of the APS Perinatal and Infant Psychology Interest Group (PIPIG)
Registered Circle of Security Parent Facilitator
