About Dr Karola Belton

(she/her)
BSc., Grad Dip Health Psychology,
M.Psych (Counselling), D.Psych (Clinical), MAPS
      Clinical Psychologist

Hours
Monday - am, pm (Hampton), evening (Albert Park)
Tuesday - am (Albert Park)
Thursday - am, pm, evening (Albert Park)
Friday - am, pm (Hampton)

IN-PERSON AND ​TELEHEALTH

​
Background
Karola completed a Masters of Counselling Psychology at Monash University in 1997, and a Doctorate of Clinical Psychology at La Trobe University in 2002. Karola’s interest and specialisation in pre-conception, pregnancy and early parenting developed during her Masters and Doctoral research at Monash IVF Clinic. Her research focused on the experience of pregnancy and early parenting for both mothers and fathers following IVF treatment.  Karola’s research was informed by her clinical observations of couples to whom she provided counselling support at the IVF clinic.

Karola's earlier work as a psychologist was in the area of workplace health and well-being and employee assistance counselling, where she assisted people balance the demands of work, life and family.  Karola established her own psychology practice following the completion of her postgraduate studies.

Current  Practice
Karola’s current practice supports women, men and couples across every stage of creating a family. She works with couples who are experiencing infertility investigation, those who are undergoing IVF and other  fertility treatment, and couples who are exploring and undergoing donor assisted conception and surrogacy.  As part of her work she helps women, men and couples manage the physical, emotional and relationship impact of infertility and its treatment, helping them to understand and manage the life issues they are facing.

Karola sees women and couples who are experiencing the grief of miscarriage and other pregnancy loss, as well as those making difficult decisions about their pregnancy. In addition, Karola works with women and couples who are experiencing depression, anxiety and adjustment difficulties in pregnancy and the postnatal period, as well as new parents who are struggling with their transition to parenthood.  

Many of the clients who see Karola are faced with complex and often confusing decisions about their situation.  They might be making decisions about infertility treatment options, or the ongoing viability of a pregnancy after genetic testing, or they might be making decisions about using an egg or sperm donor. Karola helps them understand their situation, clarify their options, make sense of their confusion, and supports them through their decision making.

Approach to Therapy
Karola takes a collaborative approach to working with her clients.  She believes that a therapeutic relationship based on respect, compassion and empowerment is a central part of the healing process.  Karola seeks to create a supportive environment to help people explore their concerns, gain a clearer understanding of themselves and the issues they are facing, identify their strengths and coping strategies, explore how to adjust to their circumstances, manage grief and loss, and face the future with hope and optimism.

Karola's therapeutic framework draws on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness-based therapies, Family Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy.  Karola selects the approach that most effectively meets the goals and needs of individual clients.  She offers both brief, short-term interventions and longer-term therapy, as determined by each person and their circumstances.

Karola provides EMDR to assist clients to process traumatic birth experiences or other traumas that are negatively impacting their lives.

Professional affiliations
Registered with the Psychology Board of Australia (PBA)
Member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS)
Member of the APS College of Clinical Psychologists
Member of the APS Perinatal and Infant Psychology Interest Group  (PIPIG)
Registered Circle of Security parent educator
Registered with The Perinatal Loss Centre