Background
Michelle has practised as a psychologist for over 20 years. She completed her Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Melbourne in 2001. She is a registered Clinical Psychologist and supervisor with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA). For over eight years, Michelle worked as part of a Primary Mental Health Team, providing therapy in GP clinics and Community Health Centres to clients with anxiety, depression and eating disorders. Michelle also provided secondary consultation and training to GPs and community health workers.
In these settings, Michelle frequently saw clients whose anxiety or depression began early in their lives or early in their parenting journeys. This inspired Michelle’s interest in working with families during pregnancy or in the early stages of parenting to promote good mental health for both parents and their infants and children.
Michelle worked for 5 years as a Clinical Psychologist at Tweddle Child and Family Health Service - an early parenting centre that provides assistance in the early stages of parenting. Michelle has worked intermittently in private practice since 2006, with a predominantly perinatal practice since 2016.
Current Practice
Michelle supports parents going through all phases of family planning and early parenting challenges including infertility; fertility treatment; mental health issues in pregnancy; recovery from birth trauma; pregnancy loss and neonatal loss; postnatal depression and anxiety; gender disappointment and adjustment to parenting. Michelle has a particular interest in supporting parents who are struggling to establish a bond with their baby due to depression, anxiety or past trauma, or where the relationship with their toddler or preschooler feels challenging. Michelle also supports people who have had earlier life experiences of anxiety, depression or eating disorders, which may have become active again under the changes and stressors of pregnancy or new parenthood. Whether single parents, part of a traditional couple or ‘rainbow’ family, she welcomes all parents.
Approach to Therapy
Having undertaken training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, (with links to a Mindfulness-based approach), Michelle works collaboratively with clients to identify goals for treatment and adapts her therapeutic approach to meet each client’s individual needs. Michelle is also trained in EMDR; an evidence-based trauma therapy. Michelle draws on Attachment Theory and an understanding of family systems in her parent work, and is a registered ‘Circle of Security’ Parent educator.
Professional Affiliations
Registered with Psychology Board of Australia
Member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS)
Member of APS College of Clinical Psychologists
Registered Circle of Security parent educator
Member APS Perinatal and Infant Psychology Interest Group (PIPIG)
Member APS Psychology, Eating, Weight and Body Image Group
Registered with The Perinatal Loss Centre
Clinician at the Littlies Clinic
