Background
Megan completed a Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) and a Graduate Diploma in Psychology (with honours) in 2006. She then completed a Master of Psychology (Counselling) at Monash University in 2010, and later, a Graduate Diploma in Parent and Infant Mental Health at Melbourne University.
Megan began her career working in a not for profit organisation, providing trauma-informed, play-based therapy to young children. These children often presented with externalising behaviours resulting from exposure to traumatic early-life experiences.
This work highlighted the importance of the early parent-infant relationship on children’s later emotional well-being. After two years in this role, Megan returned to study, completing a postgraduate Diploma in Parent and Infant Mental Health.
As part of the NEWPIN program, Megan also provided support to parents who were struggling in their parenting roles. This program identified the impact issues such as social disadvantage, mental health problems, family violence, and social isolation can have on building a healthy parent-child-attachment relationship. Megan supported parents in strengthening their bonds and attachment with their children through play-based interactions, understanding child development, and building practical, emotionally-attuned parenting skills.
Megan has worked in both community and private practice settings, providing support to adults,children, and adolescents in the management of varying mental health difficulties.
Megan’s most recent focus has been working with women and their partners in the perinatal period, providing support around difficulties with conception and fertility, preparing for the transition into parenthood, antenatal and postnatal anxiety and depression, grief and loss, difficult diagnoses in pregnancy or after birth, difficulties bonding with baby, and parenting challenges in the early years.
Current practice
In her private practice, Megan has consolidated her passion for supporting new parents on the journey towards and through parenthood. She facilitates her clients’ exploration of how their own experiences of being parented informs their parenting style, parenting triggers, and relationships with their children.
In addition to providing parenting support, Megan works with clients who may be experiencing anxiety and/or depression during pregnancy or after the birth of their baby, gender disappointment, grief/loss during their reproductive journey, adjustment difficulties in the transition to parenthood, and relationship changes that come after the arrival of a baby.
Approach to therapy
Megan understands that to reach out for support can sometimes be a daunting experience. She takes a non-judgemental and compassionate approach to therapy and believes that a strong therapeutic relationship between therapist and client is key to achieving positive outcomes in therapy.
Megan is flexible in her approach and draws upon a number of evidence-based therapies and theories, depending on a client’s needs. These approaches include Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT), Cognitive and Behaviour therapy (CBT), Compassion-Focused Therapy. Psychodynamic- and Attachment-informed theories also underpin her therapeutic work with clients.
Professional Affiliations
Registered with the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA)
Registered Circle of Security parent educator
Registered with The Perinatal Loss Centre
