Parenting and child
Infants
All parents can experience feeling 'lost' at times in their roles as parents. These feelings can be exacerbated and prolonged by depression, anxiety or stress in one or both parents. Parents often wonder if their child is 'normal', and developing typically. Similarly, parents can question or doubt their parenting approaches, feeling disheartened and even out of control when their parenting strategies don't appear to be working. Repeated difficulties with parenting infants and older children can also exacerbate feelings of depression, anxiety and/or stress.
The Antenatal and Postnatal Psychology Network provides parenting support to parents. In the early weeks and months, bonding to infants can be compromised by emotional distress, sleep deprivation, frustration, as well as parents' past experiences with disrupted or difficult relationships in their families of origin. Network psychologists work with you to enhance the bond between you and your baby. Our psychologists have undertaken specific training in parent-infant attachment for parents who choose to work more in depth on the parent-infant relationship.
Toddlers
Parents can be taken by surprise when their babies become toddlers, and their emotions and behaviours become more challenging. Our psychologists help you to navigate this stage with positive parenting strategies aimed at parental self-regulation and the development of emotional-regulation in your child.
Dr Renée Miller curates our Facebook page where she posts parenting articles that support parents in both their understanding of child development and in gaining practical strategies for parenting young children.
Some of our psychologists run Circle of Security Parenting Training groups. These programs are aimed at facilitating parents' understanding of the emotional and relational needs of their 0-4 year old children. The groups are not focussed on providing behavioural strategies for "problem behaviour" but rather on supporting parents to develop an increasingly secure relationship with their child. Increased awareness of the function of a child's behaviour might well result in improved behaviour via different parenting strategies.
Older children
Dr Alison Wilby is a child Clinical Psychologist who is associated with the Antenatal & Postnatal Psychology Network - practising in Caulfield North. She provides developmental assessments of children, as well as parenting guidance to parents. With an extensive knowledge of developmental stages, and the emotional world of young children (toddlers to 8 year olds), Alison supports parents to better understand their children, to develop parenting strategies, and to build confidence in their parenting skills.
