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.  It is an aim of all network psychologists to enhance the bond between parent and infant, however, some of our psychologists (Dr Megan Andrew, Dr Shikkiah de Quadros-Wander, Hettie Dubow, Dr Michelle Kornblum, Dr Renée Miller, Kanthi Sayers) have undertaken specific training in parent-infant attachment for parents who choose to work more in depth on the parent-infant relationship. 

In addition, Hettie Dubow and Dr Shikkiah de Quadros-Wander provide Circle of Security Parenting Training.  This is a group programme aimed at facilitating parents' understanding of the emotional and relational needs of their 0-4 year old children.  The group is not focussed on providing behavioural strategies for "problem behaviour" but rather on supporting the parent 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.