Nurturing perinatal, child & family wellbeing
Adi is a Clinical Psychologist who has been practicing for over 15 years. She is passionate about perinatal and infant mental health, and holds specific training and interest in mindful birthing, perinatal anxiety and depression, the transition to parenthood, supporting the parent-child bond, birth trauma and perinatal loss.
Prior to her transition into Perinatal Psychology, Adi worked in research, public health, and private practice. She has extensive experience and continues to enjoy working with adolescent and adult clients presenting with a variety of psychological needs (e.g., anxiety, depression, psychosis, substance use, trauma, body image, self-esteem, sleep, and stress).
Adi’s personal values of openness, honesty, non-judgment, and respect are central to her practice. She is committed to understanding and addressing barriers to optimal health and wellbeing, and provides her clients with evidence-based, individually tailored support to enable them to regain hope, trust, and confidence in themselves and their future.
Adi utilises third wave CBT (acceptance- and mindfulness-based therapies) however also draws from training in attachment theory, schema therapy, and motivational interviewing depending on her clients' needs.
Qualifications:
- Doctor of Clinical Psychology
- Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Specialist Training
- Birth Trauma and Perinatal Loss Specialist Training
- Circle of Security Parenting Program Facilitator
Fees:
50 minute session: $225
Medicare rebate (with GP referral): $137.05 (out of pocket $87.95)
Michelle Ferris is a Psychotherapist and Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AASW). She has 20 years experience working in mental health with individuals and couples in a variety of settings including public health and private practice. She believes that therapy can offer a confidential safe space to explore what is getting in the way of living in greater connection with ourselves and with others and that the quality of our relationships is paramount to our wellbeing. Michelle is passionate about helping individuals and couples navigate the unique territory of becoming parents and raising children in a way that is curious, compassionate and non-judgemental.
Michelle uses evidenced therapeutic approaches including Cognitive Analytic Therapy (Relational Therapy), Emotion Focused Couples Therapy and Somatic Based Trauma Therapy (EMDR) to treat a range of difficulties including depression, anxiety, adjustment difficulties, and relationship issues.
Offering Remedial, Relaxation, Pregnancy, Postpartum and Teen Massage.
As a remedial massage therapist with over 15 years of experience, Laura focuses on addressing those specific spots in the body which need extra attention. With advanced techniques such as deep tissue massage, myofascial release, and trigger point therapy, Laura is committed to helping you on your path to wellness.
Laura also specialises in pregnancy and postpartum massage, offering nurturing care to support mothers-to-be throughout their pregnancy journey. With a focus on providing comfort, relief, and relaxation, each session is tailored to address the unique needs and concerns of expectant mothers.
With a calming energy, Laura creates an atmosphere where you can unwind, release tension, and experience profound relaxation. Whether you're looking to escape the demands of modern life or simply indulge in self-care, we invite you to immerse yourself in a blissful oasis of peace and serenity.
“I strive to create personalised experiences which give you that “ah” feeling. Helping someone feel better is what it is all about”
Qualifications:
- Diploma in Remedial Massage
- Cert Pregnancy Massage (Pregnancy Massage Australia)
- Working with Children Check
- Registered Provider for all major health funds
- HICAPS available onsite
- Massage and Myotherapy Australia number 018104
Ellie is a psychologist who has been practicing for 5 years. She has a strong passion for perinatal mental health and strives to empower and support families as they navigate pregnancy, birth and parenthood.
Ellie is empathic, warm and values the therapeutic relationship as a large predictor of positive outcomes. She has a particular interest in providing therapeutic support to women experiencing perinatal anxiety and depression, along with supporting women who experience birth trauma. She is also passionate about assisting new parents with the challenges that arise during the transition to parenthood. She practices CBT, trauma-focused CBT and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
Previously, Ellie has worked with children, adolescents and adults diagnosed with a variety of disabilities and mental illnesses (Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Intellectual Disability, Attachment Disorder, Anxiety, Depression, Schizophrenia, Bipolar and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) in both individual and group settings. She has completed perinatal mental health professional development and continues to expand her skills and knowledge with ongoing training and regular supervision from an AHPRA approved supervisor.
Since 2004, Kate has been practicing Chinese Medicine and Japanese medicine in Melbourne, Mornington, Geelong and Torquay. She specialises in Natural Fertility and IVF support, pre-pregnancy and pregnancy support, natural labour induction and birth preparation. Using centuries old techniques to support the mother, Kate utilises Chinese Medicine to facilitate and naturally connect the mother to her own innate sense of wisdom. Her approach is gentle, intuitive and supportive.
Kate is a registered Practitioner of Acupuncture, completing her Bachelor of Applied Science in 2005 in Melbourne and her post graduate studies in Japanese Acupuncture in 2008. She has been lecturing at Southern School of Natural Therapies since 2012 teaching Chinese Dietary Therapy and Qi Gong (Health Maintenance) and brings a passion for using food as medicine particularly in pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and post-partum care. Her passion and focus are women’s health, specifically pregnancy and postnatal care, hormonal health and IVF support.
All treatments are specific to the client, safe, and effective. She uses a combination of Japanese Acupuncture, Moxabustion, Cupping, Chinese Dietary Therapy and QiGong. Kate also has general practice that offers treatment for both acute and chronic conditions; including musculoskeletal pain, arthritis, digestive issues, anxiety & depression. Treating the body in its entirety, Kate’s understanding and treatments focus on harmonising the Qi (life force ) in the patient using a variety of effective and gentle techniques. This is achieved by ensuring Qi or “life energy” is in abundant supply and flows through the body’s meridians, a network of invisible channels throughout the body.
Hannah is a Clinical Psychologist with more than 15 years experience. She specialises in perinatal psychology, infant mental health, and trauma. Hannah is also skilled in working with people struggling with depression and anxiety (not necessarily related to pregnancy and parenting). She has experience working in both public health and private practice. Prior to relocating to the Surf Coast in 2020, she was as a Senior Clinical Psychologist at the Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne.
Hannah is trained and experienced in the areas of perinatal depression and anxiety, attachment and infant mental health, transition to parenthood, preparing for birth, support following traumatic birth, and perinatal complications and loss.
In the past, Hannah’s interest in cross cultural psychology and trauma led her to work in Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East and Africa with a range of international organisations and United Nations agencies. She continues to do short term international consultancies and remote support, however is now primarily based in Australia.
Hannah employs a holistic and trauma informed approach, and is focused on empowering the clients she works with to meet treatment goals. She provides both short term and longer term therapy, based on the individual needs of each client. Hannah is warm, open and approachable and values the importance of providing a safe and respectful space for clients.
As well as individual and group therapeutic work, Hannah provides supervision to Clinical Psychology Registrars and Psychologists.
Affiliations:
- MAPS (Member of Australian Psychological Society)
- AAIMH (Australian Association for Infant Mental Health) member
- Circle of Security Facilitator
- AHPRA approved supervisor
Fees:
50 minute session: $225
Medicare rebate (with GP referral): $137.05 (out of pocket $87.95)
Publications:
Tan SL-S, Stafford L, Bryant C, Jensen H, Komiti A, Newman L. Subjective experiences of participating in an attachment-based early intervention parenting program. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 2021;26(4):968-980
Elizabeth is a Registered Music Therapist (RMT), Certified Motherhood Studies Practitioner and Mum of three who specialises in music therapy practice and research with infants, parents and families, specifically working within perinatal and early parenting contexts. She has over ten years experience working clinically with infants, children and their families in the acute hospital system, including the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and paediatric settings. Elizabeth has also more recently worked within the community and early intervention sectors in Geelong. Elizabeth completed her PhD doctorate, exploring music therapy's role for supporting hospitalised infants and their families in the NICU and nursery setting, with a particular interest in the role of parental singing and voice to support the parent- infant relationship and parental identity and role.
Professional Qualifications and Memberships:
* Bachelor of Music (Therapy) with Honours, The University of Melbourne
* Registered Music Therapist (RMT), with the Australian Music Therapy Association and Allied Health Professionals Australia
* PhD in Music Therapy Research, The University of Melbourne
* Motherhood Studies Practitioner Certification, with Dr Sophie Brock
* Newborn Behavioural Observation (NBO) training, The Royal Women's Hospital
She/Her
I believe that the way you are treated during your pregnancy, birth, and the first 6 weeks post-birth, deeply impacts the trajectory of your families lives and wellbeing. It's been my privilege to experience thousands of pregnancies and birth journeys. I have seen and experienced how healing and transformation comes from being well supported, and well versed in listening to your body and intuition. Contrary to modern birthing culture, birth can be ecstatic and parenting can be so deeply fulfilling. The transition that occurs in and around birth is massive. Understanding the systems, feeling safe and knowing what you are capable of is key.
I have had a broad range of experiences working with birthing people and families over the past 15 years. Public and private hospitals, public and private home birth services, case-load care and as an educator and parent.
I am dedicated to reducing trauma in pregnancy, birth and parenting through education and advocacy. My commitment is to resource people and families to be embodied, intuitive and autonomous as they move through parenthood. The key values underpinning this work are self enquiry, individualised care and community.
I live on the sacred and unceeded lands of the Wadawarrung people on the surf coast in Victoria. My family migrated from the Netherlands and Germany and I was raised on Wurundjeri country in Naarm. I am a university educated, able bodied, cis-gendered white woman.
I offer midwifery antenatal and postnatal shared care with Barwon health, midwifery consultations, group education and private pregnancy, childbirth and parenting education.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Midwifery
- Childbirth education training
- Midwifery endorsement- Screening, Diagnostics, Pharmacology and Prescribing
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Competence and language
- Sexual and women's health specialist training
- Breastfeeding, settling, aware parenting specialist training
Melinda is a registered Clinical and perinatal Psychologist and holds a Master’s Degree in Family Therapy. She has a wide range of experience working with families as a Psychologist, Midwife and Maternal and Child Health Nurse. She has worked in a number of hospital and community settings including Perinatal Emotional Health service at Eastern Health, Specialist Infant Team and general teams with Child, Youth Mental Health.
Melinda enjoys working with people of all ages. She enjoys helping mums, dads and children overcome the mental health challenges they experience and form deeper and more fulfilling relationships.
Melinda can undertake cognitive, learning, and psychological assessments for school aged children. In addition, she can support children who experience a variety of difficulties including emotional, social, behavioural and academic issues that may be impacting on family, and peer relationships and school performance.
Melinda particularly enjoys working with people experiencing challenges in their journey to become parents, pregnancy, parenting, infancy, and childhood. She utilizes is a diverse range of therapeutic interventions and holds relationships as central to optimising mental health and wellbeing.
Melinda has delivered several group programs treating perinatal depression, assisting mothers and fathers in their new parenting roles, and fostering attachment between parents and children. She has undertaken perinatal specific training with the Royal Children's Hospital, Parent and Infant Research Institute, and the Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE). She is an accredited Circle of Security and Baby Makes 3 group facilitator.
When not working Melinda is mother of four children. She is looking forward to joining the surf coast community and being able to spend time walking her three dogs on the beach.
Puva is a Registered General Psychologist who completed her studies at Monash University. Puva practices with clients across the lifespan, from early childhood through to later life. With over 16 years of specialized experience as a Dyslexia Therapist, Puva brings a unique perspective to her practice. She specializes in addressing emotional and behavioural challenges, with particular expertise in supporting individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, and anxiety disorders. She has a deep understanding of the complex interplay between trauma and neurodiversity, offering tailored interventions that address these unique intersections. She recognizes that every young person has their own journey and aims to provide the support needed to thrive across environments. She empowers parents, helping them through the ups and downs of parenting, and understands the importance of a strong support system during challenging times. Her approach is rooted in the understanding that each family’s journey is unique.
Puva is experienced in performing psychometric assessments in private clinic settings and offers a range of supportive counselling and evidence-based psychological interventions.
Using a flexible and personalized approach, Puva incorporates techniques such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and play-based methods. Her goal is to create a nurturing environment where clients and their families feel understood and supported throughout their therapeutic journey.
Puva is also a strong advocate for gender diversity and is committed to creating an affirming environment for all clients.