Available Services
Therapy for New and Expectant Dads
Many men move through pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood without anyone really checking in on them. The focus, understandably, is on mum and baby and dads are often left to get on with it. At Ironbark Psychology, we want to change that. Current evidence suggests that men do not receive sufficient support or guidance in relation to becoming a father and are often neglected by perinatal health services. The positive relationships fathers enjoy with their children is shown to impact upon their children’s future relationships and potentially contribute to more stable family lives and more positive role models for future generations of fathers.
Counselling can help you make sense of what you're carrying. Whether that's the stress of providing, the weight of a difficult birth experience, feeling disconnected from your partner or your baby, or just a sense that you're not coping as well as you'd like, these things deserve space too.
In one-on-one sessions, in person or online, you'll have somewhere genuinely private to talk, without judgement.
You don't have to have it all figured out to reach out.
This service may help if you are experiencing:
Anxiety or depression
Stress or overwhelm
Loss, including miscarriage or stillbirth
Stress following a difficult birth experience
Identity changes and challenges in the transition to parenthood
Relationship strain following the arrival of a child
Intrusive thoughts or OCD
Perinatal Mental Health Support for Mums
The perinatal period, from conception through the first year of parenthood, is one of the most profound transitions a person can experience. For many, it brings unexpected challenges alongside the joy: anxiety, low mood, birth trauma, grief, or simply a loss of sense of self.
Whether you're a parent struggling during pregnancy, adjusting to life with a new baby, processing a difficult birth, or grieving a loss , you don't have to do it alone.
Therapy is collaborative, paced by you, and grounded in evidence-based approaches including CBT, ACT, DBT, and attachment-informed frameworks.
Sessions are held at the Maternal Infant and Wellbeing Melbourne Clinic (MIWM) in Parkville or via telehealth.
This service may help if you are experiencing:
Antenatal or postnatal anxiety or depression
Birth trauma or PTSD
Perinatal loss, including miscarriage or stillbirth
Difficulty bonding with your baby
Identity changes and challenges in the transition to parenthood
Relationship strain following the arrival of a child
Intrusive thoughts or OCD in the perinatal period
Cognitive Assessments
Understanding how a child thinks, learns, and experiences the world can make a profound difference for the child, their family, and their educators. Psychological assessments provide a detailed, evidence-based picture of a child's cognitive profile, learning strengths, and areas of difficulty.
I offer comprehensive educational and developmental assessments for school-aged children across Melbourne and the Shepparton region. These assessments are useful for identifying learning difficulties such as dyslexia or dyscalculia, or simply gaining clarity on why a child may be finding school more difficult than expected.
Following assessment, you'll receive a detailed written report with clear findings, tailored recommendations for home and school, and guidance on next steps. I'll walk you through the results in a feedback session to make sure everything makes sense.
Assessments may include evaluation of:
Cognitive ability and intellectual functioning
Academic achievement (reading, writing, mathematics)
Attention, concentration, and executive function
Memory and processing speed
Social, emotional, and adaptive functioning
Language and communication (in conjunction with speech pathology where relevant)
Fees
Taking that first step to get support can feel like the hardest part. To make it a little easier, Ironbark Psychology offers a bulk-billed initial session for new clients who hold a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan (M HTP) from their GP. That means for the first session, their is no out of pocket cost.
If you decide that we are a good fit, ongoing sessions are $250, with a Medicare rebate of $145 available for eligible clients (up to 10 sessions).
A further fee reduction (negotiated) is also available to those under particular financial hardship, although these spaces are limited to two active clients at any one time. Feel free to ask if this applies to you.
If you’re not sure whether you have a MHTP, or how to get one, your GP is the best place to start. It’s a straight forward conversation that opens the day to support.
For information regarding cognitive assessment’s, please get in contact via the link below.
FAQs
Are there rebates available?A GP referral and Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) allows access to Medicare rebates for up to 10 sessions per calendar year. Self referrals always welcome.
What do appointments look like?Individual therapy sessions. 50 minutes long. Frequency tailored to your needs. I tend to use a combined approach drawing up CBT, DBT, ACT, MI, & CAT.
Where are appointments held?Located in person at Maternal and Infant Wellbeing Melbourne, Parkville. In person and telehealth appointments available