Therapy · Perinatal
Perinatal psychologist in Echuca
The move into parenthood reshapes daily life, emotions and identity, and it rarely goes exactly the way anyone expected. Mantua Psychology supports parents through pregnancy, birth and early family life, in person in Echuca or by telehealth anywhere in Australia. You don’t need to have a name for what you’re feeling before you get in touch. The first session is a chance to talk about what has been happening and decide together whether continuing feels useful.
Reviewed by Alexandra (Aley) Hooper, Registered Psychologist ·
What it helps with
Whatever this stage is bringing up.
Whether you are expecting, adjusting to life with a newborn, or supporting a partner through it, this is a space where your experience is taken seriously and the focus stays on your wellbeing. People come in for many reasons, including:
- Perinatal anxiety and depression
- Birth trauma and processing a difficult birth
- Pregnancy loss and infant bereavement
- Adjustment to parenthood and shifts in identity
- Bonding difficulties
- Fear of childbirth (tokophobia)
- Postnatal PTSD
- The emotional weight of early motherhood
Where a birth or a loss has left memories that keep coming back, some of the work may use EMDR therapy, alongside talking-based support.
What sessions look like
Your pace, your direction.
A standard session runs for 50 minutes, in the consulting rooms at Office 3, 88 Wilkinson Drive, Echuca, or by telehealth. Telehealth can make it easier to fit a session around feeds, sleeps and everything else, without needing to leave home.
The approach is non-directive. You won’t be handed a checklist or told how you ought to feel. Sessions are a place to make sense of what is happening, at a pace that suits you, and the length of the work is decided together and reviewed as you go.
Babies are very welcome at in-person sessions.
Training
A developmental stage worth taking seriously.
Aley Hooper is a registered psychologist with a Master of Educational and Developmental Psychology, and is trained in perinatal non-directive counselling. She sees the move into parenthood as a developmental window of its own, deserving the same care and attention as any other stage of life.
Her wider training includes EMDR, CBT, ACT, schema therapy, mindfulness-based approaches, sleep psychology and ASIST suicide first aid. More on Aley’s background.
Questions
Common questions.
No. Many people get in touch because something feels off and they are not sure what to call it. That is reason enough to have a conversation.
It means you set the direction. The sessions are not about being told how to parent or what you should be feeling. They are a space to work out what is going on for you, with someone alongside you.
Yes. Sessions are held in person at Office 3, 88 Wilkinson Drive, Echuca, or by telehealth anywhere in Australia. Telehealth means you can talk from home.
Perinatal support is open to anyone going through pregnancy and early parenthood, including a partner supporting someone through it. Get in touch to talk about what would suit you.
No. If you or your baby are in danger, call 000. PANDA (1300 726 306) supports parents with perinatal anxiety and depression, and Lifeline (13 11 14) is available around the clock.
Fees and Medicare
Sessions are $260 for 50 minutes. Medicare rebates are available with a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, and private clients are welcome. See fees and Medicare for the detail.
Currently taking new clients.
Bookings are managed through Halaxy. Pick a time that works, or get in touch first if you'd rather ask a few questions.