Pregnancy, fertility treatment, birth and the early years of parenting can bring a lot with them emotionally, and support can look different depending on what you’re going through.
For some women that might mean seeing a psychologist for anxiety, depression, birth trauma or loss. For others, it might be counselling, fertility coaching or complementary support alongside other care.
Here are seven services supporting women and families through fertility, pregnancy, postpartum and the transition to parenthood.
In this guide
Perinatal psychology · Miranda & online
Umbra Psychology
Fiona Simson is a registered psychologist with more than a decade of experience and a practice focused specifically on the perinatal period.
She supports women and couples across family planning, infertility and IVF, pregnancy loss, antenatal and postnatal anxiety and depression, birth trauma, relationship changes and the transition back to work.
Appointments are available in Miranda or via telehealth on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, with out-of-hours appointments also available. Babies are welcome to come along to sessions.
Acupuncture & Chinese herbal medicine
Pure Alchemy
Anissa has been practising acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in the Sutherland Shire for 18 years, with a particular focus on women’s health through different stages of life.
Alongside acupuncture, Pure Alchemy has a full Chinese herbal medicine dispensary on site, in what Anissa describes as a beautiful environment, with individual herbal prescriptions prepared for clients where appropriate.
Appointments are available in Cronulla and Woolooware from Monday to Friday, with other times available by arrangement.
PERINATAL & FAMILY PSYCHOLOGY · MENAI & ONLINE
Thinkfree Psychology
Thinkfree offers warm, judgement-free support for the emotional side of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood, from antenatal worries and postnatal anxiety or low mood to identity shifts, birth recovery and the mental load of becoming a parent.
The team supports parents through early and later childhood, including big feelings, tricky behaviour, sleep and routine battles, parenting confidence and early developmental concerns, with a warm, practical and neurodiversity-affirming approach.
Appointments are available in person at Menai or via telehealth Australia-wide, Monday to Friday from 9am to 8pm. Medicare rebates are available with a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan.
Psychology for mothers · Miranda
Due North Psychology
Due North Psychology provides a supportive space for mums to talk openly about their own wellbeing and the challenges that can come with motherhood.
The team supports women with concerns including anxiety, mood changes, sleep difficulties, relationship changes and parenting stress, with a focus on practical strategies that can be used in everyday life.
Appointments are available at their Miranda practice on Gibbs Street.
Hypnotherapy & fertility coaching
Jules Dwyer Therapy & Coaching
Jules Dwyer is a hypnotherapist, RTT practitioner and fertility coach who supports women through fertility, pregnancy, birth and postpartum.
Drawing on both her professional training and her own experience of fertility challenges, Jules works with women from the early stages of preparing to conceive through to pregnancy and early motherhood.
Her approach combines fertility coaching and therapeutic support, with sessions tailored to the individual and what they’re navigating at the time.
MOTS offer: Use code MOTS10 for 10% off.
Specialist perinatal mental health support
Gidget Foundation Australia
Gidget Foundation Australia is the leading and largest national provider of perinatal mental health services, supporting the emotional wellbeing of expectant and new parents. One in five mothers and one in ten fathers experience perinatal depression and anxiety in Australia each year.
Its free specialist treatment programs include individual psychological counselling, available face-to-face or via telehealth, with eligible appointments bulk billed through Medicare.
A referral and a mental health care plan from a GP are required to access this funding.
Psychologist & doula
Perinatal Wellness
Narelle Horwitz is a psychologist and certified birth, postpartum and stillbirth doula who has supported around a thousand local mothers since 2012.
Her work covers a broad range of perinatal experiences, including anxiety, depression, birth trauma, unplanned pregnancy, fertility challenges, pregnancy loss, stillbirth and the emotional impact of a baby requiring NICU care.
Her combined psychology and doula background allows her to support women through both the emotional and practical sides of pregnancy, birth and postpartum.
If you need support right now
PANDA, the national perinatal mental health helpline, is on 1300 726 306, Monday to Saturday. Lifeline is available 24 hours a day on 13 11 14. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 000.
Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond in the Sutherland Shire
Mental health and emotional support are just one part of our Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond Guide. You’ll also find fertility services, obstetricians and midwives, antenatal education, doulas, pregnancy and postnatal health, feeding support, photographers, baby services and more.
