For many new parents, the birth of a child is expected to be one of life’s most joyful and transformative experiences. But for some, childbirth can be overwhelming, frightening, or even traumatic. When a birth doesn’t go to plan —...
Happy Minds blog
Healing from birth trauma: how EMDR therapy can help
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What healthy closure looks like: maintaining connection without over-attachment after surrogacy
Read MoreBy Sarah-Jayne Duryea, Principal Psychologist | Happy Minds Psychology Surrogacy is often described as a journey — one that begins with hope, deepens through trust, and ends with transformation. But the ending can be emotionally complex. Once the baby is...
Two dads, one family: surrogacy, fatherhood, and the truth about what children really need
Read MoreBy Sarah-Jayne Duryea, Principal Psychologist, Happy Minds Psychology When you picture a family, what do you see? For many, the old image of a mother, father, and children still comes to mind. But families today come in countless forms —...
Claiming Connection: Understanding Newborn Attachment After Surrogacy
Read MoreWelcoming a baby into the world is one of life’s most profound experiences. For intended parents who have built their family through surrogacy, this moment can be filled with immense joy—alongside complex emotions, uncertainty, and adjustment. While surrogacy provides a...
Healing After Surrogacy: Reclaiming Identity and Emotional Balance Post-Birth
Read MoreThe weeks and months following a surrogacy birth are often described as bittersweet. There is joy, gratitude, and relief — but also hormonal shifts, fatigue, and emotional recalibration. For surrogates, this can be a moment of pride mixed with unexpected...
Surrogacy Relationships Over Time: How to Sustain Respectful Connection as the Child Grows
Read MoreBy Sarah-Jayne Duryea, Principal Psychologist | Happy Minds Psychology Surrogacy doesn’t end when the baby is born — it simply changes shape. The months after birth are often filled with gratitude, relief, and adjustment. But what happens in the years...
Being a Surrogate with Neurodiversity: Embracing Difference in the Journey
Read MoreBy Sarah-Jayne Duryea, Principal Psychologist | Happy Minds Psychology Surrogacy is a profound act of generosity, connection, and trust. It asks one person to carry another’s hopes, to share her body and emotions, and to navigate a unique web...
Men’s Mental Health During Fertility Treatment: Breaking the Silence
Read MoreFertility treatment can be an emotional rollercoaster. While the focus often falls on women’s experiences, men’s mental health is just as important. At Happy Minds Psychology in Geelong, we see how uncertainty, financial strain, medical procedures, and shifting hopes can...
Partner Support: Communication Tips for Couples Undergoing IVF
Read MoreThe IVF journey is a shared path for couples, filled with hope, stress and moments that test your connection. At Happy Minds Psychology, we know how this process—medical appointments, waiting periods, emotional swings—can strain even the strongest partnerships. Supporting each...
Telehealth and Fertility: How Virtual Psychology Services Can Support Your IVF Journey
Read MoreThe IVF journey is a marathon of hope, waiting, and emotional highs and lows, and finding support that fits your life can make all the difference. At Happy Minds Psychology in Geelong, we know how demanding fertility treatment can be—physically,...
