Not all trauma looks the same. For some people, it is linked to a specific event — an accident, loss, or medical experience. For others, it is something that built up over time: chronic stress, relationship dynamics, emotional neglect, or...
Happy Minds blog
Online Trauma Informed Services: Safe, Compassionate Support From Anywhere
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Attachment and Emotional Regulation in Children: Why It Shapes Your Child’s Brain
Read MoreWhen parents search for an infant mental health psychologist, they are often worried about something deeper than behaviour. It might look like: big emotions that escalate quickly difficulty settling or calming clinginess or withdrawal ongoing anxiety, tantrums, or shutdown What...
Hormonal changes after birth: why new parents benefit from seeing a psychologist
Read MoreHaving a baby is often described as one of life’s most joyful experiences — and it can be. But what many people don’t talk about is how intense, emotional, and overwhelming the post-birth period can feel. The dramatic hormonal shifts...
Eating disorders in pregnancy and postpartum: why they can re-emerge and when to seek support
Read MorePregnancy, birth, and early postpartum are often described as joyful and connecting—but for many women, the perinatal period can also be psychologically complex and deeply vulnerable, particularly for those with a history of eating disorders. Even when an eating disorder...
The postpartum journey for surrogates: what to expect and how to support it
Read MoreBy Sarah-Jayne Duryea, Principal Psychologist | Happy Minds Psychology The end of a surrogate pregnancy marks both an arrival and a departure — the arrival of a new life and the beginning of a profound change for you, the surrogate....
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...
Navigating Postpartum Emotions: A Psychologist’s Guide to the Fourth Trimester
Read MoreThe arrival of a baby is a life altering moment, often bathed in joy and wonder, but the weeks that follow—known as the fourth trimester—can feel like an emotional whirlwind. At Happy Minds Psychology in Geelong, we’ve supported many new...
Beyond Baby Blues: Recognising and Managing Postnatal Depression and Anxiety
Read MorePostnatal depression (PND) and postnatal anxiety (PNA) are significant mental health challenges that extend far beyond the ‘baby blues’ commonly discussed in the context of new parenthood. While the baby blues are typically brief and mild, PND and PNA are...
