The 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...
Happy Minds blog
Healing After Surrogacy: Reclaiming Identity and Emotional Balance Post-Birth
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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...
Postpartum Recovery: Our Guide to the Fourth Trimester
Read MoreThe fourth trimester, those tender weeks after birth, is a time of awe, adjustment, and raw vulnerability. At Happy Minds Psychology, we know this season brings a whirlwind of emotions, physical changes, and new responsibilities that can test your mental...
Preparing for Parenthood: A Guide to Perinatal Mental Health
Read MoreThe journey to parenthood is an extraordinary time filled with a range of emotions, from excitement and joy to apprehension and anxiety. Perinatal mental health, which encompasses the emotional wellbeing of parents both during pregnancy and after childbirth, plays a...
Perinatal Care: Understanding the Role of Psychology in Pregnancy and Beyond
Read MorePerinatal care often conjures images of routine doctor visits, baby scans, and physical preparations for the forthcoming child. However, while these aspects are undeniably crucial, there’s another dimension to consider: the psychological. Pregnancy and the subsequent postpartum period bring with...
Perinatal Care: Understanding the Role of Psychology in Pregnancy and Beyond
Read MorePerinatal care often conjures images of routine doctor visits, baby scans, and physical preparations for the forthcoming child. However, while these aspects are undeniably crucial, there’s another dimension to consider: the psychological. Pregnancy and the subsequent postpartum period bring with...
The Impact of Infertility on Body Image and Self-Esteem
Read MoreInfertility is a challenging and emotionally taxing experience that affects numerous couples and individuals around the world. Defined as the inability to conceive after a year of regular, unprotected intercourse, infertility can have profound implications on one’s emotional well-being. Among...
Supporting Mental Health During IVF: Understanding and Coping with the Challenges
Read MoreIn vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a journey that can be emotionally, physically, and mentally challenging for many individuals and couples. The process of IVF involves various steps, including stimulation of the ovaries, egg retrieval, fertilisation, and embryo transfer. While IVF...
