By Sarah-Jayne Duryea, Principal Psychologist | Happy Minds Psychology Surrogacy is, at its core, an act of profound generosity. It is built on trust, autonomy, and shared intention — not transaction. But in clinical work with surrogacy teams, I’ve noticed...
Happy Minds blog
Recognising and managing entitlement in surrogacy: a psychological perspective for intended parents
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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...
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....
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...
Supporting Your Surrogate: A Guide for Intended Parents to Honour Autonomy, Care, and Connection
Read MoreBy Sarah-Jayne Duryea, Principal Psychologist – Happy Minds Psychology, Geelong For many intended parents, the journey to parenthood through surrogacy in Australia is filled with gratitude, anticipation, and deep emotion. It’s also a journey made possible by one remarkable person...
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...
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...
