If you’re an intended mother, you can end up living in two realities at once: your life looks “not pregnant” on the outside, but internally you’re doing the tender, relentless work of becoming a parent. We think about the Intended...
Happy Minds blog
The intended mother experience in surrogacy: psychologically pregnant, often misunderstood
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Recognising and managing entitlement in surrogacy: a psychological perspective for intended parents
Read MoreBy 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...
Supporting Geelong workplaces: the value of EAP counselling for business wellbeing
Read MoreBy Sarah-Jayne Duryea, Principal Psychologist | Happy Minds Psychology Geelong Healthy workplaces don’t happen by accident — they are created through intentional leadership, supportive culture, and access to professional mental health care. In recent years, businesses across the Geelong region...
Why it’s important for new dads to fail
Read MoreBecoming a dad is one of the most profound transitions a man can undertake. For two dads welcoming a child through surrogacy and egg donation, the journey often begins long before the birth — through years of emotional preparation, medical...
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 —...
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...
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...
