Carla Anderson
Clinical Psychologist 
Bsc, Bsc Hons (Psych), MPsych (Clin)

Carla Anderson is a psychologist with many years of experience and training in working with families during the perinatal period. Carla is also a mother of three teenage daughters and three step children. Carla’s passion with the perinatal period began in 2000 through a volunteer peer support and group coordinator role with the Qld Postnatal Disorders Association, whilst completing her psychology degree and becoming a mother herself. From here, Carla’s passion grew, taking on other volunteer positions as a telephone grief counsellor for Bonnie Babes Foundation and Angel Babies Foundation for a number of years, where she worked as a grief telephone counsellor and then as a national trainer, training professionals around the country in support and counselling skills for families who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death of a baby.

In 2005 after working in various government and non-government agencies as a psychologist with a child focus, Carla went into private practice to focus on helping families within the perinatal period and children and youth, and has continued in private practice since throughout Queensland.

Throughout this time Carla was also involved in nationally funded projects including; the Lighthouse Project for Children in Domestic Violence, and the Gladstone Communities for Children Project, establishing Postnatal Depression Support Groups within the community.

Carla is passionate about supporting women and their families in all areas related to the perinatal period such as infertility and IVF issues, pregnancy related concerns, antenatal/postnatal depression, grief and loss, and adoption. As well as supporting families with the transition to parenthood and the day to day juggling of family life.

In 2014 Carla returned to study to complete her Masters in Clinical Psychology, completing it in 2017. Carla focused her research on the perinatal period through the completion of her thesis: Establishing whether pregnancy anxiety is a distinct syndrome. The research examined whether fears related to pregnancy and childbirth are distinct from anxiety disorders. Carla is currently undertaking her clinical psychology endorsement program.

In her sessions Carla uses a variety of evidence-based therapies including CBT, ACT, Mindfulness, and Compassion Focused Therapies, to enhance self-understanding among clients. She works individually, as well as with the family and infant/child. She has also completed training specifically related to Perinatal disorders, Circle of Security and Attachment Based approaches.

Carla provides a professional and caring space to process whatever difficulty clients are experiencing at the time, personalized to suit the individual’s needs.

Carla is registered for Medicare’s non-directive Pregnancy Counselling.

Areas of Special Interest

• Preconception, including fertility issues
• Pregnancy
• Perinatal loss
• Antenatal depression and anxiety
• Birth trauma
• Premature Birth
• Postnatal depression and anxiety
• Parent-infant attachment
• Adjustment issues
• Infants
• Toddlers
• Parenting
• Fathers
• Couple relationship

Professional Memberships

• Member Australian Psychological Society (MAPS)
• Student Member APS College of Clinical Psychologists (CCLP)
• Member APS Perinatal and Infant Psychology Interest Group (PIPIG)
• Member Australasian Marcé Society
• Member International Marcé Society

Fees & Rebates

Cost: $200 per 50-minute session *Medicare Rebate:   $129.55
Out-of-pocket: $70.45 per session

*Medicare rebates are available to those who have a referral and Mental Health Care Plan from their GP, psychiatrist or paediatrician.  This must be in place prior to the first claimable session.

Available: Monday-Friday
Contact: 0449 113 511 or use the contact form below