Location: Eltham

Valerie Mackintosh
Counselling Perinatal Psychologist
BAppSc (Psych/Hons), MPsych (Counselling), MAPS

Val has an Honours degree in Psychology from Deakin University and a Masters in Psychology (Counselling) from Monash University.  She is registered with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and is a full Member of the Australian Psychological Society.  She is also an Associate Member of the Australian Society of Hypnosis.

She uses a range of therapeutic techniques that are grounded in an understanding of Attachment theory to promote healing and change.  Each are tailored to the specific needs of the client.  She has a particular interest in working with clients with a complex childhood trauma history and in the field of Perinatal Psychology with an emphasis on infant mental health.  She has completed training in relationship based approaches to perinatal mood disturbance and has a deep understanding of the difficulties that the transition to parenthood can present. Her preference is to work with new mothers/parents experiencing postnatal anxiety/depression and attachment issues.

She undertakes regular professional development training and supervision and is passionate about providing the best possible care to her clients.

Therapy Approaches include; Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Trauma Model Therapy, Mindfulness-based Interventions, Sensorimotor Processing, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Hypnosis and Yoga.

(more…)

Larissa Lagerewskij
Clinical and Perinatal Psychologist
BA (Psych), M.Psych, MAPS, MAPS CClin, GradCertCareerDevt

Graduate Certificate in Career Development
Circle of Security Facilitator
Professional Pilates Practitioner, Diploma of Pilates Movement Therapy
Practitioner of Applied Mindfulness, Australian Institute of Applied Mindfulness
Gottman Method Couples Training Level 1
EMDR Advanced Training, Therapist Training

Larissa is a warm, compassionate and neuroaffriming Career Counsellor and Perinatal/Clinical Psychologist who enjoys preparing women and their partners for pregnancy, for birth and for post birth. She has a wholistic approach to wellbeing focusing on physical and emotional wellbeing. Enhancing the quality of relationships is a cornerstone of therapy.

Larissa has a strong interest in career development in the context of the family and how career development can support mental health.

She also enjoys supporting
– the neurodivergent community
– same sex families
– families of different cultures

Larissa’s focuses on supporting the transition to parenthood addressing perinatal anxiety and depression to ensure healthy social and emotional development of children.

Larissa sees women and their partners who are anxious about:
– becoming and being pregnant
– preparing for becoming a parent
– coping with the birth process
– adjusting to the role of being a parent
– reflecting on career development as a parent
– transitioning to work after becoming a parent
– managing the juggle of work, life and family

Larissa has an empowering and attachment based approach to perinatal and infant mental health.  She embraces a trauma informed and neuro-affirmative approach with reflective parenting. She uses a variety of evidence based therapies including CBT, ACT, Mindfulness and Compassion focussed therapies to nurture self-understanding in conjunction with solution focused and strength based approaches.

Larissa takes on a body-mind approach in therapy. She is a Diploma qualified Professional Pilates Practitioner Level 2 with Pilates Association Australia and has been teaching Pilates Movement Therapy since 2006.  She provides a personalised approach to Pilates, preparing mums for childbirth psychologically and physically and supporting the healing process post birth.  Larissa provides a space for focussing on breath awareness, strengthening and releasing pelvic floor muscles and physically/psychologically preparing the body for birth.  Pilates has been found to reduce labour pain intensity, the length of the active phase and increases satisfaction with the childbirth process (Ghandali et al, 2021).  Post birth she also focuses on strengthening muscles to support the demands of motherhood.  Larissa is a strong advocate of the healing power of movement.  Pilates movement therapy is available in person and online.

Larissa offers short and long term therapy to assist women, their partners and families to understand and address their concerns.  Appointments are available via Telehealth and in person appointments can be arranged.

(more…)