Treatments | Melanie Quinn Psychology

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”

Anaïs Nin, Author

Dedicated to the Treatment of Perinatal Wellbeing and Adult Mental Health

Perinatal Wellbeing and Parenting

The perinatal journey is often unexpectedly bumpy at various stages. For some people, the decision itself around whether to become is difficult and uncertain. Some are wrestling with the decision of whether or not to terminate a pregnancy. For others, there may be difficulties with conception and fertility which may lead them to a journey of in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Some people experience miscarriage, loss, medical complications during pregnancy, or fraught decisions around medical termination of pregnancy. Then, there may be complications or traumatic experiences during the birthing process itself.

Becoming a parent is an important developmental milestone and a major life and role transition. Although this is a time of celebration, for many parents this also presents unforeseen struggles and challenges which can be overwhelming. Depression and anxiety are very common in the perinatal period (during pregnancy, and up to the first 12 months following childbirth). As many as 1 in 7 new mums, and 1 in 10 new dads report symptoms consistent with depression and anxiety. Parents with such difficulties often report difficulty finding enjoyment, pervasive feelings of sadness or intense irritability, sleeping difficulties, restlessness, fatigue, and difficulty thinking clearly.

Parents with preschool, primary school and high-school aged children also require a great amount of adaptability. Older children are constantly growing and changing, and this may place demands on parents which may be difficult to manage if they have not had adequate support themselves. It may also be a time when attachment issues related to their own experiences of being parented may be brought to the surface.

Therapy may be of assistance as parents adapt to the demands of parenthood. With support, many parents are able to adjust to the impact that parenting challenges present. Choosing a therapeutic space allows parents the time to tune into their own needs and process difficulties arising within an empathic and non-judgmental relationship.

I am a registered Circle of Security parent reflection program facilitator. The program explores parent/child interactions, healthy options in caregiving, and attuning to children's needs to develop secure attachments. I convenes parent groups or individual sessions for those wanting to make sense of their child's needs, consider the ways they may wish to parent differently from their own experiences of being parented, and develop a secure attachment with their children.

Anxiety

Everybody has experiences of rational fear, worry and helplessness which may be momentary, or sustained during periods of stress. Clinical anxiety is generally more pervasive, overwhelming, debilitating and impairing a person’s ability to achieve in work, love and life.

The experience of anxiety is inherently unique, despite some commonalities of sensations and emotions. Anxiety is frequently experienced as worry and concern, or nervousness. For some people, it presents as sudden panic attacks, which seem to come “out of the blue”, with intense somatic reactions such as dizziness, trembling, increased heart rate, nausea, difficulties with sleep, concentration and fatigue. For yet others, anxiety may be experienced as social phobia, or fear of negative evaluations from others, perfectionism, fear of making mistakes, or loss of a sense of control. The source and causes of the anxiety is often unclear, which makes it a very distressing experience, as there is no clear danger to defend against, or escape from.

In therapy, anxiety is seen as an important psychological and physical experience which can be understood if allowed to be explored. In time and with examination in a therapeutic relationship, the underlying basis of anxiety can be illuminated and worked through.

Therefore, in treatment, anxiety may be viewed as a signpost to direct a person towards an area of life that needs to be explored and potentially altered.

Depression

Depression – feelings of pervasive sorrow, dejection and unremitting downheartedness, affects as many as one in six women, and one in eight men in Australia at some point in their lives. For some people, there are clear events which precede a depressive episode, such as loss (such as loss of a job, finances, partner or social position), separation, a serious medical illness, or worsening drug and alcohol use. For others, it may not be as clear as to how or why a depressive period emerged, and in these cases, depression is sometimes linked to earlier life experiences which may be unprocessed and unacknowledged.

When people explore their experiences of depression, they commonly report feeling guilty, overwhelmed and sad, withdrawing from social activities, difficulty completing work or school tasks, inability to concentrate, feeling overwhelmed, irritable, lacking in pleasure and confidence, fatigue, loss of sexual desire, and thoughts of dying.

Often, people benefit from a psychodynamic approach to treating depression. In this way of working, depressive symptoms are viewed as important signposts and invitations to explore a person’s experiences and situations preceding the difficulties. This form of therapy invites people to consider with honesty and self-reflection values, motivations and beliefs which may be indirectly contributing to pervasive feelings of distress.

Eye-Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an effective treatment for depression. This approach involves exploration of the current triggers around a depressive episode and working on events in the past which may be linked to this experience.

Grief and Loss

Losing someone dear is one of the most painful experiences in life. The grief can be so overwhelming that it may leave individuals feeling unable to move forward. As you navigate your emotions and come to terms with the loss, you might find yourself caught in a difficult and painful cycle.

Grief is a natural reaction to loss, bringing emotional pain when you lose someone or something you deeply care about. This pain can be overwhelming, triggering a range of difficult emotions. It can also negatively impact on your physical health, making it hard to eat, sleep, or think clearly. The intensity of your grief often depends on the significance of the loss. Loss of a person with whom your relationship was ambivalent may also provoke complicated grief responses.

Psychodynamic grief therapy offers support in processing loss and expressing the emotions tied to your experience. This approach helps individuals explore past relationships, which often shape the way they experience and cope with grief.

Hopelessness, Confusion, Problematic Patterns of Behaviour

Hopelessness, Confuion and Problematic Patterns of Behaviour

Some people decide to speak to a therapist about worries and difficulties that are not the result of a life crisis or trauma. The decision to seek therapy might come about as a desire to learn more about oneself, to bring meaning to one's ideas, values, and desires, and to liberate oneself from problematic behaviours which repeat in one's life. Other people are looking for a way to better tolerate distressing feelings and bring meaning to confusing emotions.

While there are many psychological therapies which offer self-improvement techniques, advice, and behavioural strategies, psychodynamic psychotherapy provides a safe and confidential space where individuals can explore their thoughts, feelings and desires freely, openly, and without judgement. While some people find their own way of answering existential questions related to their own patterns to find meaning and direction for their life, therapy can be of assistance to bring about transformative effects as understanding, meaning, and hope is generated.