What Is Perinatal Psychology? A Guide for Expecting and New Parents
Perinatal psychology is a specialist area of psychology focused on mental health during the period from conception through pregnancy, birth, and the first years of parenting. Perinatal psychologists assess and treat conditions including postnatal depression (PND), postnatal anxiety (PNA), birth trauma, pregnancy anxiety, bonding difficulties, and grief related to pregnancy loss or infant loss.
One in five Australian women and one in ten Australian men experience perinatal depression or anxiety. Despite how common these conditions are, many parents don’t know that specialist psychological support exists — or that it can be accessed via telehealth from home, which is often exactly what a new parent needs.
At MindLens Psychology Australia, Susan Rudnick (Registered Psychologist, AHPRA PSY0001893218) has specialist perinatal mental health training through Tresillian and the Gidget Foundation Australia. She is a member of the APS Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Interest Group and provides all sessions via telehealth to clients across Sydney, Adelaide, and Australia-wide.
What Does a Perinatal Psychologist Do?
A perinatal psychologist provides assessment and evidence-based therapy for mental health conditions that arise during the perinatal period. This includes:
- Assessment: Identifying whether symptoms are within normal adjustment range or indicate a clinical condition requiring treatment.
- Individual therapy: One-on-one sessions using approaches tailored to perinatal presentations, including CBT, ACT, EMDR (for birth trauma), and trauma-focused therapies.
- Couples support: Helping partners navigate the relationship changes that come with parenthood, including communication, role adjustment, and intimacy.
- Parent-infant work: Supporting the developing bond between parent and baby using attachment-informed approaches like Circle of Security.
- Liaison with healthcare team: Communicating with your GP, obstetrician, midwife, or maternal child health nurse to ensure coordinated care.
Perinatal psychologists understand that the transition to parenthood is one of the most significant life changes a person can experience. Their training equips them to work with the unique emotional, relational, and identity challenges this period brings.
When to See a Perinatal Psychologist
Consider seeking perinatal psychology support if you’re experiencing any of the following:
During Pregnancy
- Persistent anxiety about pregnancy, birth, or becoming a parent
- Low mood or loss of interest in things you usually enjoy
- Difficulty sleeping (beyond normal pregnancy discomfort)
- Intrusive or distressing thoughts
- Fear of childbirth (tokophobia)
- Grief from previous pregnancy loss or fertility challenges
- Relationship strain related to the pregnancy
After Birth
- Feeling overwhelmed, hopeless, or unable to cope for more than two weeks
- Persistent sadness, tearfulness, or irritability
- Difficulty bonding with or feeling connected to your baby
- Intrusive thoughts about harm coming to yourself or your baby
- Flashbacks or distressing memories of the birth
- Avoiding situations that remind you of the birth
- Feeling on edge, hypervigilant, or unable to relax
- Panic attacks
- Withdrawal from partner, family, or friends
If these symptoms persist beyond two weeks after birth, they are unlikely to be “baby blues” and may indicate postnatal depression or anxiety that benefits from professional support.
Common Perinatal Mental Health Conditions
Postnatal Depression (PND)
Postnatal depression affects approximately 1 in 7 Australian mothers and 1 in 10 fathers in the first year after birth. Symptoms include persistent low mood, loss of interest or pleasure, fatigue beyond normal new-parent tiredness, changes in appetite or sleep, difficulty concentrating, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, and in severe cases, thoughts of self-harm. PND is different from “baby blues” — it lasts longer, is more intense, and requires treatment.
Postnatal Anxiety (PNA)
Postnatal anxiety is at least as common as postnatal depression but is less widely recognised. Symptoms include constant worry about the baby’s health or safety, difficulty relaxing or sleeping even when the baby is asleep, physical symptoms (racing heart, tight chest, nausea), checking behaviours, and avoidance of situations perceived as risky. PNA can occur with or without depression.
Birth Trauma and Perinatal PTSD
Around one-third of Australian women describe their birth experience as traumatic, and approximately 3-4% develop full PTSD following childbirth. Birth trauma can result from emergency procedures, fear for the baby’s or mother’s life, feeling out of control, inadequate pain relief, or perceived lack of care. Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance of birth-related triggers, emotional numbing, and hyperarousal. EMDR and trauma-focused CBT are effective treatments.
Pregnancy Anxiety
Anxiety during pregnancy is common, particularly for those with a history of pregnancy loss, fertility difficulties, or previous traumatic births. It can range from manageable worry to debilitating anxiety that interferes with daily functioning and enjoyment of pregnancy.
Bonding Difficulties
Some parents experience difficulty forming an emotional bond with their baby. This can be associated with depression, trauma, a difficult birth, or pre-existing attachment patterns. Bonding difficulties are treatable — attachment-informed therapies like Circle of Security can help strengthen the parent-infant relationship.
How Perinatal Mental Health Conditions Are Treated
Perinatal psychologists use evidence-based therapies adapted for the perinatal context:
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT): The most well-evidenced therapy for perinatal depression and anxiety. Helps identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Helps parents relate to difficult thoughts and feelings differently, focusing on values-based action rather than thought elimination.
- EMDR: The treatment of choice for birth trauma and perinatal PTSD. Helps the brain reprocess traumatic birth memories so they no longer cause distress. Can be delivered effectively via telehealth.
- Trauma-Focused CBT: Structured therapy for processing traumatic experiences, including birth trauma and pregnancy-related trauma.
- Circle of Security: An attachment-based program that helps parents understand their baby’s emotional needs and respond in ways that promote secure attachment.
- Gottman Couples Therapy: Evidence-based couples therapy for the relationship strain that often accompanies the transition to parenthood.
Can Perinatal Psychology Be Done via Telehealth?
Yes — and for many perinatal clients, telehealth is the preferred option. New parents often find it difficult to travel to appointments with a baby or during pregnancy. Telehealth removes this barrier entirely.
Research supports the effectiveness of telehealth-delivered psychological therapies for perinatal conditions. A 2023 review in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that internet-delivered CBT significantly reduced symptoms of perinatal depression and anxiety compared to usual care.
At MindLens Psychology, all sessions are via Zoom. You can attend from home while your baby sleeps, from your car during a break, or from any private space. Partners can join couples sessions from the same or separate locations.
How to Access a Perinatal Psychologist in Australia
There are several pathways to access perinatal psychology:
- GP Mental Health Care Plan: Ask your GP for a MHCP with a referral to a psychologist who specialises in perinatal mental health. This provides up to 10 Medicare-rebated sessions per year.
- Self-referral: You can book directly for private sessions without a GP referral.
- Midwife or obstetrician referral: Your maternity care provider can refer you.
- Maternal child health nurse: MCHN services can identify perinatal mental health concerns and refer you.
- PANDA helpline: 1300 726 306 — Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia provides support and can help you find a psychologist.
- Gidget Foundation: Provides funded perinatal psychology sessions in some circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between postnatal depression and baby blues?
Baby blues are common, affecting up to 80% of new mothers. They typically involve mood swings, tearfulness, and irritability in the first two weeks after birth, and resolve on their own. Postnatal depression is more severe, lasts longer than two weeks, and involves persistent low mood, loss of interest, difficulty coping, and sometimes thoughts of self-harm. PND requires professional support.
Can fathers experience perinatal mental health issues?
Yes. Approximately 1 in 10 Australian fathers experience depression during the perinatal period, and anxiety rates are similar. Fathers can also experience adjustment difficulties, relationship strain, and in some cases, trauma responses related to witnessing a difficult birth. Perinatal psychology is available to all parents, regardless of gender.
How long does perinatal therapy usually take?
The duration depends on the condition and its severity. Many clients experience significant improvement within 6-12 sessions. Some conditions, like birth trauma treated with EMDR, may resolve more quickly. Your psychologist will discuss expected timeframes in your first session.
Do I need a referral for perinatal psychology?
No referral is needed for private sessions. However, to access Medicare rebates, you will need a GP Mental Health Care Plan. Your GP, obstetrician, midwife, or maternal child health nurse can all initiate a referral pathway.
Can I use Medicare for perinatal psychology?
Yes. With a GP Mental Health Care Plan, you can access up to 10 Medicare-rebated psychology sessions per calendar year, including telehealth sessions. At MindLens Psychology, the rebate is $98.95 per session off a $240 fee.
Is EMDR effective for birth trauma?
Yes. EMDR is one of the most effective treatments for birth trauma and perinatal PTSD. It helps the brain reprocess traumatic birth memories, reducing flashbacks, nightmares, and avoidance behaviours. Research supports EMDR for childbirth-related PTSD, and it can be delivered effectively via telehealth.
What is the Gidget Foundation?
The Gidget Foundation Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that provides free perinatal mental health treatment, support, and education. They offer funded psychology sessions for eligible parents experiencing perinatal depression, anxiety, or grief.
About the Author
Susan Rudnick is a Registered Psychologist (AHPRA PSY0001893218) and the founder of MindLens Psychology Australia. She specialises in perinatal mental health, having developed her expertise through work at Tresillian in Sydney and collaboration with the Gidget Foundation Australia. Susan is a member of the APS Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Interest Group and a Circle of Security Accredited Facilitator. She provides all sessions via telehealth across Sydney, Adelaide, and Australia-wide.
If you’re struggling: Call PANDA (1300 726 306) for immediate support, or book a session with MindLens Psychology. You don’t have to go through this alone.
