Perinatal Psychologist
Perinatal Psychologist
What is perinatal psychology?
Perinatal psychology focuses on emotional and psychological wellbeing throughout pregnancy, birth, postpartum and the transition to parenthood.
A perinatal psychologist has a particular interest in the experiences and challenges that can arise during this period. Support might be sought for anxiety or depression during pregnancy, preparing emotionally for birth, processing a difficult or traumatic birth experience, intrusive thoughts or OCD, adjusting to life with a new baby, or navigating the changes in identity and relationships that can come with becoming a parent.
But you don’t need to be experiencing a diagnosed mental health condition to benefit from perinatal psychology. Pregnancy and early parenthood can bring enormous change, and sometimes having a dedicated space to talk through what you’re experiencing, understand what you’re feeling and find ways forward can be valuable in itself.
Perinatal psychologists can support people at different points in their journey, from pregnancy and birth preparation through to postpartum recovery and adjustment to parenthood. The right support will look different for everyone, which is why finding a psychologist whose experience and approach feel right for you matters.
Areas of support
Perinatal psychology can support you through the emotional and psychological changes that can come with pregnancy, birth, postpartum and the transition to parenthood. Our practitioners offer support across a range of experiences, including:
- Pregnancy support
Navigating the emotional impact of pregnancy, including challenging pregnancies and experiences such as Hyperemesis Gravidarum. - Birth preparation & debriefing
Preparing emotionally for birth, processing birth experiences and making sense of births that felt difficult, unexpected or traumatic. - Postpartum psychological care
Support through the emotional adjustment of the postpartum period and the many changes that come with becoming a parent. - Perinatal depression, anxiety & OCD
Evidence-based psychological support for depression, anxiety, intrusive thoughts and obsessive-compulsive symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum. - Matrescence & identity
Navigating changes in identity, relationships, life structure and purpose through the transition to motherhood. - Infant sleep
Support to understand infant sleep and the psychological and emotional impact sleep can have on parents. - Body image & eating concerns
Support for body image difficulties, disordered eating and eating concerns. - Trauma & PTSD
Processing trauma and working through symptoms of post-traumatic stress. - Stress, mood & emotional regulation
Understanding and managing stress, mood concerns and difficulties with emotional regulation.
Meet Your Psychologist
Isadora Aldam – Clinical Psychologist
Master of Clinical Psychology
Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours)
Registered COPE Practitioner
Founder of Self & Seasons Psychology
Isadora Aldam is a Clinical Psychologist with experience across private, government and not-for-profit settings.
After starting a family of her own, Isadora recognised, and experienced, the changes in identity, relationships, life structure and purpose that can come with significant life transitions. Her own transition to motherhood deepened her appreciation of just how much change the perinatal journey can bring, emotionally, physically and in how we see ourselves and our relationships.
It was from this experience, and a deep respect for the significant life transitions or “seasons” we move through across our lives, that Self & Seasons Psychology was born.
Through Self & Seasons, Isadora aims to provide therapy that feels accessible, non-judgemental, warm and comfortable. A supportive space to feel heard, understood and gently re-empowered, from wherever you feel most comfortable.
Based in Adelaide, Isadora offers psychology appointments via telehealth across Australia, making support a little easier to access amongst the realities of pregnancy, babies and family life. Both brief and longer-term support are welcomed.
Babes in arms and cups of tea welcome.
