Counselling Services

Counselling services are offered in a group setting utilising the City Fertility Centre Support Group (more information provided below). If you don’t feel that a group setting would best meet your needs, you may wish to consider meeting one of the CFC counsellors for an individual session, or a session in the company or your partner/support person.

Why would patients need counselling services? Even without the additional stress of IVF, everyday problems, such as work stress, relationship troubles and coping with illness, can seriously affect your life.

Addressing these concerns is vital to enjoying life and good relationships. Psychologists and specialist-trained counsellors can help with these situations. They equip people with the skills needed to function better and to prevent problems. Research shows psychological treatments are effective in managing many common mental health disorders.

• Manage stress and conflict at home and work;

• Deal with grief, loss and trauma;

• Overcome feelings of anxiety and fear;

• Increase self-esteem and confidence;

• Enhance personal relationships;

• Cope with disabilities or health problems;

• Deal with problems related to alcohol and drug use;

• Manage chronic pain;

• Manage depression;

• Recover from eating disorders;

• Handle obsessions and compulsions;

• Deal with sexual concerns; and

• Manage anger or violence.

• Build a satisfying relationship;

• Improve their communication;

• Manage conflict or disagreement;

• Address sexual issues;

• Resolve thoughts of separation or divorce; and

• Improve parenting skills.

Consultations

Cost of counselling

OUR COUNSELLING TEAM

JODY HOUSMAN

Jodie Housman, Psychologist and Founder, is passionate about psychology and has enjoyed working with individuals and families in a clinical, counselling, sporting and forensic capacity since 2000. Jodie has represented Australia in the sport of swimming at the 1986 & 1990 Commonwealth Games (Edinburgh – Silver Medalist; and Auckland – dual Silver Medalist) and the 1988 Olympic Games (Seoul – dual finalist). Jodie’s commitment to helping individuals, professionals, athletes and couples through psychological treatment methods to achieve optimum emotional health and performance remains paramount.

Jody consults at Morris Towers, (Level 7), 149 Wickham Tce, Spring Hill.
Mobile 0430 305413 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            0430 305413      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

http://www.housmanpsychology.com/


BRISBANE

Dr. JOEL CULLIN (Social Worker) B. Soc. Wk, MAASW

Dr Joel Cullin is a social worker and psychotherapist in full time private practice. Joel has many years experience in mental health, counselling, and psychotherapy, and he has assisted hundreds of individuals and couples through the experience of fertility treatment. Joel is well respected in the Australian family therapy community for his teaching, his conference presentations, and his contributions to the professional literature. In addition to his private practice, Joel has been a lecturer at both the University of Queensland and James Cook University, teaching counselling and family therapy theory and skills to postgraduate social work and psychology students.

Joel's rooms are located at Ballow Chambers, 121 Wickham Tce, Spring Hill.

http://www.joelcullin.com.au/




GOLD COAST

TESS LAW  B. Psych (Hons)Assoc MAPS MGANZ AIMM

Tess Law is a registered psychologist (Queensland) and a trained Gestalt psychotherapist. Tess holds a Bachelor of Psychology with first class honours and she has been awarded a number of academic prizes and scholarships, including the Australian Psychological Society Prize in Psychology (2002). Tess has worked in a diverse range of organisations, including alcohol and drug rehabilitation centres, schools (as a Guidance Officer) and Organisational Training and Development companies. Since commencing private practice in 2006, Tess has specialised in assisting clients with a range of problems, including anxiety disorders, trauma, depression and relationship issues. In terms of relationship counselling, Tess specialises in helping people understand relationship patterns and turn conflict into conversations. This can be particularly beneficial for couples undergoing the stress and strain of infertility treatment. Due to her experience Tess is adept at meeting the goals of her clients ranging from clients wanting sessions to ‘offload’ thoughts and feelings, to learning strategies and skills, to achieving a deeper-level understanding of themselves, or to resolving chronic and complex problems.

Tess has consulted for City Fertility Centre since 2006 and has a keen understanding of the psychotherapeutic role of emotional support for women and men dealing with difficulties in conception, pregnancy, childbirth and beyond.

Tess consults at:
Suite 5, Colonial Court, 55 Railway Street Mudgeeraba.4223
Mobile 0413 210 121



ADELAIDE



Dr MELISSA OXLAD  BA (Hons)., M.Psych. (Clin. & Hlth)., Dip. Clin. Hyp., PhD., MAPS, MASH, MANZICA

Melissa Oxlad is a clinical and health psychologist in private practice consulting at City Fertility Services, Henley Beach and in the Adelaide CBD. She is registered with the Psychology Board of Australia and is a member of the Australian Psychological Society, The Australian Society of Hypnosis, and the Australian and New Zealand Infertility Counsellors Association.

Melissa consults clients with a wide range of presenting issues but her passion is assisting people whose emotional well-being is being adversely affected by physical health problems. She is particularly interested in assisting couples with infertility and pregnancy-related concerns. This includes assisting women and men to adjust to a diagnosis of infertility, providing support and decision-making skills, and assisting in relation to conception difficulties and grief and loss issues. Melissa is also keen to assist couples after conception by providing support and skills throughout pregnancy, childbirth and early parenting.

Melissa is trained and experienced in a range of therapeutic approaches including cognitive behaviour therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, motivational interviewing, and clinical hypnosis. The exact approach utilised is tailored to the specific needs of the individual/couple seeking assistance.

In addition to her clinical work, Melissa is a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Adelaide, and her health psychology research has been published in peer reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences. She has also undertaken a number of tertiary teaching roles and supervision of other psychologists.
 
Melissa consults at Level 2, 29 King William Street, Adelaide.  5000

Ph   08 8410 1322
Fax  08 8410 1355

http://www.melissaoxlad.com.au

MELBOURNE



SONJA LADBROOKE
(BSc Grad Dip Genetic Counselling, Associate Member ANZICA)


Sonja Ladbrooke joined City Fertility Centre  in late 2009 and brings qualifications and experience in psychology and genetic counselling. She has a Bachelor of Science obtained through the University of Melbourne in 2006 with a major in psychology and a Post Graduate Diploma in Genetic Counselling obtained through Charles Sturt University in 2008. Sonja is currently completing further postgraduate study in psychology. Sonja is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Infertility Counsellor’s Association (ANZICA).

Sonja’s focus is providing a high quality, sensitive and supportive counselling service for City Fertility Centre clients and to Sonja’s aim is to empower couples with knowledge and support at this often stressful time in their lives.

Sonja sees clients at the Melbourne CFC clinic and appointments can be made directly through reception by phoning 1300 781 483.



MONIQUE COHENKA
(BSW, MA (women's studies), DClinSci (counselling & psychotherapy), MAASW)

Monique is a counsellor with over 15 years experience working with both individuals and couples. She has Bachelor of Social Work, a Master of Arts, a certificate and internship in Couple Counselling and a Doctorate of Clinical Science in counselling and psychotherapy. She is a member of the Australian Association of Social Work.
Monique provides counselling to couples and individuals undergoing fertility treatment either at consulting rooms in Armadale or at CFC in Melbourne.

Rooms: Armadale Counselling Centre, 601 Dandenong Road, Armadale 3143

Mobile: 0433 338 773

Website: www.thecounsellor.net.au





Dietician and Nutritionist

BRISBANE

ALESSANDRA WINFIELD  (APD  BHthSc  Nutr and Diet (Hons)

Alessandra has worked in the area of health promotion for 13 years with the past seven years as an Accredited Practicing Dietitian, and is registered with the Dietitians Association of Australia.

Alessandra counsels her clients on the premise that a healthy lifestyle is a contributing factor to successful conception and positive pregnancy outcomes. Research has shown that a healthy lifestyle improves fertility rates in some women and also reduces the incidence of miscarriage. A healthy lifestyle during pregnancy also provides a good start for the developing infant and contributes to positive outcomes for the mother in terms of mental and physical health.

Alessandra addresses all aspects of nutrition and fitness and presents information in a caring, supportive and easy-to-understand format.

Alessandra consults at City Fertility Centre Brisbane City,  and Keppera.  Please click on the link below for further details on Ripe Nutrition or phone
0439 754 143

http://www.ripenutrition.com.au

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