Karen Potter
Psychotherapy
Camberwell, Vic
Perinatal and Infant-Parent
This area includes the whole period from thinking about having a baby, conceiving (or not), through pregnancy, birthing, post-natal and the early parenting of infants and toddlers.
As much as it can be exciting, pregnancy and early parenting years are often a time equally charged with anxiety, guilt, uncertainty and a range of other emotions.
Karen works with parents on any issues that arise during this stage, such as:
- Fertility and conception issues
- Anxiety and depression during pregnancy
- Pregnancy, stillbirth or the loss of an infant/toddler
- Problems/trauma during birth
- Postnatal depression and anxiety
- Attachment and/or bonding issues
- Infant feeding, sleeping or settling problems
- Struggling with the changes in family dynamics
Many of the above are common in the transition to and through early parenthood. As such, the support of a perinatal specialist can help to develop a deeper understanding and build on skills to work through these issues and enjoy family life even more.
Parenting
Raising children is one of the most important roles in life and it can also be the most challenging. Parents can experience: uncertainty, anxiety, frustration, guilt, irritability, doubt, sadness, feeling out-of-control and overwhelm. Counselling can help in understanding and working through the experiences and emotions, as well as to learn additional skills to strengthen the parent-child relationship.
Many parents are now experiencing and facing their child being diagnosed with a range of disorders, including ADHD and ASD.. In this area, Karen offers parents a safe and supportive space to explore and understand the emotions involved, as well as providing information, support and strategies to guide you through the next stages of your child’s development.
Individuals & Couples
Individual psychotherapy is for those wanting to develop a deeper understanding of oneself, ones relationships and life. This involves increasing self-awareness and the capacity to see oneself honestly and compassionately as well as providing cognitive and behavioural strategies.
Couples therapy is for those who wish to resolve issues in their relationship and/or to build a stronger bond between one another. In couples therapy, we explore the relationship in many ways. Improving communication skills and developing appreciation and understanding toward one another are often central aspects.
Karen also works with individuals and couples through transitions in life, including the beginnings and endings of: relationships, work, health, home and the losses or the death of important people and pets.
Supervision & Mentoring
Karen offers clinical supervision to practitioners seeking support, guidance and/or processing around their work with clients. Supervision builds on and strengthens clinicians’ ’capacities and offers skills and tools to manage all the various issues that can arise.
The mentoring relationship is a one-on-one opportunity for learning, encouragement, support, guidance, and development in any or all areas of one’s life. This process is about exploring and clarifying who and where you are now in life, and who/where you want to be and identifies how to get there.