My name is Vessal and I’m an accredited mental health social worker.
Similar to a psychologist or a counsellor, I work with new and expecting parents to support them as they face the delights and the (many!) challenges of parenthood. I moved into perinatal work after I became a first-time parent myself and found it extremely challenging to make sense of my feelings. With a bit of help, I was able to move through that difficult phase and found a lot of joy in working with young families, just as others had supported me.
Once I started this work, I never wanted to stop!
Research tells us that when new parents have support in the early days with their baby, the outcomes for both parents and infants are much more positive. This is why I love doing this work. I know that the therapeutic work we do together, will provide an exponentially positive impact for everyone in the family. There is no issue too big or too small to bring to therapy. What I aim to provide is a safe space where you can feel what you need to feel and, together, we try to understand why it is that those feelings are coming up for you. This is a gentle process, guided by what is most pressing to you. I’d also welcome a chat on the phone prior to booking a session. Please don’t hesitate to contact me through www.bigfeelings.com.au or book a session with our lovely admin team at the front desk.
Areas of expertise:
- Antenatal and post-natal anxiety
- Antenatal and post-natal depression
- Attachment and bonding
- Birth trauma
- Relationship issues
- Early childhood trauma
- Rainbow families
- Grief and loss
- Adjustment to parenthood
Qualifications:
- Currently completing on-going training as a child-parent psychotherapist – Australian Institute of Infant Mental Health.
- Masters of Social Work (accredited mental health social worker) – Melbourne University.
- Bachelors of Arts (Hons) – Monash University.
About our team
Meet our specialists
OGCG has five female specialist obstetricians; Dr Jean Wong, Dr Leah Xu, Dr Natalia Khomko, Dr Perri Dyson and Dr Robin Thurman.
Supporting the obstetricians are Robyn Compton (Maternal & Paediatric Dietician) and Aminee Dickenson (Counsellor)
We also offer the services of 2 specialist gynaecologists, Dr Harvinder Kaur and Dr Stephen Lee.
