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Melissa Stephens Senior Fertility Counsellor
BA (psych) MA (psych) Master of Psychology (Counselling) MAPS
Melissa leads IVFAustralia's counselling team and is a Counselling Psychologist with a masters from Macquarie University. Her research was in the area of IVF. Melissa has worked in the public and private sector with individuals, couples and families. She is experienced in working with a range of issues such as grief and loss, depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties and infertility as well as parenting and adolescent issues.
In addition to her role as counselor with IVF Australia, Melissa works in private practice.
Melissa is registered with the AHPRA and is also a member of the Australian Psychological Society and the Australian and New Zealand Infertility Counsellors Association.
Melissa counsels from IVF Australia Westmead and Northshore.
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Suzanne Hawkins
B.Sc (Hons) Genetics, Ph.D. Medicine, G. Dip Genetic Counselling, G. Dip Psychology P.G. Dip Psychology and G.Dip Systemic Therapy
Suzanne is a Psychologist who has post-graduate qualifications in psychology, genetic counselling, couples counselling and medical science. She has experience in counselling couples and individuals undertaking fertility treatment, coping with childlessness, miscarriage, failed cycles, and donor conception.
Suzanne also has experience as a couple’s counsellor and as an adoption worker. Additionally, she has worked with people who are affected by genetic conditions and has experience in the running and training of support groups. Suzanne’s areas of interests include couple and family therapy, grief and loss, donor conception and issues associated with donor conceived children.
Suzanne is registered with AHPRA.
Suzanne counsels from IVFAustralia Eastern Suburbs.
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Beverley Aronstan
B.SocSc(Hons)Psych), P.Gr Dip Psych, Gr.Dip.Systemic Therapy, H.Dip.Eds.
Beverley is a Psychologist with postgraduate qualifications in secondary school teaching and counselling, psychology, couples and family counselling. Beverley is a relationships counsellor and has a special interest in the impact of infertility, childlessness, failed cycles, donor conception on relationships. Additionally she has experience working with individuals, couples and families living with a chronic medical condition.
Beverley is registered with AHPRA and is a member of Australian Psychological Society and the Australian and New Zealand Infertility Counsellors Association.
Beverley counsels from IVFAustralia Eastern Suburbs (Bondi Junction).
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Sally Hume
BA (psychology) MA (Psychology) MAPS
Sally Hume is a Psychologist with a Masters in Psychology from the University of Sydney. Sally has over 20 years experience counselling in the area of women’s health in both private and public practices.
Sally worked for more than over ten years in the area of gynaecology as a part-time counsellor, which involved counselling on issues such as termination, unplanned pregnancies and decision making for singles and couples.
Sally is qualified in the area of bereavement counselling, which she applies to her work in the area of fertility counselling, in helping individuals and couples cope with the grief they experience from pregnancy loss and infertility.
In her current role in fertility counselling, Sally is experienced in helping normalise people’s feelings about their journey through fertility treatment, and providing an informative and supportive role.
Sally is a member of the Australian Psychology Society and registered with AHPRA.
Sally counsels from IVFAustralia in the City.
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Elizabeth Poole
BASW (Hons), PGDip.Health Science (Midwifery), GGDip.Relationship Counselling
Elizabeth is a Social Worker with extensive experience in relationship counselling and group work. She has specialised in womens' health and family issues around infertility, pregnancy and parenting and the impact on well being due to loss, grief and trauma.
Elizabeth is a registered member of the Australian New Zealand Infertility Counsellors Association (ANZICA) and the Australian Association of Social Workers(AASW)
Elizabeth counsels form IVFAustralia Central Coast
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Claudia Gross
Registered Psychologist, MAPS
Claudia is a Registered Psychologist. Most recently Claudia was working with Vision Australia as a counsellor with adults with vision impairment or blindness and their families. Claudia has experience working with grief and loss issues as well as secondary psychological problems such as anxiety, depression, relationship problems as well as trauma experiences.
Claudia is also a fluent German speaker. As a part of her approach to counselling Claudia values working in a respecful and caring way.
Claudia is a member of the Australian Psychological Society and the Australian and New Zealand Infertility Counsellors Association, and registered with AHPRA.
Claudia counsels from IVFAustralia Northshore(Greenwich)
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Jenny Douglas
Couple and Family Therapist, Social Worker BSW MCFT
In addition to her work with IVFAustralia, Jenny works as a clinical supervisor and program director at Relationships Australia. Jenny has an extensive clinical and supervision history and has been working with children, families, couples and infertility for over 20 years. She also has experience in working in multidisciplinary health teams. Jenny has been teaching in the Masters Program in partnership with UNSW at Relationships Australia.
Jenny counsels from IVFAustralia East clinic at Maroubra.
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Russell Drinkwater
BA(Psychology) PGDipPsych, PGCertPsychPrac, MPracNLP
Russell is an experienced psychologist and has an extensive background in relationship counselling through working at Relationships Australia and in private practice. This includes individual and couples counseling to help people cope with infertility, separation, divorce, step-family dynamics, disclosure of infidelity, or domestic violence.
Russell completed a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) from The University of Queensland, a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology from Macquarie University and a Postgraduate Certificate in Psychological Practice from The Australian College of Applied Psychology.
Russell has received specialised training in counseling persons with cancer by The Cancer Council of NSW and Sacred Heart Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Services. He has also received advanced training in counseling adult survivors of child sexual abuse and/or adult sexual assault from the Education Centre Against Violence (funded by NSW Health).
He is a Member of the Mental Health Association of NSW and is registered with AHPRA.
Russell will provide counseling at our North and South clinics.
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Peggy Bracks-Zalloua
Doctor of Psychology, PGCertAppliedPsych, PGDipPsych, BScPsych.
Peggy is a psychologist with a Doctor of Psychology from Macquarie University. Her research has investigated psychological and emotional adjustment to parenthood in couples who have used IVF to conceive. She has experience counselling couples and individuals undertaking fertility treatment, coping with childlessness, miscarriage, failed cycles, and donor conception.
Peggy has also worked extensively with people who have anxiety, depression, relationship problems, gambling problems, risk to self/suicide issues and general mental health concerns. She brings to her role a combination of research and therapeutic experience to provide clients with clinical and supportive fertility counselling.
Peggy is registered with AHPRA and is a member of the Australia and New Zealand Infertility Counsellor's Association.
Peggy counsels from IVFAustralia East Clinic.
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