Kia ora, welcome to Perinatal Psychology - specialist psychotherapy and psychology support dedicated to supporting you at one of the most significant times of your life.
Pregnancy and becoming a parent are times of great change and can have profound impacts. Many people also face distress (and/or loss) along the way. Work with us to nurture your wellbeing, whether it is to address a specific challenge or more generally strengthen your resilience , so that you’re not just surviving but thriving!
Our approach
‘Perinatal’ refers to the period of time in which a person may be contemplating having a baby, conception, pregnancy, birth, and beyond. It is a unique time of life and as such we believe needs a sensitive and specialist approach. While perinatal services often end for those who have a baby over a year old we believe that specialised support beyond this point is incredibly important and so we also work with parents who have children throughout the toddler, pre-school, and early school years.
We will work with you in the process of building resilience, joyfulness, and compassion in your perinatal and/or parenting journey, as well as addressing specific challenges that may arise including Mental Health difficulties (e.g., depression, anxiety, OCD), intrusive thoughts, grief/loss, birth trauma, and struggles with attachment. We know that this can be a challenging and sometimes isolating time and it is important to have a validating and supportive space in which to be able to talk through what is happening for you. In addition to our work with parents and babies/young children we also have specialty in working with those experiencing pregnancy loss, termination, and difficulties with conception - we recognise that not all perinatal struggles are not limited to those who have had a baby and that the need for specialised care doesn’t end after a loss.
We are a warm, welcoming, and inclusive service that recognises that parents (and potential parents) are diverse in terms of their family/whanau make-up, gender identity, sexual orientation, pathways to parenthood etc. We welcome all parents to work with us and are LBGTQIA+ and neurodivergent friendly. We are dedicated to providing respectful and affirming care to everyone who works with us.
Providing you with a safe space to talk
In-person appointments take place in our restful and nurturing clinic which operates out of a gorgeous villa in a private garden setting in Titirangi, Auckland. Our clinic is set up to be baby-friendly, with complimentary tea and water, comfortable waiting area, and compassionate personalised care. On-site parking is available.
In-person and remote options
We are based in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland. Our main clinic is conveniently located in the vibrant Titirangi Village, with beautiful natural scenery and amazing cafes close-by. We also have a satellite clinic in Kingsland (Thurs only).
Live further away or can’t make it into the clinic? No worries – we’ve got you covered with secure online/virtual sessions via Zoom. We can offer suggestions for how to get the most out of your sessions regardless of where / how we meet.
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Individual and Dyadic Therapy
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Perinatal Couples Therapy
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Parenting Support Services
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Clinical Education and Supervision
Meet our supportive team
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Dr. Kelly Kerrisk, MNZCCP DClinPsy, BA(Hons).
Clinical Psychologist
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Cian Kerrisk, MNZPsS, MNZAC MHSc(Hons), PGDipPubHlth.
Clinical Therapist and Counsellor
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We have extensive experience in psychotherapy, infant, child and family mental health, attachment and parenting. Our different professional backgrounds mean that we have a broad range of expertise to draw on and are able to offer therapeutic support that is tailored to the unique needs of each person or family we work with.
Despite both having worked extensively in mental health previously it was not until we had our own children that we realised just how little information and support relevant to the emotional and psychological impacts of becoming a parent there is out there.
As a result we have combined our knowledge and skills to set up an inclusive and respectful service dedicated to this very complex and important time of life. We are different in that we don’t just work with mothers - we recognise that parents, and potential parents come in all varieties. It is our aim to normalise the challenges that can occur at this time and to support people to develop the skills they need to navigate all that the transition to parenthood can bring up.
We look forward to working with you!
“We are guided by the principle of holding parents and babies / pēpi at the core of all that we do with respect, compassion, and genuine interest - working together in partnership.”
— Dr. KELLY KERRISK, FOUNDER AND CLINIC DIRECTOR
