Suzanne Hurley
General & Perinatal Counsellor
Qualifications
Masters in Counselling and Human Services (LaTrobe Uni)
Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Human Services (LaTrobe Uni)
Advanced Certificate in Applied Science (Naturopathy)
Certificate in Dance / Movement Therapy
Professional Associations
Clinical membership with PACFA. NAAPOC. ARCAP
Biography
Suzanne Hurley is a Perinatal Counsellor who attends to those who may be unhappy, distressed, afraid or otherwise impacted by any pregnancy related event where additional support may be needed. She has an impressive level of expertise having worked with varying degrees of reproductive loss, including pregnancy options counselling, infertility and IVF support, perinatal mental health, abortion counselling and in reproductive health issues. She has provided her clients with counselling, group support and presented to health professionals in various perinatal settings. Her expertise and understanding of the issues women, couples and families face when immersed in the perinatal period is highly specialised. She knows that when confronted by the unexpected you need someone by your side.
Many years ago Suzanne spent four years at Fertile Ground Health Group counselling in infertility and IVF support and has now returned bringing with her a wealth of knowledge and experience after having worked in multiple settings where perinatal mental health has been the main focus of her work. This has included time on the helpline at PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia), at Carrington Health in the Community Outreach Perinatal Support Service and at The Women’s Hospital’s Pregnancy Advisory Service and Marie Stopes Australia National Counselling Service for unplanned pregnancy.
As well as working with Individuals and short term couples work, Suzanne has an interest in Groups. To date she has run; Little Village for women considering sole parenting using donor sperm, Sanctuary for women having IVF treatment and Pregnant Pause and Moving Stories: explorations of the pregnant body, past present and future, through movement.
She also provides clinical supervision to health professionals including doctors, nurses, midwives, occupational therapists, maternal and child health nurses, complimentary health practitioners,psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and counsellors.
In Counselling Suzanne can address:
Contemplating Pregnancy
- Fear and worry about pregnancy, birth, baby.
- Relationship issues including Family Violence
- Infertility
- IVF
- Single women contemplating using donor sperm
- Another baby after difficult perinatal experiences
- Health issues
Unintended Pregnancy
- Pro Choice, unbiased pregnancy options counseling
- Unplanned, wanted, difficulty circumstances eg. Family Violence
- Unplanned & unwanted but beliefs against abortion
- Unplanned, wanted but am I sure?
- Difficulties making a decision
- Pregnancy the result of sexual assault
- Considering abortion later in pregnancy
- Abortion support; pre and post
Pregnancy Support
- Anxiety and or Depression
- History of mental illness
- Unhappy
- Change of circumstances during pregnancy
- Birth preparation
- Fetal abnormalities
- Harmony testing at 10wks
Life With Baby
- Birth debrief
- Not enjoying your baby
- Not feeling like yourself
- Relationship difficulties
- Isolation
- Family issues
- Post natal Anxiety and or Depression
- Missing work or thinking of return to work
- Who we are as a family?
- Who am I as a Mother/Father?
- Unexpected outcomes
- Grief and Loss
End of Reproduction
- Who am I if I am not a mother?
- I wanted children but could not have them
- Health issues impacting fertility
- Hysterectomy counseling
- But I wanted more children
Suzanne’s approach to counselling:
What I believe…
I firmly believe compassionate, early counselling intervention for all reproductive trauma events, including unbiased abortion support will establish parents both today and in the future with the best possible outcomes for managing the unexpected realities if they do, when they do and during having their babies. This can be done kicking and screaming or it can be done with honour, good humour and grace. You get to choose.
What I do…
I have a unique breadth of experience and now specialise across the full spectrum of fertility matters and associated losses in supporting women and their families. This can include unplanned pregnancy and unbiased, decision-making counselling, abortion support, pregnancy issues, infertility & IVF, birth trauma, antenatal and postnatal anxiety and or depression, hysterectomy & health- related reproductive matters. Nothing holds greater value than another because in my world it all matters.
Where I have come from…
My passion and commitment arose out of 15 years combined practice with Pregnancy Advisory Service at the Women’s Hospital in Melbourne, Marie Stopes National Counselling Team, PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia) National Helpline & at Carrington Health’s Community Outreach Perinatal Support Service. This was all very unplanned on my behalf and I feel this work found me. I had to earn the privilege and honour of doing what I do.
How might my expertise benefit you…
I have gained such a wealth of knowledge about sitting with the discomfort of life’s challenges, particularly in the perinatal realm and the grief this may evoke. In the counseling room I sit solidly by your side whilst you feel the big emotions and gently guide you toward greater comfort and peace in reconciling with such harsh realities. You will no longer be alone because you have taken that step to ask for help and I know how courageous that feels.
My lived experience…
I cannot support you if I have not felt what it takes to reach out myself. I have been in the uncertainty of vulnerability and had to do it anyway. It is not easy and I hold great compassion and awe at what is revealed to me and sometimes to only me. I know that I must earn your trust and cannot be further ahead of you in meeting your needs. It is why I am by your side, with you, completely.
Suzanne is available for face to face, phone and skype consultations.
Make a booking online
