What Healthy Closure Looks Like: Maintaining Connection Without Over-Attachment After Surrogacy
By Sarah-Jayne Duryea, Principal Psychologist | Happy Minds Psychology Introduction Surrogacy is often described as a journey — one that begins with hope, deepens through trust, and…
The Postpartum Journey for Surrogates: What to Expect and How to Support It
By Sarah-Jayne Duryea, Principal Psychologist | Happy Minds Psychology The end of a surrogate pregnancy marks both an arrival and a departure — the arrival of a…
Claiming Connection: Understanding Newborn Attachment After Surrogacy
Welcoming a baby into the world is one of life’s most profound experiences. For intended parents who have built their family through surrogacy, this moment can be…
Supporting Your Surrogate: A Guide for Intended Parents to Honour Autonomy, Care, and Connection
By Sarah-Jayne Duryea, Principal Psychologist – Happy Minds Psychology, Geelong Introduction For many intended parents, the journey to parenthood through surrogacy in Australia is filled with gratitude,…
Healing After Surrogacy: Reclaiming Identity and Emotional Balance Post-Birth
The weeks and months following a surrogacy birth are often described as bittersweet. There is joy, gratitude, and relief — but also hormonal shifts, fatigue, and emotional…
Surrogacy Relationships Over Time: How to Sustain Respectful Connection as the Child Grows
By Sarah-Jayne Duryea, Principal Psychologist | Happy Minds Psychology Surrogacy doesn’t end when the baby is born — it simply changes shape. The months after birth are…
Being a Surrogate with Neurodiversity: Embracing Difference in the Journey
By Sarah-Jayne Duryea, Principal Psychologist | Happy Minds Psychology Surrogacy is a profound act of generosity, connection, and trust. It asks one person to carry another’s…
Men’s Mental Health During Fertility Treatment: Breaking the Silence
Fertility treatment can be an emotional rollercoaster. While the focus often falls on women’s experiences, men’s mental health is just as important. At Happy Minds Psychology in…
Postpartum Recovery: Our Guide to the Fourth Trimester
The fourth trimester, those tender weeks after birth, is a time of awe, adjustment, and raw vulnerability. At Happy Minds Psychology, we know this season brings a…
Preparing for Parenthood: A Guide to Perinatal Mental Health
The journey to parenthood is an extraordinary time filled with a range of emotions, from excitement and joy to apprehension and anxiety. Perinatal mental health, which encompasses…
Perinatal Care: Understanding the Role of Psychology in Pregnancy and Beyond
Perinatal care often conjures images of routine doctor visits, baby scans, and physical preparations for the forthcoming child. However, while these aspects are undeniably crucial, there’s another…
The Impact of Infertility on Body Image and Self-Esteem
Infertility is a challenging and emotionally taxing experience that affects numerous couples and individuals around the world. Defined as the inability to conceive after a year of…