Dr Brooke Van Zanden Psychologist

I am a registered psychologist and board-approved supervisor who values a warm, conversational and collaborative approach to therapy. My practice draws on approaches that best fit the person, including cognitive-behavioural (CBT) approaches, cultivating acceptance and clarifying values (ACT), and practising self-compassion. I enjoy helping people to understand themselves and their relationships through an Attachment Theory framework. ​ I am currently completing training focused on perinatal mental health as part of my registrar program in Clinical Psychology. Outside of private practice I work as a psychologist at a perinatal mental health NGO service. Prior to this role, I have worked with adolescents and young adults at headspace, and as a research academic at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS). ​ I have a particular interest in working in the following areas: ​ ​Perinatal mental health: Post-natal depression and anxiety Intrusive thoughts during pregnancy and post-partum Early parenting and associated stresses Grief associated with infertility & pregnancy loss Navigating relationship changes after becoming parents Infant-parent bonding and approaches to infant sleep supporting parent-child attachment Identity changes; matrescence Anxiety regarding pregnancy and childbirth Proactive birth and post-partum preparation/planning Birth trauma Gender disappointment ​ Sexual/reproductive health and relationships: ​ ​ Dyspareunia (painful intercourse or sex including vaginismus, vulvodynia) Low or reduced arousal/pleasure Psychological stress associated with gynaecological conditions and Menopause Anxiety and stress regarding relationships & intimacy