Rochelle Matacz & Elizabeth Oxnam 

Drawing on perinatal and infant mental health literature, research, and practice, Rochelle and Liz will outline the normative multilayered psychological processes of pregnancy highlighting the developing mother-infant relationship. They will explore the difficulties that can occur during this often understated stage of transition to motherhood. Considerations for assessing and intervening with families will be discussed using case examples and video material. 

Rochelle Matacz is the current AAIMHI WA President and a Psychologist specialising in Infant Mental Health. She currently works for the KEMH Department of Psychological Medicine providing an IMH model of assessment and intervention for families in the perinatal period. She provides reflective practice supervision and holds a position at ECU which has involved setting up the ‘Pregnancy to Parenthood Clinic’ for Master of Clinical Psychology Trainees.

Elizabeth (Liz) Oxnam is a Psychologist who works in perinatal mental health with a focus on the mother-baby relationship during pregnancy and early infancy. Liz has worked at the Department of Psychological Medicine, Women and Newborn Health Service, KEMH for the past eleven years. In this setting she has gained a body of knowledge that she has utilised to develop applied research, provide training, and present at professional meetings. 

Theoretical Foundations: Pregnancy and early parenthood

Reflection: Curiosity and professional/personal development