Counselling commitment for prenatal screening

St John of God Raphael Centres have committed to helping more people with psychosocial counselling on issues arising from prenatal genetic screening and counselling with the appointment of a new resource officer.

Specialising in perinatal and infant mental health services, Raphael Centres across Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia already provide counselling to individuals, couples and families experiencing emotional difficulties arising from the outcome of prenatal screens and tests.

Based in Geelong, but providing support to all St John of God Raphael Centres, Catharina Dumaresq has taken up the position of Prenatal Psychosocial Counselling Resource Officer. Her role will include providing consistent and coordinated support for this specialised area of counselling including training and development of information sessions appropriate for health professionals, prospective parents and the general community.

“Prenatal tests can provide valuable information about the health of a foetus but they can also raise tough ethical, social and legal questions,” said Anna Roberts, Group Manager for Early Years at St John of God Health Care.

“To meet this need in the community, St John of God Raphael Centres aim to ensure that families are able to access the best possible prenatal care through counselling provided by qualified mental health practitioners. The prenatal psychosocial counselling resource officer enables us to maintain a high level of service across all Raphael Centres and I welcome Catharina to this position.”

Catharina Dumaresq added: “My work to date at the Raphael Centre in Geelong has shown that counselling for prenatal screening issues is a very important aspect of the care we provide. Results derived from prenatal screening can be quite confronting and we strive to provide people with the support they need in such situations.”

Raphael Centres provide a range of counselling and support services for people experiencing mental health issues during pregnancy and, in the postnatal period up until a child is four years old.

Click here for links to Raphael Centre services in your area.