Dr Shikkiah de Quadros-Wander Psychologist

Shikkiah is a Clinical Psychologist who has worked across public, community and private sectors, specialising in infant and perinatal mental health since 2008. She provides individual and/or parent-infant therapy across pregnancy and the postpartum period, addressing mental health and transitional issues that emerge in this context. Shikkiah is experienced in working with a broad range of issues that arise in the perinatal period, including preparation for and adjustment to parenthood, antenatal and postnatal mood disturbance and anxiety, birth trauma, bonding difficulties, disrupted infant attachment, and relationship issues between parents and children 0-3 years. Shikkiah has a particular interest in working with parents who have had painful experiences in early relationships with their caregivers and wish to create a more safe, secure and mindful relationship with their own child. Inclusion of babies in therapy is encouraged, particularly when there are concerns about infant attachment or parental bonding. With consent, Shikkiah collaborates closely with other involved health professionals to ensure optimal treatment and coordinated care. She also understands that safety in the therapeutic relationship is central to deep change and aims to create this environment for all her clients. Shikkiah’s therapeutic style is underpinned by psychodynamic, attachment and neurobiological frameworks. She draws on a range of therapeutic techniques from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy and EMDR, incorporating mindfulness experiences in sessions where indicated. Shikkiah is a Circle of Security Registered Parent Educator and is trained in the Newborn Behavioural Observation (NBO) system, which can be helpful for parents wishing to increase their confidence in responding sensitively to their new baby (0-3mo). Currently, Shikkiah holds a senior clinical role in a hospital perinatal service and remains involved with the MERTIL (My Early Relational Trauma Informed Learning) project through the Bouverie Centre. As a Board-Approved Supervisor, she has a special interest in providing professional development to perinatal and infant mental health teams, and clinical supervision to other mental health clinicians interested in deepening their skills in formulating and working with perinatal and infant mental health. For professionals: If you are seeking supervision or training, please contact Shikkiah via email to make an enquiry: shikkiah@gmail.com For clients: If you are seeking therapy, please phone Shikkiah as her voicemail message will reflect availability for new clients: 0416 806 011.