NARRATIVE THERAPY
Are you interested in having conversations about things you’re up against without being made to feel like there’s something wrong with you?
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Do you feel like things are pulling you away from being who you want to be?
Would you like to have counselling conversations which acknowledge the effects of oppression and bring forward your daily resistance to those forces?
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I speak to people of all ages about things like…
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Experiences of childhood sexual abuse, relationship violence, sexual violence and family violence
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Grief and loss
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Challenges and hopes in relationships and sex (including non-normative familial, sexual, romantic or platonic relationships)
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Gender explorations and transitions
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Responding to and surviving racism, homophobia, biphobia, fatphobia, police violence and other forms of structural violence
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The effects of mental illness and of navigating the mental health system
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Abelism, neurodiversity, experiences of chronic pain or illness and dis-ability
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Mental health effects of the climate crisis
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Pregnancy, birth, and post-partum experiences (see Doula Services)
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Phone or video sessions only
Flexible sliding scale fees
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Get in touch to book a free 15 minute meet and greet
DOULA SERVICES
I am currently fulfilling a long held dream of training as a Doula with the Australian Doula College. As I complete my qualification, I am able to provide doula services at subsidised rates.
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What is a Doula?
I am not a medical professional. My role is to provide social, emotional, practical and informational support to families navigating the major transitions of conception, pregnancy, birth and parenting.
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Having the support of a doula has been proven to
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decrease the risk of caesarean section
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increase the likelihood of spontaneous vaginal birth
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reduce the need for medical pain relief
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reduce the risk of trauma and dissatisfaction
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I will not ​tell you what you should do, but support you in making the choices that fit best for you, your baby and your family. I will be a sounding board, a safe space for the questions, fears, excitements, and uncertainties. I will be alongside you for the highs and the lows and always believing in you. I am here to support birth partners, siblings and help you rally support in your community. It takes a village.
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Why would I want to work with a student doula?
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Everyone deserves the support of a doula. A student doula is one of the most accessible and affordable ways of having continuity of care along your journey. Someone who knows your story, your fears, your hopes, and what matters to you and who believes in you.
Australian Doula College students are rigorously trained, held to a code of ethics and have access to 24/7 experienced doula support. I am well supported to support you.
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I won't have all the answers, but I will go above and beyond to get you the information and the support that you need. And I will help you connect with your own wisdom and expertise. I may not be a birth expert but I have over 15 years experience supporting people.
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Want to learn more about what a doula is? Check out Doula FAQ
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DOULA SERVICES
Birth Support
This support can be tailored to what fits best for you, in person at your house or by video chat (virtual support is available nationally or internationally). We can focus on learning birth physiology, labour and birth practices, the role of the birth partner and what you might expect in the post partum period. We can also hold space for the emotional, fears around birth or parenting, birthing after trauma, miscarriage, stillbirth or loss of an infant, concerns around discrimination, preparing for a birth unlike the one you hoped for, providing support to other children who are becoming siblings... In the business of life, this is an intentional space centering you.
Post Partum Support
This is about what will be most supportive for you. Practical support: someone to help keep up with domestic labour, to hold baby while you have a shower or a sleep, to rally family and friends to drop off meals or do grocery runs. Newborn care support: feeding, sleeping and settling support, figuring out nappies or how to wear a baby. Emotional support: creating a safe space for all the big feelings, the highs and the lows of birth recovery, transitions into parenthood, relationship changes and learning to look after your new baby.
Conception and fertility Support
For many of us, conceiving a baby is not a straightforward project. If you know that natural conception is not an option for you, I can support you to plan for conception, unpack concerns or dilemmas, and talk through pathways (at home insemination, assisted reproduction technology, surrogacy...). I can also provide support throughout your journey, be alongside you for the highs and lows, debriefing, rallying professional and community support. You do not have to go it alone.
Birth Preparation
This is a wraparound service available in person to those birthing in Adelaide, or virtually, nationally or internationally. I will visit you three times in the lead up to birth to talk through your concerns and hopes, help you clarify your preferences, discuss birth physiology and options for birth preparation, and foster strong, supportive, communicative relationships with those supporting you. I'll be on call for two weeks either side your estimated due date for phone support and attend and support you physically and emotional during your labour and birth. And I'll visit you twice more after baby has arrived to provide support with birth recovery, debriefing and newborn care.
Birth Debriefing
At any point following your birth or your partner's birth I can provide a face to face or virtual space for re-telling the story of birth, making meaning, reclaiming your agency, attending to trauma and unpacking the social expectations around birth and parenting which might be getting in the way for you. This service is also available for birth practitioners supporting others' births.
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Not sure what kind of support you want? No problem. Let's chat!
Get in touch to book a free consultation
FACILITATION
I can provide tailored educational or therapeutic workshops on themes such as Narrative Practice, celebrating diversity, queer and trans inclusive birth practice, responding to oppression in schools, workplaces and community settings, exploring values, activism and strengthening community connections.
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I am also available to host forums and group discussions on a broad range of themes.
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Zan Maeder presenting a workshop on 'Queer Invitations' at the Adelaide better together conference in Adelaide in 2021. Zan is standing in front of a projector at the back of a room in front of an audience seated in chairs.
Promotional image. Text reads 'Rainbow Birth Space: a workshop series for LGBTIQA+ folks on the journey from pregnant to parenting. There is a wavy rainbow in one corner. In the other corner is an illustration of a white pregnant trans masculine person embraces by a masculine looking person of color
The word Feast is written on the left side in silver text on a pink background. A large illustration of a pregnancy test has a rainbow heart in the window indicating the result. Underneath is the text Queer Family Making Workshop.
Zan Maeder presenting a workshop on 'Queer Invitations' at the Adelaide better together conference in Adelaide in 2021. Zan is standing in front of a projector at the back of a room in front of an audience seated in chairs.
Get in touch to find out more