7 Pillars of Wellness

Dr Cathryn Alexander

As an Infant, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Cathryn holds a strong belief in personalising her therapeutic approach for the individual and their family. She is passionate about understanding people in their psychological difficulties and finding evidence based ways to help them. Cathryn views behavioural and mental health disturbances as a combination of biological, psychological and social factors together with other environmental, cultural and spiritual factors. She explores family history and past experiences that may contribute to their current difficulties, before helping families develop practical strategies to improve the quality of life for themselves and their families. Not only does she strive to fulfil a biopsychosocial/ cultural/spiritual approach to patient issues, but also considers the practical aspects of the mind/body connection.

Her area of expertise includes issues during pregnancy and birth, continuing with families through baby and toddler-age until the age of three. With a gentle, calm approach, Cathryn’s main method of working is psychotherapy. This involves talking therapy but may also include play therapy (assisting the mother-child relationships and maternal mental health), couple therapy (to help with issues around the transition to parenthood) and specific support for fathers. She also works in therapeutic models where family members’ expertise is valued and at times family therapy with the whole family may be of benefit. She prescribes and manages medication if required.
 

Cathryn also has an interest in therapy where parents are included when children or adolescents present with problems. She sees families with young children to adolescents with problems including Anxiety Disorders and Depressive Disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, developmental factors including giftedness, delay and Autism and medical symptoms including in chronic illness.
 

Cathryn can facilitate links of families with other health and educational professionals and who provide a range of therapies and other interventions that can be helpful for children and adolescents. Cathryn does not manage inpatient admissions, but will assist in organising a mother baby unit admission if required.