A private London clinic integrating psychiatry and psychology
Perinatal Mental Health
To get in touch or find out more about how we can help:
Our team are available
Monday–Thursday 8am–8pm
Friday 8am–6pm
The highly experienced clinicians at Sloane Court Clinic are specialists in psychology and psychiatry, including perinatal mental health.
Perinatal mental health refers to problems which occur either during pregnancy, or in the first year after giving birth. The term incorporates a broad range of conditions. It is estimated that as many as 20 per cent of new and expectant mothers are affected by perinatal mental illness.
It is important that perinatal mental health issues are addressed as soon as possible. If left untreated, they have the potential to impact upon not only the mother, but the child and the wider family network. With Sloane Court Clinic's specialist perinatal mental health services, women can receive care and treatment for their mental health needs throughout this significant period of change and transition.
Perinatal Psychiatry
Perinatal psychiatry relates specifically to the branch of psychiatry which deals with mental health disorder management in the antenatal and postnatal periods. While mental health issues relating to pregnancy and motherhood have been recognised for many years, perinatal psychiatry has grown rapidly as a sub-speciality within psychiatry over the last 10 years.
- Dr Catherine Wilson
Sloane Court Clinic's Dr Wilson is a Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist working in the community for South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. She specialises in pregnancy-related and postnatal mental health including areas such as antenatal and postnatal depression and anxiety, OCD, PTSD, BPAD, post-partum psychosis, other psychoses in the perinatal period and birth trauma as well as pre-conception counselling for those women who are thinking of becoming pregnant and wish to consider their mental health and treatment in preparation for that. As well as extensive community perinatal experience, Dr Wilson has worked in an inpatient Mother and Baby Unit as well as in a number of other specialist areas of mental health including the National Psychosis Unit. She is an accredited specialist in General Adult Psychiatry with an endorsement from the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Liaison Psychiatry.
Dr Spennati is an expert in assessment and treatment of a wide range of mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety spectrum disorders, adjustment disorders, bipolar affective disorder and psychosis. She combines a comprehensive, holistic method in treating patients, looking at biological, psychological and social factors and using both psychotherapeutic and pharmacological approaches. Her specialist areas are antenatal and postnatal depression, postpartum psychosis, bipolar affective disorder, perinatal anxiety disorders, including OCD, birth related traumas and tokophobia (fear of childbirth).Dr Spennati has a special interest in Women’s Mental Health and completed a MSc in Psychiatric Research at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPNN), King’s College London.
Dr Livia Martucci is a consultant in perinatal psychiatry. She is fully registered as a specialist with the GMC, is a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and is the clinical lead for perinatal services in South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM). She has worked in the NHS for over 11 years, and completed her specialist training in SLaM. She has a PhD in genetics and a postgraduate diploma in medical education. She has trained on the Maudsley and Royal Free rotations both as a perinatal psychiatrist and general adult psychiatrist. During her training she gained extensive experience of outpatient and inpatient. She has experience of parent infant psychotherapy and of psychodynamic psychotherapy.
Perinatal Psychology
A perinatal psychologist's work encompasses many different elements of the perinatal period, including; the processes of pregnancy and birth; shared experiences between mothers and babies; support of babies for optimal development; and the importance of a baby's first relationships.
At the Sloane Court Clinic, we provide clinicians with a wealth of experience in perinatal psychology:
- Dr Maria Jalmbrant
Dr Jalmbrant is a specialist in women's health and fertility, providing psychological therapy for a number of perinatal mental health problems. Holding practising privileges at Lister Hospital, Dr Jalmbrant has worked at Sloane Court Clinic for over a decade and has a background in the treating patients with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, PTSD and OCD at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital. She uses approaches such as schema-focused therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy as part of her work.
Dr Michalczuk's clinical interests include maternal mental health, including specifically fertility difficulties and post birth experiences which she delivers using high-quality, evidence-based therapy for people across a range of age groups and emotional and psychological difficulties. She specialises in providing Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) which she applies to a range of disorders. Furthermore, she is trained in mindfulness-based approaches, Compassionate Focused Therapy (CFT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and has experience using Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).
- Dr Moira Doolan
Dr Doolan comes from an NHS background and is highly experienced in working with individuals, as well as parents, couples and families. Using a strength and collaborative based approach, she can apply numerous Systemic Psychotherapy models in treating perinatal mental health conditions, is an AFT registered supervisor for Systemic Psychotherapists, and enjoys working cross-culturally.
Call us today
Do you have a question about perinatal mental health? Or perhaps you would like to book a consultation with a perinatal psychologist or perinatal psychiatrist at Sloane Court Clinic? Call us today on 020 7730 5945
Perinatal Mental Health Specialists in London
Dr Catherine Wilson is a Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.
Dr Alessia Spennati is a specialist in General Adult Psychiatry, with endorsement by Royal College of Psychiatrists in Liaison Psychiatry and special expertise in Perinatal Psychiatry.
Dr Livia Martucci is a Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist and the clinical lead for perinatal services in South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM).
Dr Maria Jalmbrant is a clinical psychologist with over ten years’ post-qualification experience in the assessment and treatment of psychological difficulties.
Dr Rosanna Michalczuk is a clinical psychologist with over 10 years’ experience working with individuals with diverse physical, mental and personality difficulties in a variety of clinical and research contexts.
Dr Moira Doolan is a UKCP registered Systemic Family and Couple Psychotherapist, with extensive experience of assessment and treatment in Child and Adolescent Mental Health services.
Is Psychology or Psychiatry right for you?
While both psychologists and psychiatrists are trained in utilising psychotherapeutic techniques, there are differences in their background, training, and the approaches they use.
Psychologists will have a doctoral degree in a branch of psychology, which is the study of human behaviour and the mind. Unlike psychiatrists, they are not medical doctors and are trained in conducting psychological tests. On the other hand, psychiatrists are medical doctors (MDs) who have graduated with a medical degree and are trained in assessing and treating mental health disorders.
At the Sloane Court Clinic, we advise that all patients consult with a psychiatrist initially who will be able to advise on a treatment plan, which is likely to include recommendations for psychological therapy.
Contact and Appointments for Perinatal Mental Health Treatment
Referrals may be made by general practitioners, consultant psychiatrists, by letter, email, our Contact Form, or by calling us on 020 7730 5945, requesting the “perinatal clinic”.
Patients are requested to seek referral through their GP, or consultant.
Staff
We have an expert team of Consultant Psychiatrists, Clinical Psychologists and Psychotherapists who are well versed in helping manage challenges across perinatal mental health.
Dr Maria Jalmbrant
Dr Moira Doolan
Dr Alessia Spennati
