Karen O’Mara provides a Brisbane-based service promoting mental health, emotional well-being and adjustment throughout motherhood.

Hi, I’m Karen O’Mara

I'm a qualified and experienced clinical social worker and supervisor, and mother of two children. I am passionate about creating spaces where parents can feel heard, held and connected to themselves and others. I am based at Kindred Midwifery, Obstetrics, and Gynaecology in East Brisbane.

I help mothers and their partners by

  • providing you with a safe space where you can feel heard and have your feelings validated

  • normalising your experience of parenthood to help you feel less alone

  • supporting you to talk through your feelings and experiences that have left you feeling sad, depressed, anxious, angry etc

  • connecting you with other parents and services so you can build your village of support

  • providing you with evidence-based information so you can make informed decisions about your parenting

Karen O’Mara provides a Brisbane-based service promoting mental health, emotional well-being and adjustment throughout parenthood. You can be supported in counselling and Circle of Security® Parenting™ programs through evidence-based education and support focusing on the mental health of parents.

All services focus on evidence-based attachment parenting that’s gentle and responsive. You will be respected to make decisions that feel right for you and your family and you will be held in a safe, judgement free zone where you will be nurtured and supported to share your experiences and feelings about being a parent.

  • To ensure that every mother feels supported in her adjustment to motherhood and throughout challenging events in her role as a mother.

  • We are passionate and dedicated to providing support to mothers during the period of matrescence and beyond. To respond by providing counselling, group work and evidence-based education on parenting to promote health, emotional well-being and adjustment throughout motherhood. To assist mothers to build their village of support, acquire new knowledge and to respect, educate and support mothers to build confidence and competence in their role.

  • - Compassion

    - Communication

    - Inclusion

    - Kindness

    - Respect

    - Transparency

    - Empowerment

    - Research evidence

    - Raising professional standard

    - Collaboration

 

My Story

My background in clinical social work extends beyond 25 years and has focused on working with families of young children, specifically in child protection and hospital social work, as well as in individual and group counselling for mothers and parenting support for both mothers and fathers. My practice has been informed by attachment theory and family systems theory, and I work from a client centred and strengths perspective.

I have a passion for supporting families with babies, toddlers and young children and strongly believe that in our village-less society parents need support more than ever.

I believe in the right to informed decision making, and through the services provided, I ensure that parents have access to evidence-based information to inform their decisions about what feels right for their family.

I have a particular interest in grief and loss, having worked in maternity and children’s hospitals in the intensive care units supporting families.

I have a strong focus on professional development and find it difficult to say no to further study and purchasing books related to the mothering journey! I hold a Certificate IV in Breastfeeding Education and am a registered Circle of Security® Parenting™ program facilitator.

I have undertaken further studies in relation to perinatal grief and loss from COPE (Centre for Perinatal Education) and from the Centre of Perinatal Psychology.

I hold a Medicare number for Non Directive Pregnancy Support Counselling which entitles mothers to 3 counselling sessions with a Medicare rebate during your pregnancy or within the postnatal period up to 12 months with a referral from your GP.

I am also a Neuroprotective Developmental Care (NDC) practitioner with the Possums Program to further assist mothers with breastfeeding, cry-fuss problems in babies, sleep and maternal mood and I am a Becoming Us relationships facilitator supporting parents with relationship issues after having a baby.

I have two children who are in high school. Motherhood wasn’t easy for me in the beginning. The first year was a blur of sleeplessness and worry as my baby cried all the time and didn’t sleep. I had significant breastfeeding pain. I felt alone. I felt like the other mums around me had babies who were reasonably settled. Why was parenting so hard? Then I entered the toddler and newborn chapter and that was a whole new ball game! Toddler behaviour was challenging, I felt lost and didn’t know who I was anymore. I truly understand what you might be going through when things are tough. I’ve been in the trenches too.

 

My Promise

 

As a qualified clinical social worker, I completely understand how a new mum can feel very vulnerable and fragile, how you can be overwhelmed with conflicting advice, and feel like you are failing as a mother.

I also understand how a mum with older children can still feel isolated and lonely and just crave support, especially once you are in the toddler chapter, or school age chapter of mothering, when the challenges seem significant, but different to the baby challenges.

If we establish that you require ongoing support of a much more intensive nature to address postnatal depression or anxiety concerns, I will link you into additional services to ensure you have the appropriate support.

Connecting to a counsellor is very important so if you feel we are not a good fit, I will refer you to another social worker or psychologist to ensure you receive the care you deserve.

What People Are Saying

“Karen makes a safe space where I feel I can discuss uncomfortable topics”

“After attending Making Mama Village, I now feel like the confident mum I always wanted to be”

 

“Karen has a welcoming and supportive style that kept me coming back”

 

“I feel less lonely and a feeling of belonging we’re all in it together”

My Qualifications

 

  • Masters of Social Work

  • Bachelor of Arts - Psychology major

  • Certificate IV Breastfeeding Education

  • Certificate IV Training and Assessment

  • Certificate in Staff and Student Supervision

  • Member of the Australian Association of Social Workers

  • Medicare registered for Non-directive pregnancy support counselling

  • Registered Circle of Security® Parenting™ Facilitator

  • Completion of Perinatal and Infant Mental Health intensive training

  • Completion of the Centre of Perinatal Excellence perinatal loss training

  • Completion of Bearing the Unbearable: A comprehensive relationship-based training for perinatal loss and grief

  • Accredited Neuroprotective Developmental Care (NDC) practitioner with the Possums Program

  • Becoming Us mental health relationships practitioner

 
 

Chat with me

If you would like extra support in your mothering journey and are not sure where to start, I’m happy to have a chat with you to see which service would best meet your needs.