Ms Pamela Verrender
Social Worker
Individual, Couples and Family Therapist
BSW, GradDipPsych., GradDipFT., GradDipGenCouple
Pamela is an accredited mental health social worker, with over 20 years experience counselling individuals, couples and families. She recently completed a Graduate Diploma of Psychology and is now completing a Postgraduate Diploma of Psychology with the aim of becoming a registered psychologist.
After graduation with a Bachelor of Social Work in 1988, Pamela joined the mental health team as a social worker and family therapist in the Psychiatry Unit at Prince Henry Hospital, where she worked predominantly with individuals with mood disorders, eating disorders, schizophrenia and their families.
After six years in mental health, Pamela's professional interest and expertise took her into other areas of clinical practice. In her role as team leader and social worker in the Intensive Care Unit of St George Hospital, Pamela counselled families of patients with life threatening illnesses. A large proportion of the work involved grief and bereavement counselling.
Pamela later joined the sexual assault team at St George Hospital and counselled women and men who experienced sexual violence. She also worked with adult survivors of child sexual assault.
Before joining Mindcare, Pamela worked in a private Infertility Clinic, where she counselled single women, gay couples and hetrosexual couples undergoing ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) treatment. During this time she also completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Genetic Counselling, which became invaluable in her work in the area. Pamela has a keen interest in infertility issues and has expertise in reproductive health problems and knowledge of the effects on couples and families with ART offspring.
Pamela has trained in a variety of therapy techniques including narrative therapy, solution focussed therapy, systemic family therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy. She has also recently completed a Certificate in Clinical Hypnosis and is interested in this area.
Pamela is an accredited member of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), and a member of the Australian & New Zealand Infertility Counsellors Association (ANZICA), the Fertility Society of Australasia (FSA) and the Human Genetic Society of Australasia (HGSA).