Brooke Van Zanden
Senior Lecturer, Psychology
Campus
Biography
Dr Brooke Van Zanden is a clinical psychologist who is interested in research and practice in perinatal and infant mental health.
Before joining Federation University, Brooke worked as a clinical psychologist at the Gidget Foundation, supporting new families from conception through to pregnancy, post-partum and the early parenting years. Brooke continues to work part-time in private practice, supporting families during the perinatal period, as well as working with adults, and people experiencing sexual and reproductive health concerns such as dyspareunia.
Brooke’s current research projects focus on exploring the intersections between infant sleep, breastfeeding and family relationships. She also has an interest in attachment theory and couple relationships during the transition to parenthood. Brooke has presented her research for the Australian Association for Infant Mental Health and has spoken about her research on ABC radio.
At Federation University, Brooke teaches and supervises postgraduate students in masters programs.
More about Brooke
Qualifications
- Perinatal Workforce Development Program Graduate, Gidget Foundation Australia
- Master of Psychology (Clinical), University of Wollongong
- Doctor of Philosophy, Australian Catholic University
- Bachelor of Arts, Psychology (Honours, Class I), University of Western Sydney
Areas of interest
- Perinatal and infant mental health
- Breastfeeding and infant sleep
- Attachment theory
- Couples’ relationships during the transition to parenthood
- Women’s reproductive and sexual health
Current
- PhD student, Federation University, 'Chronic Physical Health and the Transition to Motherhood: An Exploration of Experience and Individual Differences', associate supervisor.
Past
- Honours student, Federation University, 'A Qualitative Study Examining Parents’ Experiences Accessing Peer-Moderated Support to Assist with Infant Sleep', supervisor.
- Honours student, Federation University, 'Compliance and Drop-Out in Infant Sleep Interventions: A Systematic Review', supervisor.
- Honours student, Federation University, 'Psychotherapy during pregnancy: A systematic review of randomised controlled trials and their effects on offspring', supervisor.
- Clinical intervention (cognitive behaviour therapy and psychotherapy)
- Applied clinical psychology
- Clinical supervision
Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Research Group
- Publications
Fetal exposures and maternal mental disorders in pregnancy: a network analysis
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1017/S2040174425100093