Dr Athena Hammond

BMid(Hons), RM, M.Psychother&Couns., PhD.

My professional bio

I am a counsellor and psychotherapist, who is also a registered midwife. I have worked in and around the maternity care sector for more than twenty years; as a doula, midwife, researcher, university lecturer, group facilitator and educator. I have been in private psychotherapy practice for around five years and am trained as a relational therapist with special interests in trauma, nervous system functioning, and interpersonal neurobiology. I have a PhD in Midwifery and have worked clinically across hospital and homebirth settings. I am known for my warm, collaborative and very human approach to my work and my people.

My human being bio

I am a super curious, optimistic and engaging human. I live in the beautiful Northern Rivers village of South Golden Beach, and have a grown-up son who was born in hospital after a homebirth transfer. I have always been driven by a burning desire to understand the experiences of others, and to drill down into the values, beliefs and feelings that shape us. As a midwifery student I was often in trouble for sitting on the end of the bed, talking with women about their feelings instead of taking their blood pressure. I think counselling is where I was always going to end up, there’s just been a lot of fascinating diversions along the way.

My Quals

Master of Psychotherapy & Counselling with Distinction

Western Sydney University 2022

Grad. Cert. Counselling

Western Sydney University 2020

PhD (Midwifery)

University of Technology Sydney 2017

Bachelor of Midwifery Honours

University of Technology Sydney 2010

Bachelor of Midwifery with Distinction

University of Technology Sydney 2008

Certified doula & antenatal educator

Birthing Rites Australia 2001