Dr Michael Block
97 Wattletree Road Armadale VIC 3143 38 Green Street Wangaratta VIC 3677 P 0411 233 709 F Please email referrals E deepthought@optusnet.com.au HealthLink EDI: dthpsych TELEHEALTH AVAILABLEDays of consultation
Wangaratta: 10am – 5pm every second Monday Armadale: 10am – 6pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday To refer to Michael Initial email contact preferred for both professionals and patients |
Dr Michael Block brings a wealth of experience to the Perinatal Psychiatry Network. With an extensive background in parent-infant psychiatry settings, Michael provides a private practice location in Melbourne’s inner city suburb of Armadale, and provides the only specialised perinatal psychiatry service in rural Victoria in Wangaratta. As a Perinatal Psychiatrist, Michael holds a strong belief in personalising his therapeutic approach for the individual and their family.
His area of expertise includes issues around conception, pregnancy or birth and continues with families through baby and toddler-age until the age of three. With a gentle, calm approach, Michael’s main method of working is psychotherapy. This involves talking therapy but may also include play therapy (assisting the mother-child relationships and maternal mental health), couple therapy (to help with issues around the transition to parenthood), and specific support for fathers. He prescribes and manages medication if required. Michael views postnatal mood disturbances as a combination of biological, psychological and social factors in a woman’s life. He explores family history and past experiences that may contribute to their current difficulties, before helping women develop practical strategies to improve the quality of life for themselves and their families. Michael helps women manage their mental health prior to becoming pregnant, during pregnancy and the postnatal period (up to three years). Michael works closely with a child Psychiatrist when child assessment/treatment is required. Michael does not manage inpatient admissions, but will assist in organising a mother baby unit admission if required. Background Michael established the Mother Baby Unit at Rosebud Hospital and worked at the Albert Road Clinic Parent-Infant Service for ten years from 1997. He established the Parent-Infant day program and Parent-Infant outreach team, and spent four years as the Director of the Parent-Infant Services at the Albert Road Clinic. Michael has also offered a long-term therapy group for mothers who are recovering from postnatal depression. |