About Lively Lifestyles Psychology
Ana Ristov is a registered Psychologist and accredited Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Clinician with a deep commitment to supporting women through the full arc of the perinatal experience – from preconception, pregnancy, and birth, to the early years of parenting.
Ana understands that becoming a parent is about so much more than having a baby. It’s a profound identity shift – matrescence – as complex and transformative as adolescence, only with far less societal guidance (and much less sleep). She’s passionate about helping you navigate this journey with gentleness, self-compassion, and clarity, so that you can feel more grounded in your evolving self.
She supports clients navigating:
Pregnancy and Birth
- Managing antenatal and postnatal anxiety or depression
- Feeling anxious or uncertain about giving birth
- Recovering emotionally from a difficult or traumatic birth
- Making sense of your birth experience
Postnatal Identity & Adjustment
- Finding your footing in the early stages of parenthood (matrescence)
- Reconnecting with who you are outside of motherhood
- Adjusting to new roles, expectations, and daily rhythms
- Struggling with body image or pressure to ‘bounce back’
- Realigning with your core values in this new season of life
Parenting & Connection
- Strengthening your bond and emotional connection with your baby
- Tuning in to your child’s needs while learning to trust your instincts
- Exploring feelings of frustration, anger, or “mum rage”
Relationships, Roles & Boundaries
- Navigating shifts in your relationship or co-parenting dynamic
- Setting boundaries to protect your wellbeing and your child’s
- Preparing for or settling back into paid work after leave
Ana knows what it’s like to be in the thick of it – she’s navigated many of the same struggles that you might be experiencing right now. Her style is warm, thoughtful, and collaborative. She works from the belief that you are the expert in your own life, and that therapy is a space for curiosity, reflection, and renewal. Her approach integrates attachment theory, trauma-informed care, and evidence-based therapeutic frameworks – all held within a safe and supportive relationship.
Whether you’re preparing for pregnancy, navigating the early postpartum haze, or simply wondering where you went in all of this – Ana offers a space to gently land, reflect, and begin to feel more like yourself again.
Areas of expertise
- Bachelor of Psychology – Deakin University
- Graduate Diploma of Psychology Advanced – Monash University
- Master of Professional Psychology – The Cairnmillar Institute
- Master of Professional Psychology Practice – The Cairnmillar Institute
- Perinatal and Infant Mental Health (PIMH) Intensive Training – Centre for Perinatal Psychology
- Perinatal Non-Directive Counselling – Australian Psychological Society
- Basic Skills in Perinatal Mental Health – Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE)
- Perinatal Loss in Practice: What Therapists Need to Know – COPE & The Perinatal Loss Centre
- Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders – Seleni Institute
- Circle of Security Parenting – Circle of Security International
- Gottman Method Couples Therapy Level 1 – The Gottman Institute
Company values
Women Owned
Learn about the support you didn't know you needed.
We have cherry picked the most useful resources for your fourth trimester so that you don't have to waste precious hours searching.
Article - Illy Lawrence (The Sick Sense)
How to Clean Your House After Family Sickness
This practical guide walks through simple steps for cleaning your house after family sickness, helping reduce germs in the home and reset your space once everyone is feeling better. Ever reached the end of a sickness stint with your family and thought, “Yep, I could absolutely just light a match and start over”?
Article - Louise Barton & Elisha Wildblood (Not Another Onesie)
Postpartum Support Australia: How to Plan Pregnancy, Birth & Fourth Trimester Care
The reality is this: while Australia has excellent maternity care, structured postpartum support in Australia is not automatically built into the system. And yet postpartum is when support matters most. This guide will show you how to organise pregnancy support, birth support services, and most importantly, proactive postpartum support in Australia, so you are not left navigating the fourth trimester alone.
eBook - Jaclyn Carlson (Jaclyn Carlson)
Emotional Toolkit – For Back to Daycare & School
Sending your little one off to daycare, kindergarten or back to school brings up all the feels—relief, pride, grief, sadness, and maybe even a little anxiety. This transition can be even trickier when there is a new baby in the family. You’re not alone in this.
Article - Ali Mills (Grief Guide)
Navigating the Hidden Grief of Motherhood
To gently unpack this invisible grief in motherhood, we spoke with Ali from Grief Guide, a registered counsellor and grief specialist based in Brisbane who supports mothers and families in person and via telehealth. In this conversation, Ali explores the hidden losses woven through matrescence, how grief shows up in our bodies, and what compassionate support can look like for mothers navigating this profound life transition.
Article - Alice Mason (Align with Alice)
Human Design for Motherhood: Understanding Yourself, Your Child, and Your Parenting
At first glance, you might wonder how Human Design is relevant to your motherhood journey, but I want to share with you the incredible wisdom that this modality offers. The way I see it, this support comes in three powerful ways. It provides guidance and understanding of yourself — how you’re wired and what your needs are. It offers insight into your child and practical guidance to parent in accordance with their unique nature. It strengthens the bond between you, helping you foster a relationship built on understanding rather than expectation.