Grief, Loss, and Trauma in the Perinatal Period

Trauma, loss, and grief are among the many factors that increase one’s risk of developing a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder. The term “perinatal” encompasses all aspects related to bearing children, including trying to conceive, pregnancy, and the years following the birth of a child.

One in approximately 6 women experiences a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder, and 1 in 5 women experiences a pregnancy-related loss. Partners, family members, and health care providers are also susceptible to experiencing trauma, grief, and mental health disorders as a result of traumatic experiences and loss related to pregnancy or infancy. Experiencing trauma or losing a child at any stage of pregnancy or parenthood is devastating and it’s essential for therapists to understand the many nuances involved in working with individuals and families impacted by these types of trauma and loss.

In this 2-hour continuing education web conference, Megan MacCutcheon, LPC, PMH-C will discuss the many ways grief can show up in the perinatal period. She will discuss the obvious forms of loss, including miscarriage, abortion, termination for medical reasons, still birth, and infant death. She will also shed light on other experiences that can create grief in parenthood, including gender disappointment, birth traumas, and loss of freedom/identity, and will discuss effective interventions and therapeutic approaches for working with grieving clients.

This 2-hour introductory instructional level continuing education course is designed to help mental health clinicians:

1. Identify the forms of loss that may impact clients in the perinatal period.
2. Describe the various ways that trauma and grief can show up for parents from obvious losses as well as less recognized perceptions of loss.
3. Discuss therapeutic approaches to support clients who are experiencing trauma or grief in the perinatal period.

Statement of program material's accuracy, utility, and risks: The contents of this program are based primarily on contemporary research, clinical experience, as well as trainings conducted by Postpartum Support International and are meant to bring awareness to various experiences of trauma, loss, and grief in the perinatal period. Further training, consultation, or adjunctive services are advised when working with this population.

Declaration identifying any potential conflict of interest and/or commercial support: The presenter has no conflicts of interest/commercial interests to declare.

If you have any questions or would like information regarding disability accommodations, please contact GoodTherapy here.

Continuing Education (CE) Information

2 CE contact hours will be provided by GoodTherapy for attending this web conference in its entirety. 

GoodTherapy is an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEPTM) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements.

GoodTherapy.org, provider #1352, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. GoodTherapy.org maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 3/30/2022 – 3/30/2025. Social workers completing this course receive 2 continuing education credits.

GoodTherapy is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. GoodTherapy maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

GoodTherapy, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0395. GoodTherapy, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0022 and for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0031.

To receive CE credit hours for an archived event, you will need to complete a survey as well as a 12 or 15-question exam, verifying that you listened to or watched the event in its entirety. Archived CE events generally are considered "homestudy" by licensing boards.

Registration Information

Premium and Pro Membership with GoodTherapy includes access to this web conference at no additional cost, as well as other member benefits such as a profile listing in GoodTherapy's Therapist Directory. Not yet a member? Sign up for a Premium or Pro Membership, here.

Just want CE credits? Sign up for a monthly or annual CE Subscription with GoodTherapy to get unlimited access to our CE Program, including this event, other live CE web conferences, and hundreds of hours of homestudy courses.

Mental health professionals who are not members can attend this live web conference for $30.95 or access the homestudy recording for $15.50. Sign up here to purchase this CE course and earn a CE certificate.

If the event is canceled by GoodTherapy, registrants who purchased the event will be notified and the charge for the event will be refunded

If you have any questions or would like information regarding disability accommodations, please contact us.

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