Liberating Parenthood through Psychological Flexibility
3 weekly live online sessions starts September 2 | 6 CE hours
When welcoming a new child, parents must navigate many layers of complexity:
Sleep deprivation and stress make them even more vulnerable to difficult internal experiences like intrusive fear-based thoughts, frustration and rage, and a sense of not recognizing themselves or feeling “lost.”
To top it all off, guilt and shame leave new parents feeling broken and even more isolated.
Clinicians supporting clients through this transition need an understanding of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) so they can reduce stigma and address the real issues clients face. They also need an arsenal of skills to teach parents to help them navigate the ups and downs.
ACT's blend of mindfulness, acceptance, self-compassion, and values-based action gives clinicians a grounded, flexible way to help clients relate to their difficult thoughts and emotions with less judgment—and reconnect with the parts of their experience that matter most.
In this six-hour training, expert Carissa Gustafson, PhD, will offer critical information about PMADs and help you build an ACT-based toolkit for meeting parents in the full complexity of their experience.
You’ll not only gain a deeper understanding of the perinatal period but also come away with compassionate and actionable strategies to help clients navigate it in a way that aligns with their values.
After three weekly sessions, you will be able to…
- Navigate the topic of PMADs with more confidence and be aware of common (and sometimes harmful) misconceptions
- Address intrusive thoughts and help parents respond adaptively to intense emotions like fear and rage
- Encourage more compassion when clients struggle with guilt and shame or believe they are failing
- Help clients process their change in identity and connect with a broader sense of self beyond just parenthood
- Empower clients to reconnect with their values and take meaningful action even in the face of uncertainty and exhaustion
- Support clients in advocating for their needs during a time of intense transition