The Myth of Maternal Bliss: Understanding the Psychological Gestation of Motherhood

As therapists, we are often called upon to work with individuals, couples, and families facing major life transitions. The birth of a baby is one of the most psychologically profound moments in the life of a woman and her family. A woman’s capacity to embrace the unique passage into motherhood not only has an enormous impact on the development of a secure attachment to her infant, but on fetal development and her overall mental health. Using the framework of attachment theory, this web conference facilitates an understanding of the psychology of pregnancy and its critical impact on maternal mental health.

We will look at the psychological processes involved in becoming a mother through the lens of several different researchers, including D.W. Winnicott and Daniel Stern. The experience of motherhood in the postpartum period will also be addressed with a focus on the discrepancies between expectations and reality, grief and loss as an integral part of this life-changing transition, and the incorporation of a woman’s new role as a mother into her previously established sense of herself in the world.

Utilizing an attachment perspective, this web conference will explain the significance of a woman’s earliest attachment relationships on her present experience of becoming a mother, the impact of trauma on maternal connection, and the factors that leave some women vulnerable to a denial of their pregnancies. We will also discuss the consequences of perinatal illness on attachment and mothering.

This web conference is intermediate instructional level and designed to help clinicians:

1. Identify the psychosocial stages that occur in utero in order to foster secure attachment between a mother and her infant;
2. Discuss at least two therapeutic modalities that are used when working with pregnant and postpartum mothers;
3. Recite four themes that preoccupy the mind of the pregnant and postpartum woman;
4. List at least five risk factors that leave women vulnerable to perinatal depression and interfere with the developmental tasks of pregnancy.

If you have any questions or concerns about this web conference or would like more information, please contact us here.

Continuing Education (CE) Information

Two CE credits will be provided by GoodTherapy.org for attending this web conference in its entirety.

GoodTherapy.org is also an Approved Education Provider by NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals (provider #135463). Of the eight counselor skill groups ascribed to by NAADAC, this course is classified within counseling services.

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

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

GoodTherapy.org, SW CPE 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 #0395.

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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