Supporting Survivors in the Perinatal Period

About the training

In this 10 part on-demand training, learn how previous trauma impacts survivors and they navigate their perinatal journeys and what you can do to support them. Your instructors, Sarah and Justine, explore what it is like to navigate pregnancy, birth and postpartum as someone who has a history of trauma and your important role as a trauma-informed birth worker therapist, or other perinatal professional in preventing, mitigating and healing ongoing trauma.

This course is created with therapists, doulas, and other perinatal professionals in mind as we recognize the need for all of us to operate with an understanding of trauma and trauma-informed care. Develop key trauma-informed skills when working with clients and patients whose stories are hard and whose past experiences put them at risk for further retraumatization.

Continuing Education Approvals

12 NBCC credit hours

Resilient Birth has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7406. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Resilient Birth is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Course Outline:

Lesson 1: What is a survivor? 

In this session, we explore trauma through the lens of labeling and language. After watching this video, you will be able to describe what happens when someone experiences trauma, and deepen your understanding of who counts as a survivor, and why someone might choose not to identify as either a survivor or victim. We will look at how one may define trauma and why ownership of this experience is important.

Lesson 2: Listening to Stories of Trauma

In this session, we explore how to hold space when someone is sharing their story. You will learn to recognize how your own stories impact your response, and gain skills to stay present and develop trust. This session goes beyond reflective listening to discuss boundaries and strategies on how to not hold others' stories as our own.

Lesson 3: Racial Trauma in the Perinatal Period

In part 1 of this session, we welcome Reketta Peterson, LMHC, who will be honoring us with her experience of giving birth as a Black woman and her professional knowledge as a therapist. She will cover racial trauma in the perinatal period. You will be asked to tap into a place of connection to self, and the connection between self and another. 

In part 2, Shanica Davis, BA  (childbirth educator and birth doula) and Reketta Peterson, LMHC (mental health clinician) have a conversation in which they discuss the experience of being a perinatal professional of color and what they do to take care of themselves so that they can show up for their clients in this work.

Lesson 4: Power Dynamics in Trauma-Informed Relationships

This session will explore the inherently unbalanced power dynamic in provider/client relationships. You will learn tools to hand over power to your clients and facilitate autonomy.

Lesson 5: Trans, Non Binary, and Queer Experiences of Trauma in the Perinatal Period

In this session, we are honored to have Sierra Holland, Ph.D., a full spectrum doula, share her wisdom with us. You will gain an understanding of what your LGBTQ+ clients may be walking with on their perinatal journeys. We explore the trauma that trans, nonbinary, and queer people may carry from before pregnancy, to the reproductive trauma they may experience as a result of bias, ignorance, and/or discrimination. Find clarity about what you can do to minimize harm when serving LGBTQ+ clients and to be a safe support in the perinatal period. 

Lesson 6: The Impact of Trauma in Pregnancy.

In this session we explore how trauma manifests in pregnancy, and as people prepare for birth. The goal is to deepen your compassion for what might be going on with your clients prenatally.

Lesson 7: Preventing Birth Trauma

In this session, we define what birth trauma is and explore how we can help prevent it. We will explore both what causes trauma and describe factors that protect against it. We will focus on the importance of informed consent, respectful care, and emotional support.

Lesson 8: The 6 Losses of Postpartum

In this session, we reveal how even a normal postpartum experience mirrors the 6 losses of trauma - loss of self, loss of world, loss of community, loss of time, loss of control, and loss of voice. We talk about what we can do to support clients at this time.

Lesson 9: Postpartum Mental Health

In this video, you learn how to recognize different mental health problems that may arise including postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, and birth trauma. You will be asked to consider your role in mitigating or preventing postpartum trauma and understand the importance of normalization in postpartum support.

Lesson 10: Vicarious Trauma

In this session, we discuss how to do this work sustainably. What makes us vulnerable to vicarious trauma is also what makes us good at our jobs: empathy. We will focus on the importance of distinguishing between our own stuff and that of our clients. You will learn that self-care is an essential part of your work.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will be able to recognize the different ways our bodies hold trauma, and its impact on mental, emotional and physical health.
• Participants will be able to recognize the different ways our bodies hold trauma and its impact on mental, emotional, and physical health.
• Participants will be able to describe how grief and trauma are interrelated and how that may show up in their client work.
• Participants will be able to apply knowledge and tools from this program to provide care to their clients from a trauma-informed lens. 
• Participants will be able to recognize the potential of vicarious trauma and utilize strategies to increase self-care and compassionate care.  

Resilient Birth

6 Liberty Square # 2074 Boston, MA 02109

[email protected]

‪(617) 826-9036‬