Dropping the Baby and Other Scary Thoughts, 2nd Edition

Course overview

The birth of a new baby brings joy to many parents, but it can also cause unexpected emotions and thoughts. This is particularly true in mothers, who may experience anxiety, depression, and/or emotional distress during pregnancy and postpartum. Mental health providers can support patients struggling through the perinatal period by helping them to understand their "scary thoughts" (a term used to describe the upsetting thinking that can interfere with the wellbeing of a new mother), normalizing their experience, and assessing the severity of their distress. Dropping the Baby and Other Scary Thoughts, 2nd Edition provides essential information that both the client and the treating therapist can use when dealing with intrusive, negative, and unwanted thoughts. The purpose of this intermediate level course is to prepare psychologists, counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists to support perinatal women experiencing "scary thoughts". Clinicians can use the information presented in this learning material to identify clients experiencing perinatal distress and determine appropriate treatment options that reflect the needs of those clients. It also helps providers recognize not only professional treatment options, but also self-help strategies that may reduce negative feelings in the clients they are supporting. Other topics covered include the role of support systems and support considerations for diverse parents and clients from different cultural contexts. Upon completion of this course, providers will be able to screen and assess for perinatal anxiety and depression as well as recommend and support with interventions intended to improve anxiety and depressive symptoms in perinatal women. For information about our unlimited plans visit www.ce4less.com