Perinatal Mental Health 101

Service Description

The perinatal period is one of the most psychologically vulnerable and transformative stages of life — yet many clinicians receive little formal training in how to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health concerns during pregnancy and postpartum. Perinatal Mental Health 101 is a foundational training designed for counselors, social workers, and helping professionals who want to confidently step into this deeply meaningful work. In this workshop, participants will: Develop awareness of the profound psychological, relational, and identity shifts that occur during pregnancy and the postpartum period Learn to assess and accurately diagnose the five primary perinatal mental health disorders, including Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) Identify treatment goals and explore evidence-based psychotherapies effective in working with PMADs Practice building and sustaining a strong therapeutic alliance with perinatal clients navigating vulnerability, ambivalence, trauma, and identity transition Understand ways to build a career path into this niche of mental health Blending research, case examples, and practical application, this training supports clinicians in moving beyond generalist knowledge into specialized, attuned perinatal care. Participants will leave with both increased diagnostic clarity and relational confidence — equipped to hold space for one of life’s most tender and complex transitions. About the Presenter: Rachel Bowers, MSSA, LISW-S, PMH-C, is the Founder and Executive Director of Wollemi Counseling, an Ohio CSWMFT Board–approved Continuing Education provider specializing in perinatal and women’s mental health. She earned her Master of Science in Social Administration from the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University in 2008. Rachel holds a Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C) through Postpartum Support International and is has focused expertise in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, birth trauma, NICU trauma, and women’s life-stage transitions. Her clinical and educational work integrates trauma-informed care, narrative frameworks, and nervous-system–informed approaches to support evidence-based, developmentally attuned practice across the reproductive years.