Invisible and Impactful: Elevating Maternal Mental Health in Modern Counseling Practice

Maternal mental health spans far beyond postpartum care, influencing lifelong well-being and mental health outcomes. This session explores the impact of perinatal and perimenopausal transitions, including postpartum depression, cognitive stigma, and suicide risk in midlife (Venborg et al., 2023; Nakanishi et al., 2023). Participants will learn how counselors, regardless of specialty, can ethically and effectively support this underserved population using trauma-informed, culturally responsive approaches.

Learning Objectives:

1.) Describe the continuum of maternal mental health and its long-term impact across perinatal and perimenopausal stages. 

2.) Identify common stigmas and misconceptions surrounding maternal mental health, including cognitive and emotional changes. 

3.) Apply trauma-informed, culturally responsive strategies to support maternal mental health in general counseling practice.

Speaker:

Rebekah Willis