Monday, March 4, marks the beginning of Birth Psychology Month for the Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Pyschology and Health (APPPAH). This monthlong celebration features a panel of speakers around trauma informed practices for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care. APPPAH received a grant for this project, so live lectures are free. Our first two speakers will be on Monday at 7 pm and 8:30 pm Eastern time. 

Jennie Birkholz, Principal of Breakwater Light, LLC, Trauma informed educator will be speaking first at 7:00 pm Eastern on Transforming Trauma in Prenatal and Perinatal Care. This webinar provides an overview of trauma in the prenatal and perinatal stage and its potential impact.  Then the trauma informed care model is reviewed with practical strategies organizations and practitioners can implement in order create a place of safety and promote resiliency.

Jennie Birkholz is the Principle with Breakwater Light, a consulting firm that partners with multi-sector organizations and communities focused on positive social impact. Projects are oriented around community asset mapping, innovative leveraging of those assets and creating powerful networks for change.  She has provided trauma trainings and consultations to churches, hospice networks, early childhood coalitions, schools and community-wide coalitions.As a person with lived experience and someone who worked with persons who experienced trauma, Jennie brings hands-on perspective to the work.  Jennie served in the behavioral health field for over 15 years, supporting substance abuse, mental health, disaster relief and other community services at the executive level.  She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Texas A&M University and a Masters of Healthcare Administration from Texas State University.  Jennie is a certified Youth Mental Health First Aid Trainer, and a SAMHSA Trauma-Informed Care trainer.  She is also the creator and leader of the Texas Faith Health Network. For more information see: www.breakwaterlight.com

At 8:30, Maryl Smith, CPM midwife of 35 years will be speaking on The Art of Trauma Sensitive Intake in the Midwifery Model of Care. More than half of those who have been traumatized will not disclose at intake.  The reality is your new client has not yet decided if you are trustworthy.  Further barriers to disclosure may include their belief about what the trauma means about themselves, their current safety status, stoic minimization or even limited trauma recall.  Your ability to create safe opportunities for disclosure and to read between the behavioral lines can make all the difference in whether your care  is designed to heal or if it will re-traumatize.  You will learn how to create safe opportunities that encourage disclosure and explore how to offer trauma-informed care even when there is no disclosure.

Maryl Smith, CPM, LDM, has an active homebirth practice and has been catching babies since 1984. Over the years she has cared for women from over 18 different nations, worked in two free-standing birth centers, taught as adjunct staff at Birthingway College of Midwifery and served in multiple roles in the promotion of midwifery in the state of Oregon. Her passion is supporting trauma survivors during the perinatal experience. Maryl frequently travels the world with her pastor/musician husband working to preserve indigenous spiritual expression in music. Her other activities include adventures with her granddaughters, herb gardening, writing and being active in her local Native American community.

Please listen to Maryl Smith talk about her presentation here: 

You can register to watch our LIVE presentations by clicking here.

AND you can purchase the 10 recording, handouts and transcriptions for only $97 here.

Price goes up in April!

More information about our fantastic series coming next week!