Course Description

This advanced practice 10-month-long course will examine the wide range of disruptive events that can occur in the perinatal period, teach attendees to identify the qualities of those events that induce ruptures in the typical developmental path of family-building, and conceptualize the clinical dynamics of patients suffering in the aftermath of disruptive and traumatizing perinatal events.


Over the course of ten class sessions, we will establish a conceptual framework with which to understand and intervene to support families. We will take deep dives into the neurobiology and dynamics of grief and trauma, discuss specific trauma-focused interventions for a range of perinatal presentations, and discuss ethical considerations in perinatal decision-making.


This course is for those trained at least through Part 1 of an EMDR foundational/basic training.


Registration Deadline: January 26, 2026


This course takes place live on Zoom. Check out this link for Zoom requirements.


For more information on our work at The Touchstone Institute, visit our website.

Course Overview

  • Live Interactive Webinar on Zoom

    Every four weeks on Tuesdays, 11:00am-2:00pm EST, beginning January 27, 2026. See below for all class dates.

  • Prerequisites

    Completion of Part 1 of an EMDRIA-approved foundational EMDR therapy training.

  • CE Credits

    Participants are eligible to receive 30 CE credits for this training. (see below for specific approvals)

The Prerequisite

Get Trained in EMDR!

Join Dr. Mara Tesler Stein and other perinatal mental health practitioners for The Touchstone Institute's Foundational EMDR Training
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Note on Accessibility:

We include captions in all of our live and self-paced trainings. If there is anything else you need to make our trainings accessible to you, please reach out to us at [email protected]. We recognize that every person has access needs and we are happy to do everything we can to meet yours.
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Instructor

Mara Stein, PsyD, PMH-C

Instructor

Mara Tesler Stein, Psy.D., PMH-C is a clinical psychologist practicing in the United States and Israel. She is the founder and director of The Touchstone Institute for Psychotherapy and Training where she offers both EMDR Foundational trainings for perinatal specialists & advanced EMDR workshops which take a deeper dive into the intersections and applications of EMDR and perinatal mental health. Dr. Stein is a staunch advocate for trauma-focused care and is trained and certified in a range of integrative trauma therapies. A certified EMDR therapist, EMDRIA Approved Consultant and Trainer, Dr. Stein is also certified in Emotion-Focused Family and Couple Therapy, is a Gottman Certified Therapist, and continues to pursue training in Clinical Hypnosis, Yoga-Informed treatment, Advanced applications of EMDR, Brainspotting, and Ego-State therapies. She is the editor of the forthcoming book, "EMDR for Perinatal and Infant Mental Health" (Springer, anticipated 2026)

Course Curriculum

    1. Get to know Mara Tesler Stein!

      FREE PREVIEW

    2. PLEASE READ: About Readings and Resources

    3. Course Description

      FREE PREVIEW

    4. Course Agenda (subject to change)

      FREE PREVIEW

    5. Zoom Information

    6. Learning Objectives

      FREE PREVIEW

    7. Anti-Oppression Statement from The Touchstone Institute

      FREE PREVIEW

    8. About Course Recordings

    9. About Quizzes

    1. Learning Objectives

    2. Slides and other handouts

    3. Developing a Philosophy of Care

    4. Readings: Sociocultural Considerations

    5. Readings: Self-as-Therapist

    6. Readings: Three Core Tasks

    7. Readings: Philosophies of Care

    8. An Unexpected Journey - from Davis & Stein, "Intensive Parenting: Surviving Your Journey Through the NICU" (Fulcrum, 2013)

    9. Story in Perinatal Trauma

    10. Medical Bias, Anti-Racism, and Health Equity in Perinatal Care

    11. BIPOC Considerations

    12. Collaboration and continuity in a NICU setting

    13. NIDCAP

    1. Learning Objectives

    1. Learning Objectives

    1. Learning Objectives

    1. Learning Objectives

About this course:

  • $2,000 - $3,000
  • January - November 2026. (see below for all class dates)
  • 30 CEs (see below for specific approvals)

Tiered pricing options:

Questions? See our FAQ below.

More about our pricing:

We offer tiered pricing for all of our trainings in order to make our courses accessible to as many practitioners as possible. If you are unsure which tier of payment is right for your financial situation, please read through our FAQ section below or visit our website.


Please reach out to us at [email protected] if you are interested in a multi-month payment plan. We are always happy to create a custom payment plan to make it more feasible for everyone to participate in our courses.

Class Schedule:

Each class will be held every four weeks on Tuesdays from 11:00am to 2:00pm EST.


This training cohort will meet on the following dates in 2026:

  • January 27
  • February 24
  • March 26
  • April 21
  • May 19
  • June 16
  • July 14
  • August 11
  • September 8
  • October 6
  • November 3 (reserved as a makeup date, if needed)


See the learning objectives below for each class topic.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

Laying the Foundation (January)

  • Discuss the application of EMDR’s Three-Pronged, 8-stage standard protocol and the Adaptive-Information Processing model in the perinatal period. 
  • Describe the Three Core Tasks framework for perinatal mental health. 
  • Discuss how philosophies of care— developmentally supportive, relationship-centered care—serve as trauma recovery resources.  


Therapeutic Approaches and Interventions (February)

  • Name specific considerations important to history-taking and evaluation of clients subsequent to a perinatal event using an integration of the AIP and Three Core Tasks lenses. 
  • Apply the AIP and Three Core Tasks framework from assessment to case conceptualization. 
  • Explain the advantages and limitations of various treatment approaches.
  • Discuss examples of implementation of various multi-modal strategies in treatment situations.

 

Grief and Trauma (March)

  • Discuss the application of attachment theory to perinatal loss and trauma, using the AIP and Three Core Task lenses. 
  • Discuss the experience of grieving using the AIP and  Three Core Task framework (the integrated lens) 
  • Describe the neurobiology of trauma and grief and how this guides assessment and treatment.

 

Perinatal Trauma (April)

  • Name specific considerations important to history-taking and evaluation of clients subsequent to a perinatal event using an integration of the AIP and Three Core Tasks lenses. 
  • Describe appropriate use of the EMDR Standard Protocol and modifications in treating perinatal crisis and trauma within the framework of EMDR  therapy treatment planning. 
  • Discuss the impact of trauma on the nervous system.


Bonding and Attachment (May)

  • Discuss the process of bonding and how perinatal trauma impacts this.
  • Describe the impact of perinatal trauma on long-term attachment between child and parent.
  • Discuss family integrated care and developmentally supportive care and their impact on bonding and attachment.
  • Describe common challenges couples face as they become different kinds of parents to their different kind of baby.
  • Describe common struggles extended family experiences around perinatal trauma in the family.


Psychiatric Disorders (June)

  • Describe the traumatic elements of perinatal psychiatric disorders.
  • Discuss the application of the EMDR standard protocol with perinatal anxiety and depression.
  • List treatment approaches for psychiatric disturbance in the perinatal period.


Early Trauma (July)

  • Describe signs and symptoms of early trauma.
  • Explain 2 methods of resourcing when working with early trauma.
  • Discuss strategies for reprocessing early trauma.


NICU (August)

  • Discuss factors in the NICU that can traumatize families.
  • Describe philosophies of care in and out of the NICU that effectively support families.
  • Explain how to approach treatment through the integrated lens.


Parenting Children with Medical Fragility and/or Developmental Disability (September)


Ethics and Medical Decision-Making (October)

  • Discuss the types of medical decisions that parents may face during a perinatal crisis.
  • Describe the ethical considerations relevant to medical decision-making in the perinatal period.
  • Discuss how therapists can best support families facing these decisions.

Continuing Education Credits

Participation in all training sessions and submission of a course evaluation is required to receive a CE certificate for this course. Course evaluations are made available after all live sessions have been completed within the course portal. After completing the evaluation, participants will be able to submit a request for their CE certificate. This training offers 30 CE credits.

  • It is your responsibility to verify CE coverage in your State or Province.

  • The Touchstone Institute for Perinatal Training is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Touchstone Institute for Perinatal Training maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

  • The Touchstone Institute for Perinatal Training, Inc. has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7346. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Touchstone Institute for Perinatal Training, Inc. is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

  • The Touchstone Institute for Perinatal Training, [provider number 1876], is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: [1/19/25-1/19/28 ]. Social workers completing this course receive 30 continuing education credits.

  • This course is approved by Postpartum Support International (PSI) for continuing education towards obtaining and maintaining the PMH-C

  • This course is approved by the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA). The Touchstone Institute is an approved training provider with EMDRIA: approval #22021.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is the Generative Access tier right for me?

    Select this tier if you: Own the home you live in (even with a mortgage); live in a two-income household; have investments, retirement accounts, or inherited money; travel recreationally; have access to family money and resources in times of need; work part-time by choice, etc.

  • Is the Sustaining Access tier right for me?

    Select this tier if you: Have income available for recreational activities (going out to dinner, movies, concerts etc.); have consistent work compensated at a median income rate based on your region; pay rent that is not more than 25% of your monthly household income; do not own your own home, etc.

  • Is the Supported Access tier right for me?

    Select this tier if you: Are a graduate student paying tuition; have major medical expenses not covered by insurance; have been denied work, or experience discrimination related to ableism, racism, sexism, gender discrimination or other forms of oppression; are eligible for public assistance; have immigration-related expenses; have ever been denied work due to incarceration history; are supporting adult children, extended family members in need or have other adult dependents; are an elder with limited financial support; are primarily working in a setting with under-resourced populations and your income reflects this work, etc.

  • Are there payment plan options available?

    Yes! We are happy to work with you to create a payment plan that fits your needs. Please reach out to us over email with a brief description of the length of the plan that you are interested in using to pay for this course: [email protected].

  • How can I learn more about your pricing?

    Please visit our website for more information on our approach to pricing our trainings: www.touchstoneinstitute.org/pricing.

  • What is your refund policy?

    We require 14-days notice for cancellations to receive a refund, minus a 7% administrative fee. If you cancel within 14 days you will be able to apply your full tuition to any other trainings we offer.

Other courses you may be interested in:

  • $225.00

    $225.00The Perinatal Therapist & Wounded Healer: How Lived Experiences Shape Our Practices (OCT 2025)

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  • $750.00

    $750.00The Advanced Practice of EMDR for Perinatal & Infant Mental Health (on-demand)

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  • $425.00

    $425.00Perinatal EMDR Deep Dive: The Complete Course (on-demand)

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