Course Description


This advanced practice workshop will introduce EMDR therapists to the wide range of disruptive events that can occur in the perinatal period, will teach them to identify characteristics of those events that induce ruptures in the normative developmental path of family-building, and to recognize the common clinical presentations of patients suffering in the aftermath of disruptive and traumatizing perinatal events. 


Increase your knowledge of how trauma affects the brain and how EMDR can improve client outcomes. Update your skills and enhance your ability to identify hidden trauma in the clients you see and learn to better facilitate healing in new clients suffering perinatal trauma. Learn advanced practice applications including the integration of AIP-based interventions across all prongs and phases of EMDR treatment. The use of specialized protocols and modifications are also addressed during this training. Case discussion, demonstration, and reflection around 'self as therapist' are woven throughout the course.


This course is composed of recordings from a workshop held in 2020. CE credits are calculated based on the total duration of video content. Supplemental readings are not included in the CE credit calculation. To obtain CE credits, a course quiz must be completed with a passing score of 75%.


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

Course Overview

  • Asynchronous Workshop via Zoom Recording(s)

    This course is structured for students to learn at their own pace.

  • Prerequisites

    Completion of an EMDRIA-approved foundational EMDR therapy training.

  • CE Credits

    Participants are eligible to receive 18 CE credits for this training. (see below for specific approvals)

The Prerequisite:

Get EMDR Trained

Join Dr. Mara Tesler Stein and other perinatal mental health practitioners for Foundational EMDR Therapy Training utilizing The Touchstone Institute's EMDRIA-Approved curriculum.

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.

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. Welcome to The Advanced Practice of EMDR for Perinatal Mental Health

    2. Get to know Mara Tesler Stein!

    3. Your Expressive Arts Project

    4. Expressive Art Examples from Prior Trainings

    5. Course Outline (with times)

      FREE PREVIEW
    6. Learning Objectives

    7. A note about readings and CEs

    8. Anti-Oppression Statement from The Touchstone Institute

    9. Content and Activation Reminder

    1. Downloadable complete slide deck

    2. Worksheets

    3. Perinatal Specific NC/PC lists

    1. EMDR Module Introduction

    2. Review of EMDR Core Concepts

    1. Introduction to Three Core Tasks Module

    2. Three Core Tasks Slides

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

    4. Story in Perinatal Trauma

    1. Philosophies of Care Introduction

    2. Philosophies of Care

    3. NIDCAP

    4. Developing a Philosophy of Care

    5. EMDR use During Pregnancy

    1. Perinatal Trauma Introduction

    2. Types of Perinatal Trauma - An Overview

    3. Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders through the Trauma Lens

    4. Impact

    5. 'Birth Trauma' Video

    6. 'Born Too Soon' Documentary

About this course

  • $650 - $850
  • on-demand
  • 18 CEs (see below for specific approvals)

Tiered pricing options for this course:

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.

Detailed Course Outline

All times are estimated:

Welcome

  • Welcome and Introduction (7:14min)


Your Expressive Arts Project

  • Explanation of the expressive arts project (4:34 min)


Overview of EMDR Foundational Concepts

  • Introduction: (:35 sec)
  • Intro to Review of EMDR Foundational Concepts (:43 sec)
  • Lecture: (13.18-min): Review of the Stages and Phases of EMDR therapy. 


The Three Core Tasks 

  • Introduction (1:25 min)
  • Slides: (6:10 min)
  • Lecture: (1 hour 5-min): Introduction of the Three Core Tasks framework for case conceptualization in perinatal mental health.
  • Reading: 5100 words


Philosophies of Care

  • Introduction (1:37 min)
  • Lecture with slides: (13.40-min): Discussion of developmentally supportive care and relationship-centered care as philosophies that promote the identification and integration of adaptive information processing in traumatized parents, fostering secure attachments and adaptive development.
  • NIDCAP Video: (13:40-min)
  • Reading: 17,100 words


EMDR Use During Pregnancy

  • Lecture: (1:21:50 hours): Discussion of clinical factors and decision making around stress during pregnancy, the impact of EMDR on the body, and the use of EMDR reprocessing during pregnancy.


Perinatal Trauma: The Journey

  • Introduction (2:43 min)


Types of Perinatal Trauma, an Overview:

  • Lecture: (48-minutes): Description and discussion of the categories of perinatal and postpartum events that can potentially disrupt normative development for parents and babies.
  • Video: (30-min): Five women discuss their experiences with birth trauma


Postpartum mood & anxiety disorders, & postpartum psychosis as traumatic ruptures

  • Lecture: (5:45-min): Discussion of the features of PMADs through the Integrated Lens. Exploration of applications of the 3-pronged, 8-phase, standard protocol as well as specialized techniques and protocols.


Impact

  • Lecture:(29-minutes): Discussion of the features of perinatal events that trigger traumatic stress and what makes them disruptive or traumatizing. 
    • Birth Trauma Video (30:12 min)
    • Born too Soon Documentary (48:53 min)
  •  Reading: 40,200 words


Constructing an Integrated Lens

  • Introduction (2:02 min)


The Integrated Lens in Evaluation & History-Taking

  • Lecture: (11-minutes): Discussion of how an understanding of adaptive and maladaptive information processing specifically aids the EMDR therapist in gathering trauma, relationship, and developmental history after a perinatal event. 


EMDR for Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders

  • Lecture: (1 hour 9-min): Discussion of factors guiding choice of EMDR protocol. When to use the standard protocol, recent event protocols, or other specialized protocols and techniques.


The Integrated Lens for Case Conceptualization & Treatment Planning

  • Lecture Part I (36:49 min): Discussion, with case examples, of common themes, targets, and negative cognitions with EMDR treatment of perinatal crisis and trauma. Specific attention will be paid to the unique features of perinatal crisis and the beliefs that commonly accompany conception, pregnancy, labor, delivery, and the neonatal period. Concurrently, systemic and cultural vulnerabilities and risk factors will be addressed as essential to understanding parental functioning in the perinatal period.
  • Lecture Part II (1 hour 21-min): Introduction to a structured case-conceptualization rubric that integrates the AIP and Three Core Tasks frameworks to guide treatment. 
  • Intro to Demo #1: (1:16 min)
  • Video Demonstration # 1: (1 hour 57-min). Presentation of clinical material, practicing utilization of the integrated lens for organization, clinical conceptualization, and decision-making, including conceptualization and use of interweaves for stuck processing.
  • Readings: 12,900 words
  • Video Demonstration #2: (1 hour 15 min). Presentation of clinical material, practicing and demonstrating utilization of the integrated lens for organization, conceptualization and decision-making.


Perinatal Hospice, Palliative Care, & Critical Decision-Making 

  • Introduction (2:15 min)
  • Video: (1 hour 21 min) – Discussion of in-house Palliative Care Program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Parent description of experiences with the program.
  • Video: (21 min) – John’s Hopkins Hospital documentary discussion of Perinatal Hospice program with both medical and parental discussion of issues.
  • Video: (31 min): The Colorado Collective for Medical Decision Making


Attachment

  • Introduction (2:11 min)
  • Lecture: (48-min): Exploration of the ways in which attachment-theory contributes to understanding the impact and recovery from perinatal ruptures. Application of integrated lens. 
  • Readings: 15,600 words


Grief

  • Introduction (:39 min)
  • Lecture: (13-min): Discussion of the features of grief through the integrated lens. Exploration of applications of the 3-pronged, 8-phase, standard protocol as well as specialized approaches for supporting adjustment and integration.
  • Readings: 4200 words

Learning Objectives

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

  • Discuss the use of EMDR’s Three-Pronged, 8-stage standard protocol and the Adaptive-Information Processing model. 
  • 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.
  • Describe the parameters of both normative perinatal mental health and the types of disruptive events that can occur during this period.  
  • Discuss the impact of postpartum mood, anxiety, and postpartum psychosis through the Integrated Lens, and propose EMDR therapy treatment strategies. 
  • Name at least three disruptive or traumatic features of perinatal loss and trauma.  
  • Discuss the intersection of personal and professional qualities and experiences that influence clinical work with perinatal clients.
  • Describe the considerations around using any phase of  EMDR therapy during all trimesters of pregnancy. 
  • 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 specialized protocols and modifications in treating perinatal crisis and trauma within the framework of EMDR  therapy treatment planning. 
  • Apply the AIP and Three Core Tasks framework from assessment to case conceptualization. 
  • Discuss the application of the three-core-tasks model regarding a demonstration of the application of all 8-phases of EMDR therapy. 
  • Discuss features of perinatal hospice, pediatric palliative care,  and the factors influencing decision-making in the perinatal period. 
  • Discuss the application of attachment theory to perinatal loss and trauma, using the AIP and Three Core ask lenses. 
  • Discuss the experience of grieving using the AIP and Three Core Task framework (the integrated lens).


Continuing Education Credits

Submission of a quiz and course evaluation is required to receive a CE certificate for this course. The quiz and course evaluation are made available after all lectures have been completed within the course portal. After passing the quiz with at least a 75% and completing the evaluation, participants will be able to submit a request for their CE certificate. This training offers 18 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 18 continuing education credits.

  • This course is approved by Postpartum Support International (PSI) for continuing education towards 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 this course EMDRIA-Approved?

    Yes, this course is approved for 18 CE credits through the EMDR International Association.

  • Is this course approved by PSI?

    Yes, this course is approved by PSI for 18 CE credits both for obtaining the PMH-C as well as for renewing the PHM-C.

  • 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 30-days notice for cancellations to receive a refund, minus a 5% administrative fee. If you cancel within thirty days you will be able to apply your full tuition to any other trainings we offer.

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