MommaCare™ Training and Consultation
MommaCare™ is a training model developed by Dr. Deb Rich and licensed exclusively to Shoshana Center PLLC. The vision of MommaCare™ is to train professionals who care for women experiencing difficult pregnancy, pregnancy loss, infertility and perinatal mood disorders. The name MommaCare™ reflects the relational approach of this model, calling up the themes of bonding, attachment, emotional well-being, growth and competence. Training modules provide medical best practice and profession-specific interventions alongside self-reflection and self-care for immersing oneself in this emotionally intense work.
2023 Workshops
Pregnancy loss for psychotherapists: Tools, clinical skills, and diagnostic controversies.
By request and coming soon. In person and livestreamed on Zoom
Given that 20 to 25% of all pregnancies do not survive to a healthy live birth, most psychotherapists treating adults in their reproductive years will encounter this tragic experience. The ideal course of treatment is for the client to remain with his or her trusted psychotherapist as long as the therapist has basic competency in care following pregnancy loss. The overall therapeutic goal is healthy integration of this traumatic experience.
This small group intensive workshop provides a foundation of essential medical knowledge to build specialty skills in clinical evaluation and intervention. This extremely sensitive material is presented in a safe and supportive environment which facilitates participant learning and self-awareness. Lecture and video will address these topics: best practice in the medical setting, medical terminology and procedures, patterns of perinatal grief, normal trajectory of grief, differential diagnosis including DSM-5 considerations and psychotherapeutic interventions.
Something is Wrong with the Baby: Prenatal diagnosis and decision-making.
By request and coming soon. In person and livestreamed on Zoom
Clients come to therapy at all stages of life, including during the reproductive years. While your clients may not come to you specifically to deal with issues surrounding pregnancy, they may become pregnant in the course of therapy and then be faced with very specific challenges.
This workshop will acquaint therapists with medical information about routine fetal screening and progressive diagnostic testing as information comes to light about significant fetal abnormalities. Therapists will gain the necessary skills to provide support and guidance to clients experiencing this heartrending challenge on the journey to parenthood.
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Options for fetal screening and diagnostic testing
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Common diagnoses from mild to major
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Options for medical and surgical intervention
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Perinatal palliative care
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Common therapeutic issues and effective interventions
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Therapist self-care
Making a baby with assisted reproductive technology: The role of the psychotherapist.
By request and coming soon. In person and livestreamed on Zoom
As with other areas of reproductive health psychology, it is critical that the trusted therapist be familiar with both medical and emotional aspects of challenges to family building. This workshop will acquaint therapists with fundamental knowledge about assisted reproductive technology. Therapists will gain skills in facilitated decision-making, psychotherapeutic interventions and self-care. In addition, participants will leave with a thorough overview of required psychological evaluations for 3rd party assisted reproduction donor egg, donor sperm, donor embryo and gestational surrogacy).
Using lecture, video and case discussion, topics will include:
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Medical terminology
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Procedures, costs and statistics
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Facilitating decision making
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The emotional and medical journey
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Psychotherapy interventions
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Psychological evaluations
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Specialty resources