NEFESH: The International Network of Orthodox Mental Health Professionals
Add this Workshop to Your Calendar!
Empty Arms and Healing Hearts:
A Clinician's Guide to Understanding and Treating Infertility and Pregnancy Loss (Recorded)

Approximately 10-20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infertility rates continue to rise. While demand for fertility treatment goes up, the mental health infrastructure is not prepared to treat individuals who are experiencing this kind of loss.  According to reproductive psychology expert, Julie Bindeman PsyD., “there is a vast silence around pregnancy and infant loss in our society and it extends to clinical training programs.”

Healthcare professionals often underestimate the emotional distress of early pregnancy loss. Known as the “Secret Grief”, hopeful parents are often left to navigate their emotions alone. As mental health clinicians, it is our ethical responsibility to meet the demands of this vulnerable population by expanding our competence in the areas of infertility and pregnancy loss.

https://nefesh.org/workshops/EmptyArms2/view

Empty Arms and Healing Hearts:
A Clinician's Guide to Understanding and Treating Infertility and Pregnancy Loss (Recorded)

Previously Recorded
$59.99 Amy Santus, LMSW, CCM

Approximately 10-20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infertility rates continue to rise. While demand for fertility treatment goes up, the mental health infrastructure is not prepared to treat individuals who are experiencing this kind of loss.  According to reproductive psychology expert, Julie Bindeman PsyD., “there is a vast silence around pregnancy and infant loss in our society and it extends to clinical training programs.”

Healthcare professionals often underestimate the emotional distress of early pregnancy loss. Known as the “Secret Grief”, hopeful parents are often left to navigate their emotions alone. As mental health clinicians, it is our ethical responsibility to meet the demands of this vulnerable population by expanding our competence in the areas of infertility and pregnancy loss.

About the Presenter

Amy Santus, LMSW, CCM, serves as a supervisor for social work for limited licensed professionals. Trained in EMDR, Mrs. Santus specializes in trauma within her private practice in Lake Orion, Michigan. As a result of her own reproductive story, Mrs. Santus has focused her education and training around best practices for clinicians, when working with clients experiencing infertility and pregnancy loss.

This workshop Offers 3 Continuing Education Credits
This webinar is recorded and will not grant live credits.

Empty Arms and Healing Hearts:
A Clinician's Guide to Understanding and Treating Infertility and Pregnancy Loss (Recorded)

Previously Recorded

Presenter: Amy Santus, LMSW, CCM

Please enter your name and email address below to view this course:


Tell us how you heard about us:


Course Length: 3 Hours

Learning Objectives:

  1. Identification and application of the use of the reproductive story toward processing the loss.
  2. Apply 2 CBT practices (differentiation and re-framing) and 3 IPT practices domains (Grief, Role dispute and role Transition).
  3. Recognize specific cultural considerations in miscarriage and infertility.
  4. Summarize the impact of clinician implicit bias and its impact on treatment.

This workshop Offers 3 Continuing Education Credits
This webinar is recorded and will not grant live credits.

Times New Roman

Approximately 10-20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infertility rates continue to rise. While demand for fertility treatment goes up, the mental health infrastructure is not prepared to treat individuals who are experiencing this kind of loss.  According to reproductive psychology expert, Julie Bindeman PsyD., “there is a vast silence around pregnancy and infant loss in our society and it extends to clinical training programs.”

Healthcare professionals often underestimate the emotional distress of early pregnancy loss. Known as the “Secret Grief”, hopeful parents are often left to navigate their emotions alone. As mental health clinicians, it is our ethical responsibility to meet the demands of this vulnerable population by expanding our competence in the areas of infertility and pregnancy loss.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Identification and application of the use of the reproductive story toward processing the loss.
  2. Apply 2 CBT practices (differentiation and re-framing) and 3 IPT practices domains (Grief, Role dispute and role Transition).
  3. Recognize specific cultural considerations in miscarriage and infertility.
  4. Summarize the impact of clinician implicit bias and its impact on treatment.

Agenda:

Workshop/Outline: (3 CE Hours)                                                       

  • Introduction to Infertility/pregnancy loss                                 (20 Minutes) 
    • Grounding/Meditation practice: Preparation for sensitive course material
    • The need: role of therapy
      • Hidden and disenfranchised grief
        • Empty Arms / Broken Heart Poem ~ Amy Santus (2017)

  • Psychological/ Emotional impact of infertility and pregnancy loss (20min)
    • On the individual
      • Mental health complications and diagnosis
        • Depression, anxiety, grief and PTSD, relationship with self and body, loss of dream of individualized role of parent
    • Couple
      • Intimacy difficulty, financial distress, communication barriers, shame, grief, divorce rates

  • Psychoeducation by clinician: (60Min)
    • Defining Infertility
      • Genetics, chromosomal abnormalities, uterine abnormalities, Immune issues, endocrine issues, other factors (weight, age and lifestyle), male contributions idiopathic/unexplained and stillbirth
    • Defining Miscarriage
      • Concepts around marginalized groups
        • Social infertility (LBGTQ)
        • Prevalence and risk factors
    • Religion and Spiritual Considerations
    • Types of Pregnancy Loss
      • Exploring 12 types of pregnancy loss
      • Signs and symptoms of each loss
        • Miscarriage, chemical pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, recurrent pregnancy loss, abortion, failed IVF, Termination for medical reasons, still birth, Multi-fetal reduction, selective reduction and neonatal and infant loss.
        • Neonatal Loss
      • Race and ethnicity considerations
    • Explore Clinician Implicit bias
      • Exercise to explore bias

        BREAK 10 MINUTES

Application of Practice  60 Minutes        

  • Utilization of treatment modalities
    • The Reproductive Story ~ Sunita Osborn, PsyD
      • Cultural considerations of story
      • Interactive poll for clinicians 
    • CBT
      • Differentiation and Re-framing thoughts
    • IPT
      • Identification of problem
      • Communication and Decision Analysis

    • Grief work (Engagement in Rituals)
    •  ACT
      • Acceptance of feelings, times there will be overwhelm, mindfulness skills, values assessment.
  • Recent legislative impact on treatment.
    • Roe vs. Wade
    • States decision
    • Advocacy among clinicians

  • Questions                                (10-20 minutes) 


This presentation is open to:
  • Social Workers
  • Professional Counselors
  • Therapists
  • Psychologists
  • Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
  • Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
  • Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services
Course Level: introductory
Level of Clinician: intermediate
  • New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
  • Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
  • Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
  • Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives

Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.

Disability Access - If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification. Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often, and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling. The grievance policy for trainings provided by the NEFESH INTERNATIONAL is available here Satisfactory Completion Participants must have paid the tuition fee, logged in and out each day, attended the entire workshop, and completed an evaluation to receive a certificate (If this is a pre-recorded program, a post-test with a passing grade of 80% to receive a certificate.) Failure to log in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available. Certificates are available after satisfactory course completion by clicking here.
There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.
  • CE You! is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland.
    CE You! maintains responsibility for this program.

Refund Policy: Full Refund until 48 hours before scheduled date.
48 hours before: full refund less $5.00 processing fee. After event no refund will be given.
*exclusions apply for reasonable need and cause.