Bespoke Members
Introduction
Perinatal distress – encompassing psychological and relational difficulties arising during pregnancy or within the first two years after birth – is common. Recent figures suggest that as many as one in four mothers and one in ten fathers may be affected by perinatal mental health problems, and yet many people struggle alone, unsure how to make sense of their experiences, or how to seek help. This workshop will consider a range of biopsychosocial influences on the transition to parenthood, and highlight evidence-based approaches that can support psychological recovery and nurture healthy parent-infant relationships. Throughout pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period, waves of biological, social, psychological, and identity transitions converge, creating potential vulnerabilities as well as immense potential for growth. Whilst experiences of distress are widespread, they are not inevitable: our aim in this session is to deepen understanding of some of the mechanisms thought to underlie perinatal distress, and to explore therapeutic approaches that have been shown to alleviate symptoms, strengthen wellbeing, and support the development of strong attachment relationships. Whilst meeting the needs of fathers and non-birthing parents is clearly of vital importance, there will be a strong focus on the maternal experience in this workshop in order to maintain a realistic scope.
The event will be equivalent to 5.1/2hrs of CPD.
Content
The workshop aims to share with participants practical tools, clinical suggestions and a richer appreciation for the profound transitions of early motherhood. We will
• Consider the prevalence and phenomenology of perinatal distress
• Introduce the perinatal frame of mind and its implications for psychological interventions
• Briefly review the evidence base for psychological intervention in the perinatal period
• Draw on a range of therapeutic modalities, including CBT, CFT and schema therapy
• Consider how to adapt psychological interventions to the unique emotional, developmental and relational context of the perinatal period
• Discuss principles and strategies for working with anxiety and depression in the perinatal period
• Explore ways in which practitioners can cultivate safety, validation and empowerment in their work with new and expectant parents
• Provide opportunities for reflection on our own relationship to parenthood or parenting
Please note that this workshop does not focus in depth on perinatal trauma and loss specifically, as these are very substantial topics that are addressed in separate trainings.
Learning Objectives
• To understand how perinatal distress manifests and how we can make sense of it from individual, familial and societal perspectives
• To be familiar with what the research base suggests about effective psychological treatments for anxiety and depression in the perinatal period
• To understand what might be different about anxiety or depression occurring in the perinatal period
• To feel confident in adapting psychological interventions to the perinatal period
• To understand the importance of keeping the baby’s mind in mind whilst treating parental distress
Training Modalities
Didactic content, case study examples, experiential components, Q&A
Key References
Cree, M. (2015). The Compassionate Mind Approach to Postnatal Depression. Robinson
Jones, L. (2024). Matrescence: On the Metamorphosis of Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Motherhood. Penguin
Couch E, Mai HJ, Kanaan G, Caputo EL, Lewis O, Zahradnik ML, Howard M, Bohlen LC, Konnyu K, Balk EM. (2025) Effectiveness of Psychological Therapies for Depression During the Perinatal Period : A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med. 4. doi: 10.7326/ANNALS-24-03520.
Pettman, D., O’Mahen, H., Blomberg, O. et al. (2023) Effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy-based interventions for maternal perinatal depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Psychiatry 23, 208. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04547-9
Li X, Laplante DP, Paquin V, Lafortune S, Elgbeili G, King S. (2022) Effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for perinatal maternal depression, anxiety and stress: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clin Psychol Rev. 92:102129. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102129.
Clinkscales N, Golds L, Berlouis K, MacBeth A. (2023) The effectiveness of psychological interventions for anxiety in the perinatal period: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychol Psychother. 96(2):296-327. doi: 10.1111/papt.12441.
Cuijpers P, Franco P, Ciharova M, Miguel C, Segre L, Quero S, Karyotaki E. (2023) Psychological treatment of perinatal depression: a meta-analysis. Psychol Med. 53(6):2596-2608. doi: 10.1017/S0033291721004529. Epub 2021 Nov 16. PMID: 37310303; PMCID: PMC10123831.
Monteiro F, Fonseca A, Pereira M, Alves S, Canavarro MC. (2019) What protects at-risk postpartum women from developing depressive and anxiety symptoms? The role of acceptance-focused processes and self-compassion. J Affect Disord. 1;246:522-529. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2018.12.124.
About the presenter
Dr Becca Knowles Bevis is a clinical psychologist. She spent the first ten years of her career working in NHS adult community mental health teams, trauma services and complex needs services, and for the last decade, Becca has specialised in perinatal and parent-infant mental health. She has postgraduate training and qualifications in CBT, CFT, schema therapy, MBT and VIG, and has worked with the Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre as a supervisor on postgraduate CBT training programmes. Becca is the founder and director of a busy independent perinatal psychological practice, and also works as a birth doula, supporting families in pregnancy, labour, and the immediate postnatal period. She is a co-director of Babies 1st. (a community interest company that provides VIG training and intervention in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire), and co-founder of the Motherkind Café (a community postnatal mental health peer support group in Oxford). Becca is also a keen researcher, and up until recently she was a research tutor on the Oxford doctorate in clinical psychology training course.
Who should attend
This webinar is most suitable for practitioners working psychologically or therapeutically with parents-to-be and new families in primary or secondary care outpatient settings.