Narrative Exposure Therapy for Traumatic Perinatal Experiences

(Approved for the Psychotherapy/Mental Health Track Advanced Training as well as CE for maintaining PMH-C)

Clock Hours: 4

Asynchronous Recorded Webinar

Target Audience: behavioral health and social workers who serve in the role of counseling/therapy. 

Content Description:

 This Intermediate course will provide an overview of the process of addressing trauma symptoms by utilizing the evidence-based treatment Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) with the perinatal population.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will be able to:

  1. Describe 3 elements of the theory and therapeutic process of Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) and apply to perinatal populations.

  2. Identify 2 specific benefits of NET as an evidence-based modality for people of color.

  3. Describe 3 elements of the theory and therapeutic process of Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) and apply to perinatal populations.

  4. Describe 3 elements of Judith Herman’s model of trauma treatment and apply to perinatal populations.

  5. Integrate knowledge of NET, PE, and Judith Herman’s model of trauma treatment and apply to 2 case examples.

  6. Describe 3 specific difficulties perinatal patients may encounter during NET and identify challenges therapists may face in the implementation of NET with perinatal populations.

Presenter Name and Qualifications:

Dr. Nikki Massey-Hastings, PsyD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, PMH-C

Dr. Nikki Massey-Hastings, PsyD is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional who specializes in pediatrics, families, couples and trainer with Nurturing Mamas Network. She is especially interested in the process of family formation. Dr. Massey-Hastings is the owner and clinical director of a boutique group psychology practice, AMANI Clinical Services, in Hinsdale, Illinois. Her clinical work centers on treating mental health challenges which occur throughout the family life cycle, including problems common to children, parents, and their families. She is passionate about, and extensively treats, complex developmental trauma.

In this recorded asynchronous distance course, attendees will watch a recorded video from a webinar held on 11/10/2025. Course completion requirements: behavioral health and social workers must attend the entire course and complete a course evaluation to be eligible for ce credit. Behavioral Health and social workers must pass the posttest with 80% in 3 attempts to be eligible for ce credit. Certificates of completion will be emailed within 2 business days of course completion. 

Nurturing Mamas Network has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7232. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Nurturing Mamas Network is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Nurturing Mamas Network, provider #2686, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Workers Board (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 11/14/2025- 11/14/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 4 clinical continuing education credits. 

If a participant or potential participant would like to express a concern about his/her experience with Nurturing Mamas Network, he/she may call or e-mail Felicia Hurst at felicia@nurturingmamasnetwork.com. Although we do not guarantee a particular outcome, the individual can expect us to consider the complaint, make any necessary decisions and respond within 30 days.

  • i. Introductions (5 minutes)

    ii. Overview of NET theory. Explore NET as a therapeutic process. Integration of NET with Judith Herman’s model of trauma treatment and Prolonged Exposure (165 minutes) 1. Contraindications to NET and timing of NET within therapeutic journey 2. Assessment of types of trauma and psychoeducation AMANI Clinical Services www.amaniclinical.com A Dr. Hastings & Associates LLC Company 15 Spinning Wheel Rd., Suite 116 Hinsdale Illinois 60521 PHONE – 630.708.0362 FAX – 630.282.7084 3. Types of perinatal trauma and the importance of the reproductive story a. Case examples 4. Neurobiology of trauma and traumatic responses a. Special considerations with perinatal population 5. Therapeutic Challenges 6. NET, PE, Herman therapeutic steps and stages with case examples

    10 min break

    iii. Apply the integrated model to case vignettes (60 minutes) 1. For the perinatal client 2. For the therapist iv. Questions and Integration of Material (10 minutes)

  • Foa, E. B., Hembree, E. A., & Rothbaum, B. O. (2007). Prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD: Emotional processing of traumatic experiences: Therapist guide. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/med:psych/9780195308501.001.0001 Greenberg, L. S. & Goldman, R. N. (2008). Emotion Focused Couples Therapy. Washington D.C.: American Psychological Association Herman, J. L. (1992). Trauma and recovery. Basic Books/Hachette Book Group. Jaffe, J., & Diamond, M. O. (2011). Reproductive trauma: Psychotherapy with infertility and pregnancy loss clients. American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/12347-000 Johnson, S. M. (2015). Emotionally focused couple therapy. In A. S. Gurman, J. L. Lebow, & D. K. Snyder (Eds.), Clinical handbook of couple therapy (pp. 97–128). The Guilford Press. Schauer, M., Neuner, F., & Elbert, T. (2005). Narrative exposure therapy: A short-term intervention for traumatic stress disorders after war, terror, or torture. Hogrefe & Huber Publishers.

    Articles

    Alonso, Perez M. A. (2015). Metacognition and sensorimotor components underlying the process of handwriting and keyboarding and their impact on learning. An analysis from the perspective of embodied psychology. Social and Behavioral Sciences, 176, 263 – 269. Granner, J.R. and Seng, J.S. (2021), Using theories of posttraumatic stress to inform perinatal care clinician responses to trauma reactions. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, 66, 567-578. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmwh.13287 Miller, M. L., Wasson, R. S., Jiang, L. J., Ward, M. J., Meyer, D. J., & Haas, D. M. (2025) Narrative exposure therapy: Expanding virtual treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder to the postpartum period. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 34 (4), 538-557. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2025.2491772 Monette, M. A., Minor, K. S., Ward, M. J., & Miller, M. L. (2025). Unveiling the intersection: Dissociative and psychotic-like experiences among a trauma-exposed clinical sample including postpartum women. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0001926 Mørkved, N., Hartmann, K., Aarsheim, L.M., Holen, D., Milde, A.M., Bomyea, J, Thorp, S.R. (2014). A comparison of Narrative Exposure Therapy and Prolonged Exposure therapy for PTSD. Clinical Psychology Review, 34(6), 453-467, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2014.06.005. Mueller, P.A. & Oppenheimer, D.M. (first published online April 23, 2014). 25(6). https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797614524581 Nillni, Y. I., Baul, T. D., Paul, E., Godfrey, L. B., Sloan, D. M., & Valentine, S. E. (2023) Written exposure therapy for treatment of perinatal PTSD among women with comorbid PTSD and SUD: A pilot study examining feasibility, AMANI Clinical Services www.amaniclinical.com A Dr. Hastings & Associates LLC Company 15 Spinning Wheel Rd., Suite 116 Hinsdale Illinois 60521 PHONE – 630.708.0362 FAX – 630.282.7084 acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness. General Hospital Psychiatry, 83, 66-74. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2023.04.013 Orang, T., Ayoughi, S., Moran, J. K., Ghaffari, H., Mostafavi, S., Rasoulian, M., & Elbert, T. (2018). The efficacy of narrative exposure therapy in a sample of Iranian women exposed to ongoing intimate partner violence—A randomized controlled trial. Clinical psychology and psychotherapy, 25, 827-841. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2318 Osofsky, J. D., Osofsky, H. J., Frazer, A. L., Fields-Olivieri, M. A., Many, M., Selby, M., Holman, S., & Conrad, E. (2021). The importance of adverse childhood experiences during the perinatal period. American Psychologist, 76(2), 350 363. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000770 Schaal S, Elbert T, Neuner F. (2009). Narrative exposure therapy versus interpersonal psychotherapy. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 78(5):298–306. Seng J.S., Low, L.K., Sperlich, M., Ronis, D.L., & Liberzon, I. (2011) Post-traumatic stress disorder, child abuse history, birthweight and gestational age: a prospective cohort study. BJOG, 118:1329–39. Stevens, N.R., Miller, M.L., Soibatian, C., Otwell, C, Rufa, A. K., Meyer, D. J, & Shalowitz, M. U. (2020). Exposure therapy for PTSD during pregnancy: a feasibility, acceptability, and case series study of Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET). BMC Psychology, 8, 130. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-020-00503-4 Yildiz, P. D., Ayers, S., Phillips, L. (2017). The prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder in pregnancy and after birth: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 208, 634-645, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2016.10.009.

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    Internet browser: Internet Explorer 9.0 or higher, google chrome, firefox 10.0 or higher

    Broadband Internet connection: cable, high speed dsl & any other medium that is internet accessible.

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