TTC, Infertility, Loss: Helping Clients Navigate the Waiting Period

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

Clock Hours: 3 

Asynchronous Recorded Webinar

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

Content Description: 

This Intermediate program will assist helping professionals with practicing & integrating how to help clients with accessing their internal & external resources & supports during their two-week Beta or pregnancy test waiting & bed rest periods. A special emphasis will be placed on working with clients impacted by infertility & a history of losses.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will describe at least 3 emotional, cognitive & physical factors that occur during this time period.

2. Participants will identify at least 3 therapeutic frameworks that can be applied to support & help clients thrive during their waiting period.

3. Participants will discuss & explain at least 3 internal & external resources & emotional supports to assist clients during their waiting period.

4. Participants will be able to formulate & create 1 collaborative resource plan & apply plan to direct client work.

Presenter Name and Qualifications: 

Stephanie Pearce, LCSW, PMH-C 

Stephanie Pearce is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in PA & NJ and a trainer at Nurturing Mamas Network. She obtained her MSW from Rutgers University in 2002 & has worked in the social work field for 23 years in settings ranging from a family crisis unit to an outpatient setting. Ms. Pearce currently facilities a private practice in the Pocono, PA area that customizes services for individuals & couples impacted by grief & loss across the life span, maternal mood disorders, reproductive trauma, developmental trauma & infertility.

In this recorded asynchronous distance course, attendees will watch a recorded video from a webinar held on 10/16/2023.

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 3 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.

  • 00:00–00:30 Introduction & Learning Objectives – Impact of TTC on mental health and identity Lecture

    00:30–01:00 Core Content Part 1 – Stress, anxiety, grief, and relationship dynamics Lecture + Case Example

    01:00–01:20 Core Content Part 2 – Clinical tools (ACT, CBT, mindfulness, narrative therapy) Lecture + Group Discussion

    01:20-01:30 Break

    01:30–02:00 Experiential/Practice – Role-play: validating clients’ TTC narratives Experiential Activity

    02:00–02:30 Integration – Cultural/family expectations, stigma, and clinical implications Reflection + Discussion

    02:30–02:55 Q&A / Closing – Addressing fears, biases, and countertransference Group Discussion

    02:55–03:00 Evaluations Completed – Non-CE time Non-CE Activity

  • Carson SA, Kallen AN. Diagnosis and Management of Infertility: A Review. JAMA. 2021 Jul 6;326(1):65-76. doi: 10.1001/jama.2021.4788. PMID: 34228062; PMCID: PMC9302705.

    Cozzolino M, Troiano G, Esencan E. Bed rest after an embryo transfer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2019 Nov;300(5):1121-1130. doi: 10.1007/s00404-019-05296-5. Epub 2019 Sep 14. PMID: 31520259.

    Corr C, Coor, D. & Doka K (2019). Death, & Dying, Life & Living: Cengage. Covington, S. (2015). Fertility Counseling: Cambridge.

    Devereux L. & Hammerman, (1998). Infertility & Identity: Jossey-Bass Inc. Fowler, Paige (2023). The Truth about PMS Vs. Pregnancy Symptoms: Retrieved from: The Truth About PMS Symptoms vs. Pregnancy Symptoms (parents.com) Gottesdiener, S. (2020). The Moon Book: St. Martin’s Publishing Group. Grand, D. (2013). Brainspotting: Sound True Inc,

    Gibson, D. (2017). Caring for Your Mental Health During an At-Risk Pregnancy & Bedrest: Hand to Hold: Blog - Hand to Hold Healey M, Craig J, Thomas S, Tizzard J, Puddister K, McGowan EL, Twells LK, Wadden KP. Co-creation of a qualitative fertility research study to understand waiting time experiences through patient engagement. Res Involv Engagem. 2024 Dec 18;10(1):131. doi: 10.1186/s40900-024-00665-0. PMID: 39695894; PMCID: PMC11654303.

    Krauth, L. Bed Rest Silver Linings; 15 Benefits from Taking Pregnancy Lying Down; Retrieved from: Laurie Krauth, MA, PLC - Home Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hull, G. H. (2019). Human behavior in the macro social environment: An empowerment approach to understanding communities, organizations, and groups (5th ed.). Cengage. ISBN-13: 9781305389502.

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    LLou S, Nielsen CP, Hvidman L, Petersen OB, Risør MB. Coping with worry while waiting for diagnostic results: a qualitative study of the experiences of pregnant couples following a high-risk prenatal screening result. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2016 Oct 21;16(1):321. doi: 10.1186/s12884-016-1114-6. PMID: 27769247; PMCID: PMC5073971.

    Marich, J. (2019). Process not Perfection: Expressive Arts Solutions for Trauma Recovery: Creative Mindfulness Media.

    Neff, K. (2015). Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself: William Morrow Paperbacks. Neff, K. & Germer, C. (2018). The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook.: The Guilford Press.

    Pedersen L. & C. Pedersen (2017). The Expanded Dialectical Therapy Skills Manuel: DBT for Self-Help, Individual & Group Settings, 2nd Edition: Pesi Publishing & Media.

    Pittman, C. & Karle E. (2015). Rewire your Anxious Brain. New Harbringer Publications Inc.

    Rosen A. & Rosen J. (2005). Frozen Dreams: Psychodynamic Dimensions of Infertlity & Assisted Reproduction:Routledge.

    Seubert, A. (2021). The Courage to Feel: A Practical Guide to Emotional Freedom & Honesty: Unhooked Books.

    Shapiro, F. (2017).Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing Therapy: The Guildford Press. Shapiro, R. (2017). EMDR Solutions II: W.W. Norton & Company.

    Strosahl, K, & Robinson, P. (2017). The Mindfulness & Acceptance Workbook for Depression: New Harbringer Publications. Tafoya, T. Once Upon A Session:The Healing Aspects of Story: Paradigm (2000).

    Wenzel, A. (2014).Coping with Infertility, Miscarriage & Neonatal Loss: American Psychological Association.

  • Operating Systems: windows xp or higher, macos9 or higher, android 4.0 or higher

    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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