2012 Concurrent Sessions
Many survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) silently bear the burden of their traumatic past, reluctant to divulge the facts of their victimization to anyone. Women often do not disclose trauma histories to therapists or medical professionals, even when asked directly. Physical symptoms are often misattributed by practitioners as medical risk factors or complications, rather than a physiological manifestation of trauma. Participants will learn about some of the specific silent indicators of the complex interaction that exists between CSA, pregnancy, and childbirth. This session addresses theoretical and practical applications, to advance collaboration with medical professionals from a psychologist's perspective.
Dr. Ann Smith is a Professor of Psychology at the Michigan School of Professional Psychology and a clinical psychologist in private practice. In addition to teaching courses in Humanistic Psychology, Trauma, and Evidence-Based Practice in Clinical Psychology, Dr. Smith has special interests in the self of the therapist, holistic treatment of trauma, reproductive psychology, and empathy training. She has worked extensively in the field of eating disorders and with other populations who present with persistent and complex difficulties. Dr. Smith is a member of Postpartum Support International, Coalition for Improving Maternity Services, and APA Division 56 Trauma Psychology.
Phyllis Florian is a third-year doctoral student at MiSPP, with almost 20 years' experience in clinical and related mental health settings. Her work in perinatal mood disorders over the past eight years, in conjunction with social service agencies and grants, has influenced mothers and their providers in southwest Michigan. She also has training in the Trauma Recovery Model, and supports whole-person-wellness through coaching and mind-body work. She continues to advocate for access to mental health services, especially for women who nurture children and families in her community. She is a member of Postpartum Support International.
This one-hour presentation will include information about the Birth of a New Earth Curriculum. Geared toward educating future parents and young adults about the benefits of taking a conscious approach toward reproduction, the Birth of a New Earth Curriculum is designed to prevent prenatal and birth trauma by offering information about these realities before individuals conceive their children. The Curriculum outlines the importance of the entire primal period - including the preconception environment, the conception imprint, the womb and birth experience, and the post-birth environment. It offers meaningful conversation about human sexuality and the hazards of haphazard conception, as well as the benefits of conscious conception, trauma-free pregnancy, gentle birth, and conscious parenting. The curriculum is intending to fill a void in current educational programs which emphasize “sex education” but offer little or no opportunity for truly meaningful discussion about human sexuality, healthy relationships, healthy families, and/or human love. This approach is a revolutionary new addition to the pre- and perinatal community and holds the keys to the birth of a new humanity.
Jeanice Barcelo, M.A., is a sociologist, birth doula, and independent childbirth educator, specializing in the prevention and healing of birth trauma. She is an international speaker, TV and radio show host, and founder of the forthcoming "Birth of a New Earth Preparatory School for Conscious Procreation." Jeanice has been an independent childbirth educator for the past 7 years, offering educational seminars and teacher trainings, as well as workshops and educational programs designed especially for men. For more information about Jeanice, please visit her website at: http://BirthofaNewEarth.com
The presentation will focus on the story of women in one San Francisco family that links the possible effects of toxins and adverse interventions during their pregnancies, births, and childhood through three generations. Exploration by attendees in small groups or dyads on what influences the environment may have had on their own mothers and grandmothers will be included. Then we will move to sharing current concerns for the next two generations. Each attendee will be asked what they can create that is worthy of his/her gifts and time that will enable a life of meaning and a better world.
Molly McGettigan Arthur, is a native San Franciscan; she graduated from UC Berkeley and has had extensive experience working with startups and growing networks in her professional sales career. She and her husband of 38 years have raised two children in Marin County and happily her new twin granddaughters live close by in San Francisco! She is the inspiration behind EcoBirth-Women for Earth and Birth - which sees birth as the metaphor for transformation and creation that if honored, will create a paradigm shift in our culture’s consciousness. Her focus is on inspiring women to change our culture’s story to compassion for the environments of Earth and Birth and to impel social change to sustain healthy, caring humans and a healed earth home
This one-hour presentation will highlight how Healing Touch and pre and perinatal psychology can be integrated into the area of Neonatal Intensive Care, where there is much need for support because of the nature of crisis and complication. Healing Touch for Babies, an energy modality that accelerates the healing process and can enhance connectivity between parent and child, will be described. I will then discuss how these two ingredients transform the NICU experience of parent and child. The parents feel more support, and the wisdom creates peace and empowerment that, thereby, creates a more solid environment for the baby.
Rita Kluny has been a NICU nurse for over 25 years, has been teaching Healing Touch for 20 years, and HT for Babies for 11 years. Her passion is helping parentsʼ hearts stay connected throughout the hospital stay. Aside from teaching HT workshops, she has spoken at many nursing organizationsʼ conferences, and taught HTB in hospitals nationwide. A link to testimonials: http://www.healingtouchforbabies.com/id66.html
This presentation involves a professional discussion of the world inside the womb and how mothers can connect with their unborn child. Topics discussed will be stress, fetal blood brain barrier, hormones, and the world of fetal senses. We will then move to a discussion of patient/client activities to deepen maternal bonding, such as journaling, journeying, and meditation. There will also be a discussion of maternal-fetal heart synchronization and the concept of heart rate variability seen in the fetus, but is also seen in the mother.
Shawn Tassone, MD and Kathryn Landherr, MD are married board certified OBGYN physicians practicing in Tucson, AZ. They are both graduates of the Integrative Medicine Fellowship at the University of Arizona with Andrew Weil. They are the authors of Hands Off My Belly! The Pregnant Woman’s Survival Guide to Myths Mothers and Moods (Prometheus Books, 2009) and Spiritual Pregnancy: Nine Months of Transformation Before you Give Birth (Llewellyn Worldwide, 2012). Dr. Tassone is also a PhD candidate at Saybrook University in the college of Mind-Body Medicine, and he writes a regular post for Psychology Today called "The 90-Minute Checkup – The Case for Mind Body Medicine."
Based on the inspirational collaboration between Dr. Ray Castellino and midwife, Mary Jackson, and their ground breaking work, the presenter was inspired to seek and develop a collaborative relationship with a birth psychologist in my community. Together, we are developing a comprehensive package of services designed to improve birth outcomes and enhance the pre and perinatal experience for our clients. Work continues with Dr. Castellino and Mary Jackson, as we refine our practice. This presentation will chronicle the history of our journey, including case studies of two clients. Attendants will leave with a “HOW TO” list for duplicating our collaboration. It is the presenter’s goal to inspire collaboration between birth psychology and birth workers.
Dedicated to women’s empowerment, Deb helped draft the legislation that licensed midwives in Alaska. She is a founding member of MANA, the Midwives Association of North America. Deb joined APPPAH in 1983. She now lives in California and is PR chair for California Association of Midwives and APPPAH. Deb is currently working on her Masters in Midwifery at The Midwives College of Utah. She is a member of Association of Midwifery Educators. Deb sits on the Board of Directors of The Institute of Feminine Arts and Sciences. Her goal is to see birth psychology include in midwife education.
