Preparing Clients for the Fourth Trimester: Identification and Planning

The fourth trimester — the fragile first months after birth — is where many parents quietly struggle. This 1.5-credit CE training gives therapists, social workers, and counselors a practical framework in perinatal mental health: how to assess risk for postpartum mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), plan prevention early, and help expectant parents prepare before baby arrives.

You'll move past generic advice into concrete clinical tools — risk screening, prevention planning, and support-system building — that you can use with pregnant and postpartum clients right away.

What you'll be able to do by the end:

• Screen and assess for risk factors linked to postpartum mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs)
• Apply evidence-based prevention strategies during pregnancy and the fourth trimester
• Help clients build a real postpartum support network — their "village"
• Guide parents in creating a personalized, circumstance-specific postpartum plan
• Strengthen family systems to reduce postpartum risk and support long-term well-being

Who should attend: This continuing education course is designed for therapists, LCSWs, social workers, counselors, and perinatal clinicians who work with pregnant and postpartum clients.

Credits: 1.5 clinical CE credits. Approved for PMH-C renewal, ASWB (ACE), and NBCC.

Approval statements :

This training has been approved by Postpartum Support International for use in renewal of the Perinatal Mental Health – Clinician (PMH-C). This training is approved for 1.5 clinical CEs through ASWB. Virtue Counseling, #2180, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: April 3, 2025 – April 3, 2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.5 clinical continuing education credits.

"Preparing Clients for the Fourth Trimester: Identification of PMADs and Prevention Planning has been approved by NBCC for NBCC credit. Virtue Counseling is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. NBCC Approval No. SP-5279."