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12 hour Advanced Training: The Art of Holding Perinatal Women in Distress™

About Our Advanced Training

The Art of Holding Perinatal Women in Distress™: Assessment, Treatment, & Advanced Clinical Practice (12hr) is the first of its kind, training the maternal healthcare provider to consider both the nuanced nature of the perinatal client’s authentic suffering and synchronous impact on the provider’s experience. This intensive training, developed by Karen Kleiman with Hilary Waller, draws from Kleiman’s HOLDING model of intervention and 3 decades of experience, using lecture and experiential learning approaches to expand your clinical perspective.

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Read More: Why Train with Us

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“There will be times when the very best way for us to inspire her while she stands on the edge of life is to sit there…to be with her. Without fear. Without judgment. Without words. Her pain is a compelling invitation to those who can sit in that space. We do so with tacit strength and reverence worthy of that moment” (The Art of Holding in Therapy, Kleiman.)

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Course Highlights
  • Emphasis is on theoretical foundations and clinical application with focus on Karen Kleiman’s HOLDING Model of Intervention. For attendees who have taken previous PMAD trainings, please note that one of our primary objectives of this advanced training is to review, apply and enhance what has been learned by studying it through the lens of a Holding therapist.

  • Training is based on over three decades of clinical experience of Karen Kleiman, founding director of The Postpartum Stress Center and The Karen Kleiman Training Center.

  • This course closely follows the theories and clinical practices presented in Therapy and the Postpartum Woman: Notes on healing postpartum depression for clinicians and the women who seek their help (Routledge Mental Health Classic Edition, 2009) and The Art of Holding in Therapy: An essential intervention for postpartum depression (Routledge, 2017, Second Edition in press 2023).

  • This course has global appeal, drawing clinicians from around the world to gather in order to stay up-to-date and enhance their clinical practice.

  • The small group format provides opportunity for case consultation with Karen Kleiman.

  • We strongly encourage active participation in this training. While we will always honor your personal comfort level and desire not to participate, your individual engagement in the training process will augment your learning and overall experience.

  • Selective participants may be eligible for ongoing consultation or mentoring, subject to the instructor’s schedule and availability. Interested attendees should contact the instructor following the course.

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Who Should Attend
  • This is an advanced, intensive training for maternal health care providers who hope to specialize in this field and ideally, have had some fundamental PMAD training. While there is no prerequisite, the emphasis on clinical intervention will be better integrated with previous experience and professional training. This course focuses on professional development and the intricacies of treating perinatal women in distress. 

  • Our Introduction to Karen Kleiman's The Art of Holding course taught by Hilary Waller is not a pre-requisite for this course. Both stand independent of each other.

  • Participants should have a masters or doctoral level degree from an accredited graduate program in mental health related field. Participation exceptions may be made to include doulas and lactation consultants when their interests and clinical practice aligns with the objectives of our training.

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Course Fees
  • $1,995.00 – In-person

  • $1,600.00 – Virtual Rate ** prices are in US Dollars **

  • ​Students currently enrolled in an accredited graduate mental health program can receive a 25% discount. 

  • Group discount for 2-6 participants is 15%

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CE Credits
  • Virtual Program: "The Art of Holding Perinatal Women in Distress: Assessment, Treatment, & Advanced Clinical Practice Live Remote is approved by the National Association of Social Workers (Approval #12/31/2024 - 886561965-5337 for 12 continuing education contact hours."

  • In-Person Program is approved by the National Association of Social Workers  (Approval # 886561965-3204) for 12 continuing education contact hrs.​​"

  • The Postpartum Stress Center, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7461. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The Postpartum Stress Center, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

  • This course is approved to meet Advanced Criteria for the Postpartum Support International PMH-C certification.

  • All others are encouraged to contact their state licensing board for information regarding CE approval in a particular professional discipline. We will be happy to provide any information they may request.

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Course Instructors
  • Karen Kleiman, MSW, LCSW

  • Hilary Waller, MS, LPC

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Cancellation Policy
  • Any changes with registration must be made at least 30 days in advance of the training date with an administrative fee of $150.00.

  • 100% of your registration fee (minus $150 admin fee) can be transferred to a future training if changes occur prior to 30 days of your scheduled training date.

  • This credit will expire one (1) year from the date of the original training. Note that each participant is only entitled to one rescheduled registration.

  • All registrations are final within 30 days of the scheduled training date. No refunds or transfers will be issued if cancellation occurs within that timeframe.

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Each participant will receive
  • PowerPoint presentation, PPSC handouts and established tools of intervention, pertinent research articles.

  • Inclusion in the PPSC’s referral database and an online listing in our PPSC Clinician Referral list.

  • PPSC Certificate of Completion for 12 CE hours.

  • Digital Certificate of Completion for clinician’s website.

  • Opportunity for ongoing peer supervision with other PMAD specialists,

  • Opportunity for ongoing group mentorship and/or individual mentorship with Karen Kleiman, when available. 

 
Where is the Training Held? 
  • VIRTUAL trainings are offered via Zoom.

  • IN-PERSON trainings are held at 

 

Normandy Farm Hotel & Conference Ctr in Blue Bell, PA 

Cedar Room (second floor).

See below for more lodging details

 

Time: Friday 9am-4:30pm ET / Saturday 9am-4:30pm ET
* VACCINATIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL IN-PERSON TRAININGS *

 

Hotel Accommodations:

We recommend that trainees reserve overnight accommodations at Normandy Farm, when possible. Guest room reservations are extremely limited, we encourage you to book your reservation as soon as your registration for training is complete.

Guest rooms at Normandy Farm are available at a discounted rate at $169 per night (single or double occupancy). Before booking your room, please click the “READ NOW” link below for additional important details about lodging.

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Meals:

Included in your registration fee is dining at Normandy Farm’s fabulous hot and cold buffet breakfast, lunch, and snacks provided throughout training. The conference center aims to provide for dietary restrictions or preferences.

 

Please note that if you book at another local hotel, your on-site meals (breakfast, lunch, and snacks) are still included in the cost of your training registration.

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History of The Art of Holding Perinatal Women in Distress™ Model:


We ask that any trainee, after taking this course, who intends to teach, train, or write about Karen Kleiman's
The Art of Holding Perinatal Women in Distress™ model, insert the following written account into their presentation/work:
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"The Art of Holding Perinatal Women in Distress™ is a supportive psychotherapeutic approach developed in 2016

by Karen Kleiman, owner of The Postpartum Stress Center, The Karen Kleiman Training Center, and author of

several groundbreaking books on postpartum depression and anxiety. After over three decades of clinical practice

and writing, Kleiman created and continues to expand The Art of Holding approach in response to the complex

and nuanced needs of perinatal women in distress. Holding is a mindful, intentional intervention which enables the therapist to simultaneously attend to their client’s distress as well as their own response.  Holding provides a

framework with specific prompts for synchronized attunement to the client, the therapist, and the process. This

model was created to better understand the paradoxical presentation of perinatal distress distinguished by the contradiction between what a new mother feels and her disinclination to disclose it. This impressive incongruity, appearing as resistance or reluctance, is referred to as authentic sufferingAwareness and appreciation of authentic suffering and the skill to access it, is an essential key to her recovery."

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IMPORTANT details about the PPSC training at Normandy Farm

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