Effective mental health care for women addresses unique challenges and triumphs within biological, psychological, social, and cultural contexts from adolescence—across pregnancy and the postpartum—through menopause.

Specialty training can increase your confidence and competence as a clinician when caring for women with psychiatric symptoms.

Clinical trainings offered through Life Cycle Health & Education, LLC combine education and experience in:

• Obstetrics
• Gynecology
• Endocrinology
• Psychology
• Psychiatry

Available Trainings & Presentations

• One-day live continuing education events for primary care, gynecologic, and obstetric health care providers
• Two-day live continuing education events for psychiatric clinicians and psychotherapists
• 8.5-hour intensive, web-based continuing education certificate course for midwives and other clinicians (obstetric, pediatric and primary care)who care for women, mothers, and families 
• Topical presentations with varying lengths for academic or continuing education events
• Individual and group clinical supervision for psychiatric clinicians and psychotherapists

Training & Presentation Topics

• Hormone-mood connections in women—adolescence through menopause
• Public policy and private initiatives on local, state, federal and global levels that address the need for effective mental health care during pregnancy and postpartum
• Risks of untreated and under-treated mental illness in women during pregnancy, postpartum, and while parenting—for women, the developing fetus, infants, older children, partners, & the entire family unit
• Bio-psycho-social-cultural contributors to psychiatric illness in women from adolescence through menopause
• Simple, effective screening and assessment techniques and tools for common and complex psychiatric disorders in women
• Strategies for identifying bipolar and psychotic disorders in women and new mothers
• DSM-V diagnostic criteria for psychiatric disorders, and presentation variations in reproductive-age women
• Depth exploration of etiologies and treatments for Premenstrual Syndrome, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, & psychiatric distress during the five to seven years of the peri-menopausal transition
• Ethical dilemmas and informed consent challenges related to prescribing medications for preconception, pregnant, and breastfeeding women
• Differences between men and women related to pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics; application of prescribing principles based on how these impact medication efficacy and the increased risk of adverse medication events in women
• Evidence-based medical, behavioral, and complimentary interventions for common depressive and anxious disorders
• Psychotropic medication safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding for all classes of psychotropic medications and individual agents including antidepressants, benzodiazepines, sedative-hypnotics, psycho-stimulants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers
• Treatment goals and strategies for women with bipolar and/or psychotic disorders during pregnancy and the postpartum period
• Collaboration between OB/GYN, primary care, and psychiatric clinicians to promote optimal mental health outcomes in women across their lifespan
• Free, web-based tools that assist clinicians in safe, effective psychiatric treatment planning for women from adolescence through menopause
• Free, web-based tools developed to educate women and families about mental illness and wellness across the female lifespan

Presentations are continually updated to reflect the current scientific literature and best practices in order to promote evidence-based care of women and families.

Call 971-220-8338 to inquire about availability and rates for clinical training.