Matrescence and Ethical Competence in Maternal Mental Health

I am excited to offer a new ethics CE workshop: Matrescence and Maternal Mental Health: Ethical Competence in Clinical Practice on August 21, 2026.

As the concept of matrescence gains increasing attention in both professional and popular conversations, many clinicians are encountering clients who are trying to understand whether their experiences reflect a normal developmental transition into parenthood, a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder, or some combination of the two.

This workshop will explore:

• What matrescence is—and what it is not • Key distinctions between matrescence and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) • Ethical considerations in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning • How to avoid both pathologizing normal maternal experiences and overlooking clinically significant symptoms • Practical guidance for working with clients as they navigate the transition to parenthood

Whether you work regularly with perinatal clients or occasionally encounter new and expectant parents in your practice, this training is designed to strengthen clinical competence and support ethical decision-making in maternal mental health care.