Converging Clinical & Community Pathways in Perinatal Mental Health Care: October 19-20, 2026
The California Endowment
1000 N. Alameda Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
This year’s conference centers on the clinical dimensions of perinatal mental health, exploring the diverse range of effective evidence-based practices, as well as community-facing interventions.
We will discuss evidence-based interventions such as Internal Family Systems and somatically informed psychodynamic modalities. We will also discuss community-facing interventions, such as the healing power of storytelling, the importance of connecting to nature to regulate the nervous system, the use of doulas and midwives to support the birthing individual–all of which are significant protective factors in preventing and addressing perinatal mental health conditions.
What You’ll Take Away
This conference is designed for providers, community health workers, doulas, midwives, and advocates working across the perinatal mental health spectrum. Attendees will leave with:
- Evidence-based clinical tools including EMDR, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, and somatic approaches
- Practical frameworks for integrating community-based supports into care
- Strategies for culturally responsive, equity-centered practice
- New partnerships and referral pathways across the healthcare spectrum
- Inspiration to ask: how can we do better together?
This event is approved for CE credit for Mental Health Professionals. Note: Attendance on both days is required to receive full CE credit.
To download a full conference brochure, please click here.
Registration
Seats are limited — register early to secure your spot.
Early Bird Rate: $375 (Ends August 15, 2026)
Regular Rate: $425
SCHOLARSHIPS
Limited partial scholarships are available for students/providers in the early stages of their career and BI & POC providers. To apply, please inquire for more information by emailing [email protected].
ORGANIZATION / GROUP RATES
Save 15% on regular rate ticket price without Group Rate! Purchase six or more tickets for your team or organization to attend the conference together.
Sponsorships
Thank You to Our Sponsors
This conference wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our sponsors. We’re grateful for your commitment to perinatal mental health.
Agenda
8:30-8:45 Opening Remarks
8:45-10:15 Keynote: The Anthropology of Family, Dr. Meredith Small
10:15-10:25 Break
10:30-11:30 The Doula as Data: Why the Most Clinically Relevant Perinatal Mental Health Signal
Being Captured Outside the Clinic – Dr. Tasnim Khan, MHCM MPH
11:30-12:15 EMDR and Perinatal Mental Health: Clinical Choice Points – Elyse Springer, LMFT, PMH-C
12:15-1:15 Lunch & Book Signing
1:15-2:15 The Healing Aspects of Storytelling – Nicole Blaine
2:15-3:15 Breakout Sessions
- Pain to Punchlines: Storytelling Workshop – Dahéli Hall
- Grounding in Practice: Somatic Tools for Regulation, Reflection, and Care – Alex Villalba & Durga Abbas
- EMDR Demonstration Session – Elyse Springer, LMFT, PMH-C
3:15-3:30 Break
3:30 – 4:30 Understanding Mom Parts: An Internal Family Systems Framework for Maternal Mental Health – Jessica Sorci, LMFT, PMH-C
4:30-5:00 Storytelling & Closing Remarks
8:30-8:45 Opening Remarks
8:45-9:45 Bridging Evidence-Based Practice and Community-Informed Care: Integrating Somatic
Approaches for Trauma-Responsive Perinatal Care – Helena Vissing, PsyD, SEP, PMH-C
9:45-10:45 The Healing Power of Nature: Coregulation through Connection – David Washington, LCSW
10:45-11:00 Break
11:00-12:00 Community-Led Change in a Time of Uncertainty – Sonja Castaneda-Cudney, M.A.
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-2:00 Breakout Sessions
- Pain to Punchlines: Storytelling Workshop – Dahéli Hall
- Grounding in Practice: Somatic Tools for Regulation, Reflection, and Care – Alex Villalba & Durga Abbas
- EMDR Demonstration Session – Elyse Springer, LMFT, PMH-C
2:00-2:15 Break
2:15-3:45 Case Presentation Panel
3:45-4:00 Closing Remarks
Conference Details
CANCELLATION & GRIEVANCE
REFUND POLICY
All ticket sales for the conference are non-refundable. This conference includes continuing education (CEs) for mental health professionals. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer partial refunds or subsidized rates for those who do not need CEs. Any grievances may be made to Maternal Mental Health NOW at [email protected].
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Speakers are paid an honorarium for their time. There are no other known commercial interests affiliated with conference speakers.
RECORDING
Maternal Mental Health NOW will be recording the speakers, presentations, and discussions throughout this event. We hereby provide notice that, as an attendee of this event, your likeness and voice may be captured by such recording. Through your attendance at the event, you grant Maternal Mental Health NOW the right to said recordings and to sell or distribute any of the recordings and any derivative works in any medium or form throughout the world and to use them for advertising, promotion or any other lawful purpose. You agree that Maternal Mental Health NOW does not have to get your approval of any of the photos or videos before using them.
ACCREDITATION
In compliance with our continuing education sponsors and their regulations, continuing education credits are only available for attendees participating in real time. Recordings of the conference will not be provided to make up for missed sessions. Unfortunately, no partial CE credit will be offered.
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Maternal Mental Health NOW is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Maternal Mental Health NOW maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
This conference meets criteria for 6 continuing education credits for licensed mental health professionals including LMFTs, LPCCs, LCSWs, LEPs, and psychologists. APA approved continuing education offerings are recognized by the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) in the state of CA. Continuing education requirements vary from state to state. It is the registrant’s sole responsibility to check with their licensing board directly to confirm if these CE credits will be approved.
***If you hold a license not listed here or are licensed outside of the state of California, please check with your licensing board directly to confirm that these CE credits will be accepted. We are unable to assist in verifying if CE credits will be approved for your license type/state outside of California.
Following the event, please be sure to complete the survey evaluation, download your certificate, and save it within 30 days. Links for download will be disabled at that time and any requests for assistance regarding certificates beyond 30 days will include a $15 processing fee. Standard processing time is 72 business hours from when the request is accepted by Maternal Mental Health NOW. For expedited processing, an additional $10 will be requested for a total of $25 processing fee.
Please e-mail [email protected] for other questions regarding continuing education.