Friday, January 31
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM PST

Live Virtual Offering

This important training focuses on understanding and healing the effects of childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault, and other trauma on childbearing people. This course equips professionals working with childbearing individuals with the knowledge and skills to support pregnant, birthing, and postpartum people who have experienced trauma. This one-of-a-kind training is the culmination of decades of collaboration between Penny Simkin, PT, CCE, CD(DONA), and Phyllis Klaus, PhD, MFT, LMSW, and is being taught by the WSGB Lead Trainer Selena Shelley, MA, LMHC, CD, LCCE. Join medical, mental health, and other allied birth professionals to focus on the important and often overlooked topic of how trauma can impact the perinatal period.

  • Selena Shelley is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and When Survivors Give Birth Approved Trainer. She has a psychotherapy and consultation practice in the Seattle area, and specializes in working with pregnant and postpartum trauma survivors.

    Selena was trained and mentored by Penny Simkin and Phyllis Klaus, authors of the groundbreaking book When Survivors Give Birth. She facilitates trainings for perinatal and health professionals - including nurses, psychotherapists, doulas, midwives, social workers, doctors, and sexual assault advocates.

    Selena has been working with pregnant, birthing, and postpartum trauma survivors for over 25 years – first as a case manager with teen parents, then as a doula and childbirth educator, and for the past 15 years as a psychotherapist and trauma consultant. She taught a counseling course for the Department of Midwifery at Bastyr University, served on the Prevention and Treatment of Traumatic Childbirth (PATTCh) board, and helped develop and run the Birth Doula Services Program for Open Arms Perinatal Services in Seattle.

    In her personal and professional life, Selena has learned how transformative the right kind of support during someone’s pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience can be. To that end, she believes training professionals how to work more easily and effectively with trauma survivors is some of the most important work in perinatal and public health, and is honored to be a When Survivors Give Birth trainer.

  • Trauma 101
    Childhood Sexual Abuse
    Sexual Assault
    Sexual Trauma Impacts
    Inquiry & Disclosure
    Working with Survivors: Pregnancy & Birth
    Caregiver’s Impact on Birth
    Birth Trauma Prevention & Treatment
    Working with Survivors: Postpartum
    Communication Skills & Techniques
    Vicarious Trauma Reduction & Support
    Resources

  • $225 to be paid at time of registration.

    If your organization will be paying your fee and you need an invoice, please reach out before registering by clicking here.

    We have a limited number of reduced price registrations available. To be considered for these spaces, please apply on our scholarship page by 12/31/24. You will be informed of a determination by 1/13/25.

  • Continuing Education Units (CEU)

    DONA: 7 CEUs

    PAC/LAC (Perinatal Advisory Council - Leadership, Advocacy, & Consultation):

    LMFTs & LCSWs: 6.25 CEUs
    PAC/LAC approved by California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education.

    RNs: 7.5 CEUs
    PAC/LAC approved provider by California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #CEP 5862.

  • Technology Information

    Participants must have access to a computer (or device with a camera and microphone), and must be able to access Google Meet.

    Recommended Text

    When Survivors Give Birth: Understanding and Healing the Effects of Early Sexual Abuse on the Childbearing Woman by Penny Simkin, PT, CCE, CD(DONA), and Phyllis Klaus, PhD, MFT, LMSW

Registration