About the Event

Date/Time: October 23, 2026 (12-1pm)

Instructor: Kara Kushnir, LCSW, PMH-C

Delivery Method: Online via Zoom meeting *Participants will have access to their camera/microphone for participation

Interactivity Type: Live Interactive Webinar

Cost: $30

Level: Intermediate

Credit Hours: 1 PMH-C Renewal Credit

Kara Kushnir, LCSW, PMH-C, is the founder of A Work of Heart Counseling & Wellness and serves as the Training & Partnerships Manager for Postpartum Support International – NJ. An EMDR-certified clinician and perinatal mental health specialist, she develops and delivers professional training for healthcare providers on birth trauma, trauma-informed care, and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. She has been recognized as a NJBiz Healthcare Hero and NJ Kids Top Doc.

This comprehensive training equips mental health professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to identify and address perinatal mental health disorders through effective, evidence-based screening practices. Centered around the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the course also introduces complementary tools for assessing conditions such as postpartum anxiety, OCD, PTSD, psychosis, and bipolar disorder.

Participants will explore the origins and efficacy of the EPDS and apply them with sensitivity and cultural competence, and gain practical experience interpreting results and engaging in appropriate follow-up. The course emphasizes the importance of early identification, ethical considerations, and integrated care pathways to ensure the best outcomes for new parents.

Sample Timed Agenda

Going Beyond the Checklist: Using the EPDS & Other Evidence-Based Tools for Perinatal Mental Health

9:00-9:05 

 Introduction to Postpartum Mental Health

Overview of postpartum depression (PPD) and other perinatal mental health disorders (anxiety, OCD, PTSD, psychosis, bipolar disorder)

Prevalence and impact of perinatal mental health disorders

The importance of early identification and treatment

9:05-9:10 

History and Development of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)

Development of the EPDS in the early 1980s by John Cox and colleagues

The original purpose: screening for postpartum depression in new mothers

Validation and reliability of the scale across different populations

Research on the efficacy and limitations of the EPDS

Global use and adaptations of the EPDS in various settings

9:10-9:15 

How the EPDS Works

Overview of the 10-item questionnaire (questions, structure, and scoring)

Interpreting the score ranges (e.g., 0-9: low risk, 10-12: moderate risk, 13+: high risk)

Importance of context: clinical vs. community settings

Possible outcomes and next steps after screening

9:15-9:25 

Administering the EPDS: Best Practices for Accurate Responses

Overview of how to explain the purpose of the EPDS to new parents

Creating a comfortable, non-judgmental environment for honest responses

Strategies to reduce stigma and ensure confidentiality

Techniques for phrasing questions in a way that encourages full disclosure

Understanding cultural sensitivity in the use of EPDS

Limitations of the EPDS & Considerations for Comprehensive Screening

When to follow up and the importance of appropriate referrals

9:25-9:35 

Screening for Other Perinatal Mental Health Disorder

Introduce additional screening tools to assess for other mental health conditions such as postpartum anxiety, OCD, psychosis, Bipolar, and PTSD

Review overlap in symptoms and importance of a multifaceted assessment process

9:45- 9:50 

Case Studies and Practical Application

Guided analysis of case studies involving EPDS screening 

How to approach parents based on their screening outcomes

9:50-9:55 

Ethical Considerations and Referrals

Discuss ways to ensure privacy, confidentiality, and consent

Overview of thresholds for referral to mental health professionals and where to send patients based on scope of practice

Coordinating care with primary care providers, therapists, and other healthcare professionals

Addressing concerns from parents who may resist seeking help

9:55-10:00 

Review and Closing Discussion

Recap of the EPDS and additional screening tools

Final Q&A session for clarification and discussion

Resources for ongoing education and support

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Identify signs of perinatal mental health disorders beyond depression
• Describe the appropriate implementation and interpretation of the EPDS and other relative screening tools
• Summarize the evidence based standards for effective screening for perinatal mental health conditions
• Identify 3 appropriate resources or referrals for individuals meeting diagnostic criteria for a perinatal mental health disorder
• List at least 3 barriers to the identification of perinatal mental health conditions in outpatient and acute care settings

Burton, H. A. L., Pickenhan, L., Carson, C., Salkovskis, P., & Alderdice, F. (2022). How women with obsessive compulsive disorder experience maternity care and mental health care during pregnancy and postpartum: A systematic literature review. Journal of Affective Disorders, 314, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.06.041 

Fairbrother, N., Albert, A., Keeney, C., Tchir, D., & Cameron, R. B. (2023). Screening for perinatal OCD: A comparison of the DOCS and the EPDS. Assessment, 30(4), 1028–1039. https://doi.org/10.1177/10731911211063223

Grisbrook, MA., Letourneau, N. Improving maternal postpartum mental health screening guidelines requires assessment of post-traumatic stress disorder. Can J Public Health 112, 240–243 (2021). https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-020-00373-8 

Howard, S., Witt, C., Martin, K. et al. Co-occurrence of depression, anxiety, and perinatal posttraumatic stress in postpartum persons. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 23, 232 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05555-z 

International OCD Foundation. (n.d.). *Perinatal OCD screening & screening tools*. https://iocdf.org/perinatal-ocd/for-clinical-providers/perinatal-ocd-screening-screening-tools/ 

Larsen, A., Pintye, J., Odhiambo, B., Mwongeli, N., Marwa, M. M., Watoyi, S., Kinuthia, J., Abuna, F., Gomez, L., Dettinger, J., Bhat, A., & John-Stewart, G. (2023). Comparing depression screening tools (CESD-10, EPDS, PHQ-9, and PHQ-2) for diagnostic performance and epidemiologic associations among postpartum Kenyan women: Implications for research and practice. Journal of Affective Disorders, 324, 637–644. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.12.101 

Le, J., Alhusen, J., & Dreisbach, C. (2023). Screening for partner postpartum depression: A systematic review. *MCN: The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, 48*(3), 142–150. https://doi.org/10.1097/NMC.0000000000000907 

Loyal, D., Sutter, AL. & Rascle, N. Screening Beyond Postpartum Depression: Occluded Anxiety Component in the EPDS (EPDS-3A) in French Mothers. Matern Child Health J 24, 369–377 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-020-02885-8

Murthy, S., Haeusslein, L., Bent, S., Fitelson, E., Franck, L. S., & Mangurian, C. (2021). Feasibility of universal screening for postpartum mood and anxiety disorders among caregivers of infants hospitalized in NICUs: a systematic review. Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association, 41(8), 1811–1824. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-021-01005-w 

Osborne L. M. (2018). Recognizing and Managing Postpartum Psychosis: A Clinical Guide for Obstetric Providers. Obstetrics and gynecology clinics of North America, 45(3), 455–468. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ogc.2018.04.005 

Smith-Nielsen, J., Egmose, I., Wendelboe, K. I., Steinmejer, P., Lange, T., & Vaever, M. S. (2021). Can the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale-3A be used to screen for anxiety?. BMC psychology, 9(1), 118. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-021-00623-5 

Zappas, M. P., Barakat, R., & Cheadle, A. (2021). Postpartum anxiety. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 17(1), 60–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2020.09.014 

Accommodation Information: Our webinars are available to anyone who is able to access the internet. For those that require it, please contact us at kara@aworkofheartcounseling.com for more information on and/or to request accomodations.

Refund Policy:

PURCHASE OF THIS COURSE IS NON-REFUNDABLE/NON-TRANSFERABLE. ALL SALES ARE FINAL. REFUNDS WILL NOT BE ISSUED FOR ANY REASON OTHER THAN THE EVENT’S CANCELLATION BY A WORK OF HEART COUNSELING

Process for Receiving Continuing Education Credit:

• Register
• Attend the Training
• Complete the Evaluation Survey
• Receive Continuing Education Certificate