Multicultural Considerations in Perinatal Mental Health Care: Supporting BIPOC Families

Presenter: Louise F. Wheeler, PhD

Date: December 10, 2026 | 7:00 PM MST

Format: Live, synchronous webinar | 1 hour

Instructional Level: Introductory

Target Audience: Clinical Mental Health Providers

CE Credits: 1 continuing education credit

Certificates Available: ASWB/ACE, APA, THGI

Course Description

The perinatal period is a time of profound change, and for many Black, Indigenous, and other families of color it is also shaped by systemic barriers, historical harm, and disparities in care that can affect mental health long before and well after birth. This training helps clinicians recognize the risk factors and experiences that are often unique to racially and culturally diverse parents and families during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Drawing on current peer-reviewed research, participants will examine how historical and intergenerational trauma may shape perinatal experiences, how structural racism and social determinants of health influence access to and quality of care, and how cultural values and identity inform the ways families experience and express perinatal distress. The session then turns to practice, offering culturally responsive approaches that integrate client strengths, community resources, and sense of identity into assessment, treatment planning, and intervention.

The primary goal of this training is to help clinicians continue expanding their perspective on perinatal mental health and to leave with practical, culturally responsive ways to support clients and families through this transition.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this training, attendees will be able to:

• Describe risk factors and systemic barriers often experienced by BIPOC individuals seeking perinatal care.

• Identify how historical and intergenerational trauma may impact perinatal experiences for BIPOC individuals.

• Identify ways to provide culturally responsive care to culturally diverse clients, integrating client strengths, resources, and sense of identity into treatment planning and interventions.

Agenda

7:00 to 7:50 PM MST: Lecture and didactic instruction

7:50 to 8:00 PM MST: Live Q&A with the presenter

All portions of this program are offered for CE credit. There are no non-CE activities.

Limitations, Risks, & Benefits

This training presents a limited amount of information and is not intended to be comprehensive; clinicians who desire additional depth are encouraged to seek out supplemental resources and peer-reviewed literature on this topic. The training is delivered via an online platform, and there are no anticipated risks beyond those typically associated with online learning environments, though it may not replicate the full interactivity of in-person learning. Participants may encounter discomfort as they explore sensitive topics such as racism, historical trauma, and disparities in care, or as they are asked to challenge existing beliefs and practices. The evidence base for this content may have limitations in generalizability across diverse populations, cultures, and practice settings, and the content reflects information available at the time of its development; practitioners are encouraged to stay current with evolving research and standards. Benefits include an increased understanding of the subject and its application in professional practice, foundational knowledge and practical skills that build on existing training, greater comfort and competence in providing compassionate, inclusive care across cultural differences, and support for maintaining and developing professional competencies in order to improve services to the public.

Cultural Sensitivity

Cultural responsiveness is the central focus of this training. It explicitly addresses the influence of race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, language, gender, and socioeconomic status on perinatal mental health, and examines how systemic inequities, social determinants of health, and disparities in access to care affect BIPOC families. The session incorporates case examples and perspectives from communities directly affected by these issues, attends to the intersection of multiple identity factors that can compound discrimination, trauma, and barriers to care, and considers how language access, health literacy, and communication styles shape service delivery. Participants are invited to recognize and examine their own unconscious biases, reflect on how their cultural background and professional training influence their clinical work, and consider how implicit bias may affect assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning. The training draws on the NASW Standards and Indicators for Cultural Competence in Social Work Practice, offers strategies for adapting evidence-based interventions to be culturally responsive and affirming, promotes inclusive and non-stigmatizing language, and addresses ethical responsibilities related to nondiscrimination and equitable service delivery.

Course Content

This training presents introductory-level content delivered through lecture and didactic instruction, followed by a live question and answer session with the presenter. The session covers current research and peer-reviewed literature on cultural factors in perinatal mental health, trauma-informed approaches to understanding historical and intergenerational trauma, and evidence-based intervention and treatment methods adapted to be culturally responsive for BIPOC clients and families.

Relevance

This training addresses content directly applicable to clinical practice, including assessment, intervention, and treatment planning, as well as nonclinical practice such as case management, advocacy, and community-based work with perinatal clients and families. It builds on foundational knowledge gained through completed graduate training in social work, psychology, counseling, or a related mental health field, including doctoral training in psychology consistent with APA continuing education standards. For psychologists, the content focuses on the application of psychological assessment and intervention methods supported by current peer-reviewed scientific evidence, and it aligns with the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, particularly the principles of Justice and Respect for People's Rights and Dignity, which call on psychologists to provide equitable care and to consider cultural, individual, and role differences, including race, ethnicity, culture, and national origin, in their work. The training also addresses human behavior and the social environment, social policy affecting the populations clinicians serve, diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice, and trauma-informed care, and reflects current research and best practices. It is relevant to professionals across mental health disciplines, including licensed social workers, psychologists, licensed professional counselors, and marriage and family therapists.

About the Presenter

Dr. Louise Wheeler is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in trauma and perinatal and parental mental health. She currently practices in Utah, where she is licensed, and across 42 other states through PSYPACT.

Dr. Wheeler received a bachelor's degree in psychology from l'Université de Provence in France and completed a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Brigham Young University. She has practiced across several settings, from community mental health centers and college counseling centers to private practice. Dr. Wheeler taught and trained college and graduate students for several years before opening her own practice and moving into exclusively providing clinical services. Her practice centers individual therapy while also emphasizing the essential nature of building stronger communities to improve mental health outcomes.

Course Details

Delivery method: Live webinar via the Institute learning platform

Course interactivity: Lecture and didactic instruction with live Q&A

Posttest/quiz: Because this is a live course, a standard posttest is not required. Participation will be monitored throughout the session.

Certificate issuance: Certificates of credit will be issued immediately after course completion to participants who attend the full session and complete the course evaluation.

Contact for questions: institute@thehealinggroup.com

Accessibility accommodations: To request accessibility accommodations, please contact institute@thehealinggroup.com prior to the event. We are committed to making our trainings accessible to all participants.

Registration

Register online at thehealinggroupinstitute.com. Refunds are not available. Full refund and cancellation policy is available on the website.

Commercial Support & Conflict of Interest Disclosure

No commercial entity has provided funding or support for this course. Dr. Louise F. Wheeler has no relevant conflicts of interest to disclose.

ASWB ACE Statement:

The Healing Group Institute, provider number 2716, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 3/31/26 – 3/31/27. Social workers completing this course receive 1 continuing education credit.

APA Statement:

The Healing Group Institute is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Healing Group Institute maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Psychologists completing this course receive 1 CE credit.

AASECT Eligibility:

This training is not eligible for AASECT credit.

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