Clinical Understanding of Circumstantial Nonparenthood: What Therapists Need to Know
Insights for your work with clients who are circumstantially childless or childfree
Training Summary
This training explores the common and often misunderstood experiences within circumstantial nonparenthood. A lot of attention within the mental health field is paid to those who experienced infertility or had decided from day one to not have kids. Yet many people ending up without children faced circumstantial barriers, considerations, and realities that shaped their decisions and ability to choose. Instead of seeing the nonparent identity as a binary of childfree/childless there is so much to learn about this middle space of "I would have had them if..."
In order to provide a warm and open space within therapy it's vital that therapists also understand this path and I'm happy to be able to lead a conversation about building sensitivity to and awareness about clinical themes that might arise. Participants will walk away with information that is grounded in research, clinical wisdom, and lived experience. It is appropriate for new, intermediate, and seasoned clinicians.
1.0 CE offered. Katie Maynard PLLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7374. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Katie Maynard PLLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
COURSE PARTICIPANTS WILL:
- Learn about the variety of circumstances that impact a client's path towards not having kids
- Build awareness of how to integrate insights about circumstantial nonparenthood through all stages of therapy
- Learn more about the published literature related to this topic
- Gain new perspectives about the use the word 'choice' with our childless/childfree clients
- Gain greater insight into how to provide affirmative services to clients who are undecided or conflicted about pursuing parenthood
Katie Maynard, MSW, LICSW
Katie Maynard is a licensed Clinical Social Worker with over two decades of involvement within psychotherapy, clinical research, and macro-level community based social work. She holds master's degrees in both Social Work and Library and Information Sciences from the University of Washington.
Her lived experience informs and inspires her enthusiastic advocacy for better mental health care for people without children. Alongside a private practice she also provides supervision, consultation, and training to clinicians seeking to enlarge their competency with therapy that is affirmative of childless and childfree people.
She offers one of the very first clinical trainings on this topic and projects on her horizon include a broadened course catalog, professional publication, and ongoing inquiry into the experiences of mental health providers without children. Learn more at www.katiemaynard.com
Katie Maynard PLLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7374. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Katie Maynard PLLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
