Perinatal Loss: An Attachment-Informed Treatment Framework for Helping Clients Process and Heal from Pregnancy Loss – Sunita Osborn, PsyD, MA

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It’s not a topic that people will bring up at work, over coffee, or even at get togethers with close friends. Instead, 1 in 4 women suffer in silence, because it’s not something that they are supposed to talk about – it is a topic that stays firmly behind closed doors and if you dare breach that social boundary, you may hear well-intentioned, but hurtful statements such as:

“At least you were only a few weeks along.” “Everything happens for a reason.” “Why don’t you just adopt?” “Just think positive.” “You just need to relax and it’ll happen in time.”

There really should be a book titled What Not to Say when it comes to pregnancy and infant loss.

I know because I’ve been there. After my experiences of loss, I heard the invalidating statements and I experienced the paradoxical sense of isolation – paradoxical because the reality is so many of us have experienced this kind of loss. The reality then becomes that many individuals only feel comfortable discussing their experience of pregnancy loss within the confines of a confidential therapeutic space.

Yet, while we may serve as one of the few if not the only safe harbor for individuals to share and process their experience of loss, in our clinical training, pregnancy and infant loss was quickly brushed over – most often as an aside in larger, generalized discussion of grief. Clients seeking psychotherapy for pregnancy or infant loss may have kept it hidden, feel unsure where to turn for help and may already be hesitant about the validity of their pain and the usefulness of therapy in supporting them. You need to feel confident in your ability to help them navigate one of the toughest struggles they will ever face – their story of not only loss, but of love.

In this specialized, intensive training, I will walk you through the challenging realities of a pregnancy or infant loss – the accompanying emotional roller coaster, and specific steps to take to help your clients move forward. You’ll learn the best interventions for treating grief after a loss and uncover the mistakes you may be making – without even realizing it!

Whether you’re a specialist already or just getting started in this area, this training is for you! Watch me in this powerful training and learn proven strategies that will help your clients heal.

1. Utilize clinical strategies to assess, conceptualize, and treat pregnancy loss.
2. Employ evidence-based grief and trauma interventions to treat pregnancy loss and to support clients in future reproductive journey.
3. Investigate clinical considerations and adaptations to treat pregnancy loss within couples and group psychotherapy.
4. Build the development of greater insight in both clinicians and clients they are treating.

Perinatal Loss: Common Misconceptions

• Misattunement to the loss
• Far reaching implications of reproductive trauma
• Ongoing and chronic nature of the trauma

Assessment: Exploring Clients’ Reproductive Story

• How to listen for red flags: grief, guilt, shame, self-blame, and hopelessness
• Identifying unique and numerous losses experienced
• When things take a turn: anxiety, depression, OCD
• How to fully validate clients’ experience
• Sharing the Story
• Utilizing relevant assessment measures

Treatment Planning for Pregnancy and Infant Loss

• Chronic trauma related to pregnancy loss
• Adapting PTSD strategies for reproductive trauma
• Addressing grief by utilizing loss and restoration orientation framework
• Highlighting implicit emotions that may impact treatment progress including shame, self-blame, and hopelessness
• Balancing complicated grief while still trying to conceive

Treatment Interventions: Helping Clients Move Forward, Not On

• Utilizing attachment-focused approach
• Trauma-informed/PTSD adaptations
• Build resiliency with interventions based on empathy, forgiveness and compassion
• Maintaining relationships with partner and family
• Adapting clinical techniques for couples and group work
• Supporting clients in subsequent pregnancies

Clinical Considerations

• Culturally informed case conceptualizations
• Relationship to body after a loss
• Countertransference
• How to hold personal experience with pregnancy loss while helping clients
• Limitations and risks