Perinatal Relational Health Training: Helping Couples in the Transition to Parenthood
An Emotionally Focused Therapy-Informed Training for Therapists and Perinatal Professionals
This training is designed for therapists, birth professionals, and perinatal mental health providers who want to understand and support the couple bond as a foundation for family well-being. Drawing from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and attachment science, you’ll explore how a secure romantic connection between parents directly shapes a baby’s emotional development and how to help couples during this vulnerable time.
Through case examples, experiential learning, and clear, practical tools, you’ll gain confidence in helping new and expectant parents.
Learning Objectives:
Define perinatal relational health and its importance for maternal and infant mental health
Identify the components of secure attachment (Accessibility, Responsiveness, Engagement) in the perinatal stage
Distinguish between the need to educate vs. intervene in a couple’s relational dynamics
Engage the supporting partner in the transition to parenthood
Understand the attachment significance of grieving together after pregnancy-related loss
Whether you’re a therapist, doula, nurse, or other helping professional, this training will equip you to see the couple’s relationship as a core component of perinatal health - not just an optional extra.
**Who this training is for:
This training is for helping professionals curious about preventative care. The goal is to help the birthing parent see their relationship as a resource and to expand their bond.
This is not a training for working with couples in distress or an EFT deep dive.
BIO
Kelly Bourque, LMFT
Kelly Bourque is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified EFT Therapist, and Supervisor with 20 years of experience. She owns Red Therapy Group in Nashville, TN. As a key contributor to the Hold Me Tight® for Expectant and New Parents Facilitator’s Guide, Kelly developed Conversation 8 on grief and serves as a project facilitator. Kelly is known for her creativity and generosity as a leader in the global EFT community. Whether she’s facilitating a private intensive, leading her monthly webinars or developing resources - her passion is contagious.
