EMDR and Perinatal Mental Health

Mara Tesler Stein; Marlene Sinclair; Stacey McMullen

doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780192898357.001.0001

EMDR and Perinatal Mental Health

Mara Tesler Stein
, Marlene Sinclair
, Stacey McMullen

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

Abstract

The perinatal period, dened as the period of pregnancy until one year post birth, is a time of profound
development for parents, infants, and families. Trauma during this time disrupts normative
developmental tasks, impacting parents, children, and relationships between family members and with
others. This chapter explores the application of EMDR therapy as a trauma-focused transdiagnostic
treatment that can be used to treat trauma and associated symptoms in the perinatal period. It addresses
the efcacy and safety of EMDR therapy with parents in the perinatal period, and describes a
conceptualization model and best practices for implementing all phases of EMDR therapy. In addition,
recent data from the application of novel online EMDR interventions designed to reduce pregnancy
associated birth trauma during the COVID-19 pandemic will be discussed.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	The Oxford Handbook of EMDR Therapy
Editors	Derek P Farrell, Sarah J Schubert, Matthew D Kiernan
Edition	2023
ISBN (Electronic)	9780191924736
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780192898357.001.0001
Publication status	Published online - 27 Jan 2026

Publication series

Name	Oxford Library of Psychology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

perinatal
EMDR therapy
pregnancy
perinatal EMDR
infant mental health
conceptualization

Access to Document

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780192898357.001.0001

Cite this

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abstract = "The perinatal period, dened as the period of pregnancy until one year post birth, is a time of profound development for parents, infants, and families. Trauma during this time disrupts normative developmental tasks, impacting parents, children, and relationships between family members and with others. This chapter explores the application of EMDR therapy as a trauma-focused transdiagnostic treatment that can be used to treat trauma and associated symptoms in the perinatal period. It addresses the efcacy and safety of EMDR therapy with parents in the perinatal period, and describes a conceptualization model and best practices for implementing all phases of EMDR therapy. In addition, recent data from the application of novel online EMDR interventions designed to reduce pregnancy associated birth trauma during the COVID-19 pandemic will be discussed.",

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author = "\{Tesler Stein\}, Mara and Marlene Sinclair and Stacey McMullen",

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doi = "10.1093/oxfordhb/9780192898357.001.0001",

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N2 - The perinatal period, dened as the period of pregnancy until one year post birth, is a time of profound development for parents, infants, and families. Trauma during this time disrupts normative developmental tasks, impacting parents, children, and relationships between family members and with others. This chapter explores the application of EMDR therapy as a trauma-focused transdiagnostic treatment that can be used to treat trauma and associated symptoms in the perinatal period. It addresses the efcacy and safety of EMDR therapy with parents in the perinatal period, and describes a conceptualization model and best practices for implementing all phases of EMDR therapy. In addition, recent data from the application of novel online EMDR interventions designed to reduce pregnancy associated birth trauma during the COVID-19 pandemic will be discussed.

AB - The perinatal period, dened as the period of pregnancy until one year post birth, is a time of profound development for parents, infants, and families. Trauma during this time disrupts normative developmental tasks, impacting parents, children, and relationships between family members and with others. This chapter explores the application of EMDR therapy as a trauma-focused transdiagnostic treatment that can be used to treat trauma and associated symptoms in the perinatal period. It addresses the efcacy and safety of EMDR therapy with parents in the perinatal period, and describes a conceptualization model and best practices for implementing all phases of EMDR therapy. In addition, recent data from the application of novel online EMDR interventions designed to reduce pregnancy associated birth trauma during the COVID-19 pandemic will be discussed.

KW - perinatal

KW - EMDR therapy

KW - pregnancy

KW - perinatal EMDR

KW - infant mental health

KW - conceptualization

U2 - 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780192898357.001.0001

DO - 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780192898357.001.0001

M3 - Chapter

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BT - The Oxford Handbook of EMDR Therapy

A2 - Farrell, Derek P

A2 - Schubert, Sarah J

A2 - Kiernan, Matthew D

ER -

EMDR and Perinatal Mental Health

Abstract

Publication series

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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