The subject of psychology is extremely large. It is not surprising that this science is divided into many areas, each of which in detail analyzes a certain vector in research, practical terms. One of them will be perinatal psychology. We agree that this vector may be new to the reader. Therefore, in the material we will acquaint you with the features of the work of the perinatal psychologist, as well as the training of such specialists.
What is this direction?
Perinatal psychology is one of the branches of psychology that studies the patterns and characteristics of human development in the early stages of life. In particular, in the perinatal period, these are the antenatal, intrapartum and neonatal phases. Much attention is paid to the importance of the impact of such development on subsequent life.
This is the area of science that studies the psychological and mental processes that characterize the early mother-child relationship. In other words, everything related to pregnancy, childbirth, the development of the baby until he reaches 3 years of age.
Who can become a perinatal psychologist?
Having learned about this vector of psychology, many people want to try to develop in this direction. For whom is this specialty? A perinatal psychologist can be:
- A person with necessarily higher psychological education. As an option - a different (for example, humanitarian) education and a diploma on the successful completion of retraining courses for a psychologist (more than 500 hours of training). Obstetricians and gynecologists, who want to retrain for the provision of psychological assistance, also have the opportunity.
- Those who wish to help future parents in establishing contact "mother-child".
- Those planning to help couples with a number of reproductive problems.
- Those wishing to help expectant mothers, a young family to prepare for childbirth.
It is important that the future specialist has time for retraining - about 3-6 months. Note that distance learning technologies are available today.
Requirements for Future Students
It should be noted that somewhere education is open only to citizens of the Russian Federation, somewhere - additionally for citizens of other states. The general requirements for future students are as follows:
- The presence of a diploma of higher professional education - bachelor, specialist, master. In some retraining centers, a diploma of secondary psychological education is sufficient.
- Identity document (Russian citizenship).
- Certificate from the place of study (for psychology students who want to learn an additional program in addition to the main course) - from the institution of higher or secondary vocational education.
Tasks and goals of training
The main purpose of training here is to train specialists who can provide psychological assistance to women and their families at the stage of pregnancy planning, during gestation, at the time of birth and in the early stages of development of the baby.
The future psychologist in the perinatal center during training should master the following:
- Causes of psychological infertility.
- Overcoming the fear of pregnancy and upcoming birth.
- Work with women who have survived an unfavorable birth, spontaneous abortion in the past.
- Overcoming the fears of the expectant mother with regards to the suitable age for conception.
- Work with an excessive desire to be a mother.
- Overcoming uncertainty, inability to perform maternal tasks.
- The fight against childhood psychological trauma, fear of a new social role.
- Emergency psychological assistance for abortions, missed pregnancies, loss of the baby during childbirth, the birth of a baby with severe congenital pathology.
Questions Answered by Learning
Qualitative and comprehensive training for a perinatal psychologist should provide answers to the following questions:
- How to organize the psychological support of the gestational and postpartum periods of a patient’s life?
- How to help your client overcome her phobic and anxious conditions?
- How can a specialist psychologist contribute to the harmonious unity of the child and his mother?
- How does psychosomatics have a beneficial effect on the ability of parents to conceive and bear children?
- What is the psychological assistance for women, families faced with infertility?
Modern teaching methods
In order for future work to be possible for a perinatal psychologist, a specialist needs to undergo a full course of proper training. As we have already mentioned, today not only seminars (full-time, part-time, part-time), but also distance programs are available. The latter make home schooling possible. The main condition is the availability of an electronic device with Internet access.
Remote preparation methodology includes the following:
- Acquaintance with theoretical perinatal psychology - reading electronic textbooks, lecture texts.
- Participation in webinars with teachers - assignments, consultations, business communication.
- Communication with other students on the forum, via Skype.
- Resolving issues related to the organizational side of the process is also remotely through e-mails to the curator, administrator, employees of the relevant department.
Sample curriculum
As a rule, each preparatory institution has its own training program with specific features. The general plan is as follows:
- Introduction to the basics of this area of psychology.
- Fundamentals of psychotherapy, counseling in the field of perinatal psychology.
- Social and psychological support of childbirth of the patient, postpartum recovery period.
- Psychological support in establishing a mother-child relationship.
- Work with psychosomatic dysfunctions in the reproductive system.
- Tactics, strategies for psychotherapeutic assistance to families facing infertility.
Learning outcomes
What does the preparation of perinatal psychologists give? Scientifically correct organization of training shows the following results:
- The specialist knows all the features of psychotherapeutic and advisory activities in the framework of perinatology.
- The psychologist is able to professionally accompany pregnancy, childbirth of her patient, provide her with appropriate assistance in the postpartum period.
- Can provide professional psychological assistance to couples facing infertility.
The training of perinatal psychologists in Moscow and other cities of the Russian Federation should end with the provision of a state diploma. Such an official document can only be issued by an organization licensed to carry out educational activities. Checking the retraining center is simple: enter its TIN in the search line on the website of the Federal Service for Supervision in Science and Education (Rosobrnadzor). The system will give you information about the presence / absence of a license, its validity period.
Cost of education
Although work in the perinatal direction implies free consultations with a psychologist, training in this direction is paid. The cost varies depending on the institution, region, features and form of the course. The average prices are as follows:
- A three-month distance course - 10-15 thousand rubles.
- Semi-annual full-time course - 40-50 thousand rubles.
Career, professional development
A specialist holding an official diploma has the following prospects for further professional growth:
- Employment in antenatal clinics, conducting free consultations with a psychologist.
- Work in the center of reproduction and family planning.
- Activities in the perinatal center or maternity hospital.
- Employment in a social family center.
- Opening of a private psychological / psychotherapeutic office.
So we got acquainted with the features of a new profession for modern realities - the perinatal psychologist. To prepare in this direction requires the education of a psychotherapist, psychologist, obstetrician-gynecologist.