Transition to Parenthood

 Earn 3 CE Contact Hours

The transition to parenthood is at once a very natural and a very complex human experience that englobes many shifts and dynamics at the level of body, cognition, emotions, identity, and relationships. Like a stone that creates ripples when thrown in a body of water, pregnancy and parenthood extend from the past and one’s ancestors to the future and the new generations, and from the smaller nucleus to a larger family constellation, community, and society.

Each of these spaces are imbued with values, beliefs and cultural meanings and practices. During this time together, through experiential activities and conversations, we will explore and discover these dimensions in our own lives and those of the people we accompany, and we will invite attendants to think of ‘culture of care’ as a precious support to parents and babies alike.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Identify the multidimensional nature of the transition to parenthood: physiological, emotional, cognitive, identity-related, cultural, and relational.
• Analyze the way in which family dynamics, personal context, cultural values, and societal expectations influence individuals’ experiences and definition of parenthood and pregnancy.
• Describe factors that support or complicate the transition to parenthood and identify ways that a “culture of care” can create connection, agency, reflection and increased support for parents.

Who Should Attend:

Mental health professionals, therapists, social workers, counselors, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and early childhood professionals who work with individuals, couples, and families navigating pregnancy, parenthood, and major life transitions. This workshop is especially valuable for clinicians interested in exploring the emotional, cultural, and relational dimensions of becoming a parent, while developing a deeper understanding of how family dynamics, identity, and systems of support shape the transition to parenthood.

Meet the Presenters:

Genoveva Garcia, LCSW, is a bilingual psychotherapist, educator, faculty supervisor, and consultant who maintains a private practice working with individuals, couples, and families. Her clinical approach is grounded in systemic-relational, narrative, and experiential perspectives, emphasizing the therapeutic relationship as a space for reflection, healing, and meaningful change. Her areas of expertise include parenting and family relationships, early childhood and parent-child relationships, substance use, immigration-related experiences, grief and loss, and life transitions. She has been part of the Center for the Developing Child and Family, directed the Latinx Youth and Family Immigration Project, serves as faculty and supervisor at the Ackerman Institute for the Family, and has consulted with various organizations.

Wendy Jo Cole is a therapist, spiritual director/companion, and early childhood leader and consultant. She currently works part-time as a clinician at Ackerman Institute, where she sees couples and families; at Heartcore Collective, where she provides spiritual support to those managing medication withdrawal and injuries; and at preschools, where she supports early childhood development, play, creativity, and learning. She has a Master’s in Early Childhood Leadership from Bank Street College, a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Minnesota, and a Bachelor’s degree from Mount Holyoke College. She is ordained and trained as an interspiritual Minister and Spiritual Director/Companion at One Spirit Interfaith Seminary.

Sabina Fila is a social worker, psychotherapist and consultant. Over the last 35 years she has worked with a wide variety of individuals, families and organizations, helping individuals and groups navigating transitions, overcoming past challenges and identifying ways of living, working and relating that better suit them. She is affiliated with the Ackerman Institute for the Family, and has a private practice where she practices mindfulness-centered somatic psychotherapy (http://hakomiinstitute.com). She is also involved with several non-profit organizations locally and internationally.