Beyond Normal Worry: Recognizing and Supporting Health Anxiety in the Perinatal Period

Expert Training with Michelle Flynn MIACP, Perinatal Psychotherapist

The Perinatal Mental Health Institute presents this essential 90-minute training on recognizing and supporting health anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum, led by Michelle Flynn MIACP, founder of An Croí Beag Psychotherapy and IACP accredited Psychotherapist.

Why This Training Matters:

Health anxiety is more common than you might think during the perinatal period, often manifesting as excessive worry about your or your baby's health and wellbeing. Yet distinguishing appropriate medical vigilance from anxiety requiring intervention can be challenging during this vulnerable time. This training provides the knowledge and tools to recognize and support clients experiencing this often-overlooked condition.

What You'll Learn:

✨ Prevalence of health anxiety in the perinatal population

✨ Key risk factors including previous trauma and pregnancy complications

✨ Evidence-based screening approaches and common presentations

✨ Differentiating health anxiety from appropriate medical vigilance

✨ Practical validation techniques and psychoeducation strategies

✨ Top-down approaches including cognitive-behavioral and exposure-based interventions

✨ Bottom-up somatic approaches tailored to the perinatal context

✨ Appropriate referral pathways for specialized support

Training Format:

This recorded 90-minute webinar includes case examples and interactive discussion to develop your skills in recognizing and supporting health anxiety. The training provides both theoretical understanding and practical applications for the perinatal context.

Who This Training Is For:

This session is valuable for all perinatal professionals, including:

🌿 Mental health practitioners

🌿 Midwives and doulas

🌿 Healthcare providers

🌿 Lactation consultants

🌿 Perinatal support workers

🌿 Anyone supporting clients through pregnancy and postpartum

About Your Instructor:

Michelle Flynn is a fully qualified, IACP accredited Psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisor, and founder of An Croí Beag Psychotherapy. She holds a Masters in Counselling and Psychotherapy, Higher Diploma in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, and level 9 Certificate in Perinatal Mental Health. With additional training in CBT, Somatic Experiencing, and Parent-Infant mental health, Michelle brings extensive expertise to perinatal mental health, postnatal depression, traumatic births, perinatal loss, and anxiety. As a mother of three herself, she combines professional knowledge with personal understanding of the perinatal journey.

What's Included:

✨ 90-minute recorded training

✨ Certificate of attendance

✨ Practical resource materials

✨ Implementation guidance

Enhance your ability to recognize and support health anxiety during the perinatal period. This training will equip you with evidence-informed tools to provide compassionate support while helping clients distinguish between appropriate vigilance and anxiety requiring intervention during this vulnerable transition to parenthood.