Emotion Focused Therapy for Perinatal Populations

Chicago, IL US
February 9, 2026
This activity will equip clinicians with a practical, attachment-informed framework for understanding and treating perinatal mood and anxiety disorders using Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). Through case conceptualization, video demonstrations of core EFT interventions, experiential learning, and guided role-play practice, participants will develop skills to help perinatal patients recognize, organize, and transform emotional experiences and relational patterns. By strengthening clinicians’ ability to support emotional attunement, insight into attachment dynamics, and secure self- and co-regulation, this activity will enhance clinical effectiveness in perinatal mental health care while providing transferable competencies applicable across diverse patient populations.

Target Audience

This activity is designed for mental health clinicians at the University of Chicago.

Learning Objectives

After this activity, participants will be able to:

  • Conceptualize perinatal mood and anxiety presentations using an attachment-based framework.
  • Identify common attachment patterns activated during the perinatal period.
  • Recognize emotional cycles within the therapeutic relationship during perinatal treatment.
  • Apply Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) interventions to evoke attachment-related emotional experiences.
  • Facilitate translation of emotional experiences into attachment needs within the therapeutic encounter.
  • Provide psychoeducation regarding secure attachment and its relevance to the mother–infant relationship.
  • Implement EFT-informed strategies to restore attunement following relational ruptures.
Additional information
ACGME/ABMS Core Competencies: 
Patient Care and Procedural Skills
Medical Knowledge
Interpersonal and Communication Skills
For more information, please contact:
CME Coordinator Contact Name: 
Candice Norcott, PhD
CME Coordinator Contact Email: 
[email protected]
CME Coordinator Contact Phone: 
773-834-1092

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Summary
Available credit: 
  • 7.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 7.00 Participation
Event starts: 
02/09/2026 - 8:00am
Event ends: 
02/09/2026 - 4:00pm
Activity opens: 
02/09/2026
Activity expires: 
03/09/2026
Add to calendar: 
UChicago Medicine
5841 S Maryland Ave
Chicago, IL 60637
United States
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
For questions about the program, contact Candice Norcott, PhD, via email.
 
ACCESSIBILITY The University of Chicago is committed to providing equal access appropriate to need and circumstances and complies fully with legal requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you are in need of special accommodation, please contact our office via email.
 
The University of Chicago reserves the right to cancel or postpone this conference due to unforeseen circumstances. In the unlikely event this activity must be cancelled or postponed, the registration fee will be refunded; however, the University of Chicago is not responsible for any related costs, charges, or expenses to participants, including fees assessed by airline/travel/lodging agencies.
FACULTY
Nikki Lively, MA, LCSW, PMH-C
Clinical Director of the Transitions to Parenthood Program
Family Institute
Northwestern University 
 
Disclosure Declarations
As a provider accredited by the ACCME, the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine asks everyone in a position to control the content of an educational activity to disclose all financial relationships with any ineligible companies. This includes any entity whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. Financial relationships are relevant if a financial relationship, in any amount, exists between the person in control of content and an ineligible company during the past 24 months, and the content of the education is related to the products of an ineligible company with whom the person has a financial relationship. Mechanisms are in place to identify and mitigate any relevant financial relationships before the start of the activity.

Additionally, the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine requires Authors to identify investigational products or off-label uses of products regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration at first mention and where appropriate in the content.
Physician Credit
The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
 
The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 7 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
 
Other Participant Credit
Other participants will receive a Certificate of Participation. For information on the applicability and acceptance of Certificates of Participation for educational activities certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by the ACCME, please consult your professional licensing board.
 
Please note: The credit claiming process will close one month after the activity ends. Requests to claim credit after one month may incur additional fees.
Registration: Registration is via invitation only. For more information, click the button below.
 


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Please note: The credit claiming process will close one month after the activity ends. Requests to claim credit after one month may incur additional fees.
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