Perinatal Music Therapy – Enhancing Emotional Wellbeing and Maternal-Fetal Attunement
Music therapy provides an evidence-based, integrative approach to supporting birthing individuals and their families throughout the perinatal continuum, particularly in the context of high-risk pregnancy.
Course Overview
This seminar will explore the clinical application of in-hospital music therapy within acute perinatal care settings, including antepartum hospitalization, labor and delivery, and neonatal intensive care. Interventions will be examined for their role in reducing maternal stress and anxiety, promoting maternal-fetal bonding, supporting emotional regulation, and addressing the psychological impact of perinatal loss.
The presentation will also highlight music therapy’s role in supporting infant neurodevelopment, pain management, and parent-infant attunement in the NICU. Finally, strategies to address postpartum mental health, including perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), will be discussed, with a focus on supporting NICU parents in the early postpartum period. Clinical case examples and interdisciplinary considerations will be integrated throughout to illustrate best practices and practical application.
Learning Objectives
- Explore music therapy interventions used to support individuals during antepartum hospitalization, labor and delivery, and/or NICU hospitalization.
- Learn the benefits of music therapy for parents coping with perinatal loss.
- Identify clinical referral indicators for music therapy within acute perinatal hospital settings.
- Define perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) and identify how music therapy may support parents experiencing PMADs.
Workshop Information
Date
On Demand
CEs
2.5
***You will receive the link to the workshop within 24 business hours of registering. If it is your first time registering for an on-demand workshop with us you will be required to create a login through SlideLive: instructions will be forthcoming after you register***
Tuition
- $45 – Registration Fee
- $36 – Alumni, Adjuncts, Field Instructors Rate
- FREE – Student Rate
Faculty Bio
Shawna Vernisie
Shawna Vernisie, MHA, MA, LCAT, MT-BC, NICU-MT, PMH-C is a board-certified music therapist and licensed creative arts therapist specializing in neonatal and perinatal care at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New York. With over 14 years of experience, she leads clinical services, supports bereavement and staff wellness initiatives, and mentors students and professionals. Shawna has served in leadership roles within both the American Music Therapy Association and Certification Board for Music Therapists, and contributes as a manuscript reviewer, published author, and national presenter. Her work has been recognized with multiple awards for professional excellence and exceptional patient experience. Shawna is dedicated to advancing the field of music therapy, collaborating with interdisciplinary professionals, and expanding access to perinatal mental health care.
Credentialing Information
Important: To receive approved continuing education credits, participants must attend the entire training or workshop and submit a completed evaluation form.
See full credentialing information and CEUs
New York State Office of the Professions (NYSED) regulations require that participants must be present for the entire approved educational activity in order to receive a certificate for continuing education hours. There is no accommodation in the State regulations for late arrival, late return from lunch or breaks, or early departure. According to NYSED, in order to award social work CEs; “When you offer a multi-day or multi-part course/educational activity, the learner must complete all parts in order to earn the certificate for contact hours, in the same way that a student must complete a semester-long course to receive college credit. You may not award partial credit for a program, even a one-day program, if the learner does not complete all requirements at that time.
Cancellation Policy
Please note that we are unable to offer refunds for cancellations made within seven business days of the event or for no-shows. However, if you notify us at least 24 hours in advance, we can issue a credit toward a future workshop. No credit will be provided for cancellations made less than 24 hours before the event