Coping with stress and emotions during pregnancy

Leaders: Tina Luberto, PhD and Rachel Vanderkruik, PhD, MSc

Supervision: Dr. Tina Luberto 

Time of Group: Virtual (over Zoom) Thursdays 4:00-5:15pm

Age range of members:  18+, any women within the 1st or 2nd trimester of pregnancy (so the patient can complete the 8-week program prior to giving birth)  

Type of therapy: Integrated mindfulness skills, CBT, and process 

Group Specifics: This group is for women who are pregnant and experiencing difficulty coping with stress and/or mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety or depression. The group will last 8-weeks and will utilize the Stress Management and Resiliency Training Program (SMART), an evidence-based multi-modal mind body medicine group developed at the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital.  Discussions will focus on applying the skills in the program to the context of pregnancy and preparing for the postpartum, including stressors in the context of COVID-19. Participants will be expected to purchase the $50 SMART manual for participation in the group. 

To sign up: Interested participants can contact Psychiatry Triage and Intake Service (PTIS) at 617-724-7792 and inquire about the SMART pregnancy group to be assessed for eligibility and to schedule an intake for the group.

FIRST (Families In Recovery SupporT) Steps Together is a home visiting program that is able to provide flexible, community based and virtual services. Each family will be connected with a Family Recovery Support Specialist, who is a parent in recovery themselves.

FIRST Steps Together offers…

• Support for your recovery and parenting journeys from someone in recovery who has been there and understands


• A space to connect with other parents in recovery


• Help with your other services and providers


• Connections to resources and agencies to help with housing, benefits, childcare, and other needs


• Groups, care coordination, and the option of working with a mental health counselor


• Flexible services at home, in the community, and/or online


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  Our program is for parents with current or past opioid and/or stimulant use, and is confidential, voluntary, and free. 

  
  

  Who is eligible for FIRST Steps Together?

  
  

  FIRST Steps Together is open to any person 18 years of age or older, who has used opioids and/or stimulants in the past or present, and who is pregnant or expecting a child, or has at least one child age 5 or younger.

  
  

  Do I have to have custody of my children to be eligible? Do they need to be living with me?

  
  

  No, you do not need to have custody or have your children living with you. We will work with you to plan for Family Time with your children, help navigate your family action plan, and support you as you work towards reunification, when possible.

  
  

  I’ve never used opioids or stimulants; can I still get help?

  
  

  We would be happy to work with you to refer you to another agency or program to best serve your situation and needs. The funding for FIRST Steps Together is specifically for those who have used opioids or stimulants, presently or in the past.

  
  

This group offers mothers with young children (5 and under) an opportunity to focus on their own emotional health and well-being in a supportive group co-led by two experienced therapists. Gain powerful tools to cope with symptoms of anxiety and depression, improve your relationships and increase your confidence.This group offers mothers with young children (5 and under) an opportunity to focus on their own emotional health and well-being in a supportive group co-led by two experienced therapists. Gain powerful tools to cope with symptoms of anxiety and depression, improve your relationships and increase your confidence.

Six-week group starting April 29, 2021, 6-7:30pm. Call or email to register in advance.

Sisters of Aya provides emotional and psycho-educational support to women of color who experience fertility challenges and/or pregnancy/infant loss through the use of crafting. It is a unique group that allows women of color to collectively grieve, love, and support each other, while engaging in various craft activities to create something beautiful. It is my hope that women are introduced to other women of color “who gets me” without having to explain certain cultural and/or medical nuances.

Many times, women, especially women of color, are taught to "be strong" and to move on with life without acknowledging the trauma that occurs when losing a child or going through the gauntlet of fertility treatments. We are not allowed to grieve or seek support properly. Sisters of Aya provides a safe, supportive and creative space to do so.

It is a 5-week support group series. This group will be held virtually or in-person. Each meeting will be 1.5 hours long. Each series will host up to 8 women of color.

In this group, women will:

1. Learn tools to connect/reconnect and redefine themselves mind, body, and spirit

2. Define and identify grief, loss, anxiety and depression

3. Reconnect with their “angel” babies and/or loss of “dreams”

4. Learn coping tools such as arts and crafts, journaling, meditation, yoga, etc

5. Build their army of support with other sisters who understand their struggle.