MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH
& ART THERAPY
A

C R I T I C A L F O C U S F O R P E R I N A T A L
A N D P O S T P A R T U M C A R E

Madison Schwester
Pennsylvania Western University
COUN 7560 - Advanced Research and Program
Evaluation in Art Therapy
Dr. Sheila Lorenzo de la Peña - ATR-BC, ATCS
August 9, 2024

Purpose & Justification

OVERVIEW

Literature Review
Curriculum
Limitations + Future Exploration
Final Thoughts

Purpose Statement
Advance understanding of maternal mental health
during perinatal/postnatal periods
Emphasize need for holistic, art therapy-based
interventions
Develop accessible art therapy curriculum for
new/expecting mothers
Enhance early detection, prevention, management
through nuanced understanding of factors
Improve access to care by educating providers about
art therapy efficacy
Provide specialized curriculum for art therapists
supporting mothers' well-being

What is
Maternal
Mental
Health?

Maternal mental health

Overall emotional, social, and mental
well-being of a mother before, during,
and after pregnancy
(NAMI, 2023)

Misconceptions
Social media often glorifies pregnancy
as a uniformly joyful time, creating
unrealistic expectations and pressure
(Smith et al., 2020)

Common Emotions
Anxiety, fatigue, mood swings,
unexpected emotions

Impact
High levels of stress/anxiety can affect
physical and mental health, increase
complications with development and
birth of baby,

JUSTIFICATION
Maternal Mental Health: A
Growing Concern & Potential of
Art Therapy

(Crenshaw, 2021)

HORMONES &
PSYCHIATRY

HORMONES
Significant increase
Sudden imbalance
(Borst, 2022)

EXACERBATION
Increase in complications
Risk of SUD
(Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy,
2022)

TREATMENT CHALLENGES
Difficulty managing mental
health
Stopping medications
Alternative treatment

PERINATAL
ANXIETY &
ANTENATAL
ANXIETY
Bedaso et al., 2021), (Collier, 2021), (Perinatal
Mental Health, n.d), Silverwood et al., 2022)

Stress During
Pregnancy

PREGNANCY
Parenting
Baby’s Health
Managing Responsibilities
Physical Discomfort
Labor and Delivery
Mood Swings

PSYCHOSOCIAL

(Abera et al., 2024), (Al-Mutawtah,
2023), (McLeish & Redshaw, 2017),

Relationships
Environment
Trauma
Healthcare Access
Life Changes
Financial Stability

Effects on Fetal & Infant
Development
Premature Birth
Low Birth Weight
Cognitive Impairment
Behavioral Issues
Lowered Immunity
Mother-Infant Bonding
(Monk, 2022), (Children's National Hospital, 2022), (Zietlow et al., 2019)

INTERSECTIONALITY &
HEALTH DISPARITIES

Postpartum Overview
Mood
Swings

Anxiety

Isolation
(World Health Organization, 2019)

Depression

Irritability

Overwhelemed

Sleep
Distrurbance

Postpartum
Diagnoses
&
Symptoms

Postpartum Blues

Mood fluctuations, crying, anxiety, sleep
issue

Postpartum Depression

Depressed mood, severe mood swings,
difficulty bonding with baby, withdrawal

Postpartum Psychosis

Hallucinations, delusions, confusion,
disorganized thinking, thoughts of self-harm
or harm to the baby

Postpartum PTSD

Physical symptoms, avoidance,
anxiety/panic, flashbacks/nightmares,
Impaired bonding with baby, social isolation

Postpartum OCD

Obsessions: harm to baby, cleanliness,
perfectionism
Compulsions: frequent checking, excessive
logging

Nonverbal Communication
Express thoughts, feelings, challenges, and
experiences related to pregnancy, childbirth, and
motherhood through art

Research
Reduce anxiety and depression during pregnancy
and postpartum
Promote mother-child attachment

ART
THERAPY &
MMH

(Qian et al., 2023)

Efficacy
Reduce anxiety and depression symptoms before
birth, during labor, and after birth
(Jeffs, 2021)

Facilitates
Self-awareness, positivity, healing, maternal bond,
self-development, broader connections, and
engagement

IMPLEMENTING
ART THERAPY
INTO MATERNAL
MENTAL HEALTH
CARE

CREATIVE CONNECTIONS

A HANDBOOK FOR SUPPORTING
PERINATAL AND POSTPARTUM
MOTHERS THROUGH ART
THERAPY

Written by Madison Schwester

Art Therapy
Curriculum: A
Handbook for
Supporting Perinatal
and Postpartum
Mothers through Art
Therapy
Objective: Support new and expecting
mothers navigating anxiety and
depression through art therapy,
fostering a community of support and
enhancing mental health.

STRUCTURE
11 weekly sessions, 1.5-2 hrs
2nd and 3rd trimesters; extends into the
postpartum phase
Delivered by mental health professionals - art
therapists

TARGET AUDIENCE
Licensed art therapists w/perinatal/postpartum
expertise
Working with new/expecting mothers in various
settings
Open art therapy groups & multidisciplinary teams

CURRICULUM
Themes: building trust, self-expression, managing
anxiety, enhancing bonding, fostering resilience,
enhancing empowerment, and planning for the future.
Integrates group art therapy techniques, cognitive
behavioral strategies, mindfulness practice, and
relationship-building exercises

Limitations
Misconceptions
Individual Needs
Cultural Factors
Child-Care
Barriers to Access
Pregnancy Loss
Follow-Up Support

Future
Exploration

Father and Partner Inclusion
There is growing recognition of the importance of
paternal mental health. Research could explore the
benefits of including fathers and partners in art therapy
sessions

Training & Competency
Create specialized training programs and competencies
for therapists delivering the curriculum, ensuring they
have the needed skills and knowledge.

Perinatal Loss
There's a need for research on using art therapy to support
women who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, or
infant loss. Expand the curriculum to include modules
specifically supporting women who have experienced
perinatal loss,

Final Thoughts:

Window of Opportunity
Prevention & Mitigation
Health Equity
Normalizing Support
Integrated Care
Policy Support
Collaboration

THANK YOU!!

References
Abera M, Hanlon C, Daniel B, Tesfaye M, Workicho A, Girma T, et al. (2024) Effects of relaxation interventions during pregnancy
on maternal mental health, and pregnancy and newborn outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Ploss ONE 19(1):
e0278432. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0278432
Al-Mutawtah, M., Campbell, E., Kubis, H. P., & Erjavec, M. (2023). Women's experiences of social support during pregnancy: a
qualitative systematic review. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 23(1), 782. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-06089-0
Bedaso, A., Adams, J., Peng, W. et al. The relationship between social support and mental health problems during pregnancy: a
systematic review and meta-analysis. Reprod Health 18, 162 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-021-01209-5
Borst, H. (2022, June 6). What you should know about the impact of hormones on women’s mental health. The Checkup.
https://www.singlecare.com/blog/female-hormones-and-mental-health/
Children’s National Hospital. (2022) Stress, anxiety and depression during pregnancy may hinder toddler’s cognitive
development. https://www.childrensnational.org/about-us/newsroom/2022/stress-anxiety-and-depression-during-pregnancymay-hinder-toddlers-cognitive-development
Collier, S. (2021, June 25). How can you manage anxiety during pregnancy?. Harvard Health.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-can-you-manage-anxiety-during-pregnancy-202106252512
Crenshaw, K. (2021, September 1). Maternal Mental Health Resources. Katie Crenshaw The Blog.
https://katiecrenshaw.com/maternal-mental-health-resources/
Jeffs, Dailie, "Art Therapy Provides Relief to New and Expecting Mothers" (2021). Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses. 470.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_theses/470

References
McLeish, J., Redshaw, M. (2017). Mothers’ accounts of the impact on emotional wellbeing of organized peer support in pregnancy and
early parenthood: a qualitative study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-017-1220-0
Monk, C. (2019). Maternal mental health: Understanding the impact on fetal development - advances for medical professionals.
NewYork-Presbyterian. https://www.nyp.org/publications/professional-advances/gynecology/maternal-mental-health-understandingthe-impact-on-fetal-development
Perinatal Mental Health. Olive Branch – Counseling and Training San Antonio and Boerne. (n.d.).
https://olivebranchsa.com/perinatal-mental-health/
Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy - MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health. MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health - Perinatal
& Reproductive Psychiatry at Mass General Hospital. (2022, August 22). https://womensmentalhealth.org/specialty-clinics2/psychiatric-disorders-during-pregnancy/
Qian J, Sun S, Wang M, Sun X and Yu X (2023) Art-based interventions for women’s mental health in pregnancy and postpartum: A
meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Front. Psychiatry 14:1112951. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1112951
Silverwood, V. A., Bullock, L., Turner, K., Chew-Graham, C. A., & Kingstone, T. (2022). The approach to managing perinatal anxiety: A
mini-review. Frontiers in psychiatry, 13, 1022459. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1022459
Smith, M., Mitchell, A. S., Townsend, M. L., & Herbert, J. S. (2020). The relationship between digital media use during pregnancy,
maternal psychological wellbeing, and maternal-fetal attachment. PloS one, 15(12), e0243898.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243898
World Health Organization. (2019, June). Maternal mental health. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/teams/mentalhealth-and-substance-use/promotion-prevention/maternal-mental-health
Zuloaga, A. (2023, April). Maternal Mental Health. NAMI. https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Treatment/Mental-HealthMedications/Maternal-Mental-Health