2 Hours / 2 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Postpartum Rage Among BIPOC Women: What Clinicians Can Do to Help is presented by S Anandavalli, PhD.

Current mental health research pays scant attention to postpartum rage, or intense and sustained anger experienced by individuals after giving birth. Often, these emotionally draining episodes of anger are reduced to singular and superficial explanations such as “hormonal changes” or the birthing individual being ”overly emotional.” However, birth is often a life-altering experience that results in dramatic physiological, sexual, emotional, financial, and professional changes. Scholars have noted that when left untreated, postpartum rage can result in reduced attachment between parent and baby, reduced instances of breastfeeding, and suicidal ideation for the parent, among other mental health challenges. 

Furthermore, postpartum rage can result in attachment ruptures, leaving the birthing individual even more psychologically lonely during a significant life event. Birthing individuals also report experiencing guilt, shame, and feelings of unworthiness as a result of their postpartum rage. These myriad challenges are often contextualized by limited systemic and relational support structures, such as pressure to return to full-time paid employment or reduce/lose pregnancy weight, expensive and often unreliable child-care, and limited access to health care services, including mental health care. 

This program helps attendees identify postpartum rage in their clients. Participants receive helpful tools and techniques to address this mental health challenge in their clients. They will also receive treatment options in tackling postpartum rage. Lastly, the presenters discuss in detail how sociocultural factors such as race, gender, and immigration impact the experience and expression of postpartum rage. The program also includes two case demonstrations that include how to establish culturally appropriate rapport with clients experiencing post-partum rage and facilitating treatment of the same. 

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe the symptoms of postpartum rage
  • 2 Describe implicit biases and narratives surrounding BIPOC women and expression of anger
  • 3 Describe sociocultural factors such as race, gender, and immigration status in their conceptualization and treatment of postpartum rage
  • 4 Describe how to develop meaningful coping strategies to manage and reduce their distress

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for mental health clinicians who support mothers, families, and children. It is intended for professionals who provide counseling, therapy, and psychosocial support to individuals and families navigating mental health challenges related to parenting, child development, and family dynamics.


    Examples of Relevant Professionals:
    • Mental Health Professionals
    • Social Workers
    • Counselors
    • Psychologists
    • Family Therapists
    • Child and Adolescent Therapists
    • Maternal Mental Health Specialists

  • Experience Level

    This training is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at various stages of experience with perinatal mental health and postpartum rage.

    • Beginner: Participants are new to the topic of postpartum rage and may have limited experience identifying or treating this condition in clinical practice.

    • Intermediate: Participants have some familiarity with perinatal mental health, recognize symptoms of postpartum rage, and are seeking to deepen their understanding of sociocultural factors and treatment strategies.

    • Advanced: Participants have extensive experience working with perinatal clients, are knowledgeable about postpartum rage, and are looking to refine culturally responsive interventions and address complex cases.

  • Practice Setting

    They practice in clinical and community-based environments serving perinatal clients and families, delivering individual, dyadic, and group care that addresses postpartum rage and related mental health needs. Their work is collaborative, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive, integrating care across health, social service, and family support systems.

    Examples of Practice Settings:
    • Outpatient mental health clinics and community health centers
    • Hospital-based perinatal, OB/GYN, and NICU consult services
    • Private or group practices (including telehealth)
    • Integrated behavioral health in primary care and pediatric offices
    • Home-visiting and early childhood/family support programs
    • Public health departments, WIC, and family resource centers

Presented By

S Anandavalli, PhD Owner and Founder of Soulfulness Counseling, LLC

S Anandavalli (she, her, hers), PhD, NCC, LPCA, CCTP, is an award-winning, nationally recognized trauma-informed mental health counselor and counselor educator. She is the owner and founder of Soulfulness Counseling, LLC, a private practice dedicated to serving women who have been exposed to early childhood trauma. An expert on minority women’s mental health needs, she has served as a consultant and speaker for nonprofits. She is a leader and change agent within the counseling profession and has spearheaded several grant-funded research initiatives which have been published in top-tier peer-reviewed counseling and allied journals.

View More Programs from this Presenter
S Anandavalli, PhD

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Discussion of postpartum rage and its symptoms

  • Prevalence and impact of postpartum rage

  • Demonstration of postpartum rage counseling session 1

  • Research evidence on postpartum rage

  • Implicit bias and prejudice against BIPOC women activity

  • Discussion on activity

  • Treatment options for postpartum rage

  • Demonstration of postpartum rage counseling session 2

  • Sociocultural factors and postpartum rage

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).



Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356 and the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. CONCEPT Professional Training maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits.