A New Chapter: My Journey Toward Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C)
Written By: Sarah Benitez-Zandi, LCSW
Personal, before professional
For as long as I can remember, I’ve found myself walking alongside people as they transition into parenthood — as a friend, a family member, and a professional.
Over the past eight years, I’ve had the privilege of supporting women, men, and couples through fertility challenges, pregnancy and infant loss, and the emotional and relational adjustments that accompany new parenthood.
While perinatal mental health isn’t the only focus of my practice, it has always been a meaningful part of it — reflecting the same themes that run through much of my clinical work: identity, attachment, and healing through transition.
Parenthood, perhaps more than any other life change, brings those themes into sharp relief. It shifts how we see ourselves, how we connect to our partners, and how we make sense of the world.
My own story of loss and rediscovery
My partner and I know firsthand how sacred and complicated this journey can be. We lost our son shortly after the first trimester — a loss that reshaped how I understand grief, love, and resilience.
Now, with our 9-month-old in our arms, we live with both gratitude and grief. They coexist — not as contradictions, but as truths that can share space. That personal experience continues to shape how I support clients who are learning to hold joy and sorrow at once.
A commitment to deepening my care
Beginning September 15, 2025, I’ll start the Postpartum Support International (PSI) Maternal Mental Health Certificate Course, offered in collaboration with the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health.
This live training meets every other week through January 2026 and covers a wide range of topics that touch every facet of perinatal care — from understanding perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, to screening and treatment planning, psychotherapy approaches, cultural considerations, the experiences of fathers and partners, psychopharmacology, and the intersections of substance use and mental health in the perinatal period.
Each session brings a new perspective on what it means to support all parents — birthing and non-birthing — through conception, loss, birth, and early parenthood.
Upon completion, I’ll earn my Maternal Mental Health Certificate and plan to sit for the Perinatal Mental Health-Certification (PMH-C) shortly afterward — a nationally recognized credential that reflects advanced competence in identifying and treating Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs).
Why this certification matters
Perinatal mental health concerns affect far more than just birthing parents.
Fathers, same-sex partners, and adoptive parents often experience their own forms of depression, anxiety, or identity loss in the transition to parenthood — yet their symptoms frequently go unrecognized or unsupported.
By expanding my training through PSI, I hope to continue bridging that gap — to offer inclusive, trauma-informed care that honors the full range of experiences involved in trying to conceive, carrying, or raising a child.
Research shows that roughly 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men experience a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder (Howard et al., Lancet, 2014).
When left untreated, these conditions can affect attachment, relationships, and long-term family well-being.
Early recognition and specialized support can change that trajectory — improving outcomes not only for parents, but for children and families as a whole.
What this new blog series will explore
From September through January, I’ll be sharing reflections and insights as I move through each phase of the training — pieces that stand out to me clinically or personally, and lessons that I believe can help clients and readers alike.
Expect conversations around:
The many faces of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
How trauma, grief, and attachment shape the transition to parenthood
The emotional experiences of fathers, partners, and non-birthing parents
How cultural and systemic factors influence access to care
Supporting fertility journeys, pregnancy after loss, and postpartum adjustment
Integrating evidence-based psychotherapy and holistic care
Some weeks, the posts may lean more clinical; other times, they may be reflections sparked by class discussions or my own experiences of motherhood and loss.
Looking ahead
This certification isn’t just a professional milestone — it’s a continuation of something I’ve always believed: that healing during the perinatal period must honor both the science and the humanity of the experience.
Whether you’re navigating fertility treatments, processing a loss, or adjusting to the ever-changing landscape of early parenthood, I hope these writings remind you that support exists, and that your story deserves to be heard.
You can follow this series and future updates at www.traumawisehealing.com.