Group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Perinatal Anxiety

"The 6-session group CBT intervention for perinatal anxiety has been formalized with session guides for the facilitators and a workbook, Overcoming Anxiety in Pregnancy and Postpartum (Furer \& Reynolds, 2015), developed by members of our Anxiety Disorders Clinic. There are 6 core modules covered over the 6 treatment sessions, including: (1) Understanding anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum, (2) self-care, (3) setting goals and facing fears, (4) nurturing the developing relationship with baby, (5) coping with negative thoughts and worries, and (6) relapse prevention. Content is based on general principles of CBT for anxiety but specific themes and examples are geared towards the pregnancy and postpartum periods. Distorted cognitions are also explored, with an additional focus on beliefs about motherhood and perfectionism. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the intervention will be conducted via a hospital-approved video-conferencing platform."

Patients in this condition are randomly assigned to a waitlist control condition before receiving treatment.