11 October 2022

In this episode, we will examine the presence of pronatalist influences throughout the mental health profession, from leadership and institutions to research and training. Within these critical roles and educational spaces, the mental health profession largely obscures the lived experiences of people without children. Given these influences, what is the impact on people without children, both as clients and practitioners in mental health? To help us navigate this conversation about what is needed to create greater inclusion and understanding of the needs of people without children, we will be joined by Katie Maynard. Katie is an experienced licensed Clinical Social Worker, who is advancing innovative and meaningful change in the mental health space, through her work with clinicians, to expand their competency with therapy that is affirmative of childless and childfree people. Join us for this relevant, insightful conversation!

Katie Maynard is a licensed Clinical Social Worker with over two decades of involvement within psychotherapy, clinical research, and macro-level community based social work. She holds master’s degrees in both Social Work and Library and Information Sciences from the University of Washington. Her lived experience informs and inspires her enthusiastic advocacy for better mental health care for people without children. Alongside a private practice she also provides supervision, consultation, and training to clinicians seeking to enlarge their competency with therapy that is affirmative of childless and childfree people. She has offered one of the very first clinical trainings on this topic and projects on her horizon include a broadened course catalog, professional publication, and ongoing inquiry into the experiences of mental health providers without children. You can find out more about her at www.katiemaynard.com and on Instagram at @childlessnessintheroom, where she creates content and conversation.

Tune into the episode here:

Transcript coming soon!

Learn more about Katie here: https://katiemaynard.com

Register for the upcoming October 28th training here!