Fellowship Curriculum

You will learn how to combine the fields of reproductive and integrative psychiatry via a comprehensive curriculum focused on treatment tools.

Six comprehensive modules comprised of 35 full-length lectures, 20+ mini lectures, 6 live case discussions, a references guide, and a free e-book on how to start a private psychiatric practice.

Self-paced, on-demand curriculum from the comfort of your home or on-the-go.

All lectures and reference materials are easily accessible from your fellowship home portal.

Fellowship Introduction

  • — Understand the definitions of reproductive and integrative psychiatry

    — Be introduced to the three pillar approach of addressing reproductive mental health: biological/hormonal; psychological/spiritual; lifestyle (nutrition, activity, complementary treatments, ecotherapy, substances, and more)

    — Review the different hormonally mediated conditions that impact mental health across the perinatal period, including depression, anxiety, trauma and PTSD, bipolar disorder and postpartum psychosis, eating disorders, and substance use

    — Discuss hormonally medically conditions outside the perinatal period with mental health impact including PMDD and perimenopause

    Practice utilizing case examples

  • Learning Objectives:

    • Review the different hormonally mediated conditions that impact mental health across the perinatal period, including depression, anxiety, trauma and PTSD, bipolar disorder and postpartum psychosis, eating disorders, and substance use

    • Discuss hormonally medically conditions outside the perinatal period with mental health impact including PMDD and perimenopause

    • Practice utilizing case examples

  • Learning Objectives:

    • Review the common symptoms of perimenopause

    • Discuss the menopausal transition as a clinical diagnosis supported by laboratory findings

    • Examine the hormonal shifts commonly seen during perimenopause

    • Overview of treatment tools, including BHRT

Module 1: Botanicals/Nutraceuticals

  • Learning objectives:

    • Become familiar with the role of diagnosis in symptom management

    • Discuss ways to ensure nutraceuticals recommended are reputable

    • Learn about magnesium, including benefits, dosing and titration, reproductive safety data, and discuss a case of utilizing magnesium to aid with benzodiazepine taper in a complex patient

    • Discuss L-theanine, Lemon balm, and Ashwaganda, including benefits, dosing and reproductive safety data

    • Share the various uses of inositol in women’s mental health, including anxiety and fertility support

    • Review the utility and reproductive safety of anti-anxiety supplements many patients often ask about, including oral lavender, GABA, and others

  • Learning objectives:

    • Discuss the benefits, safety, and dosing for Omega-3 fish oil, and the role of inflammation as an underlying etiology for depression

    • Discuss the use of SAM-e (s-adenosyl-methionine) in the treatment of depression, including review of its biochemistry and reproductive safety data

    • Review the relationship between the folate and methionine cycles and discuss the use of folate as an augmentation strategy for depression, including the patient population in whom it is most helpful

    • Review the utility and reproductive safety of anti-anxiety supplements many patients often ask about, including St. John's Wort and Rhodiola

  • Learning objectives:

    • Describe the cycles, stages, and changes in sleep across the reproductive lifespan, including premenstrually, during pregnancy, postpartum, and with perimenopause

    • Discuss melatonin as a sleep aid, including its reproductive safety data and the newer literature on micro-dosing 

    • Describe the utility of magnesium to improve sleep quality and illustrate its use with case examples

    • Review the utility and reproductive safety of sleep supplements many patients often ask about, such as valerian and passion flower

  • Learning objectives:

    • Discuss the role of hormonal changes on attention & cognition

    • Share a framework for how to assess cognitive changes in perinatal patients

    • Review the value of Omega-3 fish oil for cognition

    • Review the data for Rhodiola rosea for cognition

  • Learning objectives:

    • Hormonally mediated conditions unrelated to pregnancy/postpartum

    • Review the definition and epidemiology of PMDD

    • Discuss the role of Vitex in treating PMDD

    • Discuss the data in support of the use of magnesium, calcium, and Vitamin B6 for managing symptoms premenstrually

    • Share the data on the newest nutraceutical for PMDD – oxaloacetate

    • Discuss common symptoms of perimenopause and their impact on psychological well-being

    • Review the nutraceutical options commonly used in perimenopause and non-biological treatment options in perimenopause

Module 2: Interventions/Devices

  • Learning objectives:

    • Review the literature on physical exercise for mood symptoms

    • Discuss the available data on exercise in premenstrual conditions

    • Learn the relationship between exercise and perimenopausal symptoms

    • Become familiar with the literature on exercise in perinatal mood conditions

    • Share a prescription for exercise

  • Learning objectives:

    • Describe the origins of this therapy and mechanism of action

    • Review the data in perinatal depression

    • Discuss potential negative side effects, including the risks in bipolar illness

    • Share the appropriate dosing and directions

    • Illustrate utility using a case example of a patient with seasonal affective disorder

  • Learning objectives:

    • Understand the underlying theory behind ecotherapy

    • Explore the science behind nature healing practices Explain the main objective of a nature healing practice

    • Clarify the difference between Level One thinking and Level Two thinking

    • Using a case example of a postpartum woman with high anxiety, illustrate a program of ecotherapy practices

  • Learning objectives:

    • Discuss the role of acupuncture to help with hormonal regulation in a fertility journey;

    • Share acupuncture as an effective treatment for perinatal mood disorders and other perinatal challenges and as an effective treatment for postpartum symptoms;

    • Become familiar with how to refer and financial implications (such as obtaining insurance coverage)

  • Learning Objectives:

    • Learn about the relationship between pelvic floor challenges - pain, incontinence - and mental health symptoms

    • Review the data on pelvic floor interventions and improvement in symptoms

    • Illustrate using a case example

  • Learning objectives:

    • Describe the different types of massage therapy

    • Review the benefits, mechanisms, and neurobiology of massage therapy

    • Discuss the data on the use of massage for management of mental health symptoms

    • Discuss the use of massage for perinatal and postpartum populations

    • Share the data on aromatherapy with massage, particularly focusing on lavender and Silexan

  • Learning objectives:

    • Learn the different types of breathing techniques for anxiety and nervous system regulation

    • Review the data on using breath work for management of anxiety in pregnancy and postpartum

    • Define mindfulness and review the data on the role of mindfulness in perinatal and postpartum mental health

    • Discuss practical ways to utilize mindfulness-based practices with patients

  • Learning objectives:

    • Discuss the importance and utility of tracking tools in diagnosis and assessment of mental health

    • Share options for tracking menstrual cycles, sleep, blood sugar, nutrition & food, and more

    • Review available data on the utility of tracking tools

    • Discuss the definitions, mechanisms, and benefits of journaling and gratitude journals

  • Learning Objectives:

    • Understand the fundamentals of yoga

    • Discover the effects of yoga on the brain and nervous system

    • Learn about the relationship between yoga practices and mental health

    • Discuss the research behind the use of yoga for treating women’s mental health conditions such as PPD/PPA

    • Review helpful yoga practices for mental health

Module 3: Nutrition

  • Learning objectives:

    • Define nutritional psychiatry, including the Mediterranean and anti-inflammatory diets

    • Discuss the data on the use of MD and depression

    • Illustrate how to implement the anti-inflammatory diet in real life situations

    • Discuss the role of anti-inflammatory supplements such as curcumin on mood and their reproductive safety

  • Learning objectives:

    • Discuss the role of sugar in depression, anxiety, and other mental health symptoms across the reproductive lifespan

    • Review the impact of products such as soy and dairy, particularly during the luteal phase

    • Discuss the research on phytoestrogens

  • Learning objectives:

    • Identify challenges women face in the perinatal period for women recovering from body image distress and disordered eating

    • Introduce research on what helps with body image distress in pregnant/postpartum moms and learn common eating disorder/body image cognitive distortions

    • Define what “diet culture” and “health at every size” are

    • Provide intervention resources for assisting with healing disordered eating and body image distress during the perinatal period.

Module 4: Support Systems

  • Learning objectives:

    • Review the sleep changes that occur in the context of pregnancy, postpartum and other hormonal transitions

    • Learn about sleep hygiene techniques to implement with patients

    • Discuss the data on the gold standard treatment for insomnia - CBTi - in pregnancy and perimenopause

    • Share helpful sleep tracking options

  • Learning objectives:

    • Discuss the etiologies of low energy in the context of hormonal changes and other mental health symptoms

    • Describe the role of supplements such as rhodiola and ginseng for energy

    • Review the role of exercise, yoga, hydration, and nutrition in management of energy

  • Learning objectives:

    • Review the data on the relationship between depression, anxiety and social support

    • Discuss the negative consequences of social media on mental health and body image and as a lack of support

    • Discuss the value of doula support in mitigating symptoms of postpartum depression

    • Reflect on the difference between peer support and professional support and how to choose

    • Review the data on IPV in pregnancy, as it is one of the most dangerous in a woman's life

    • Define and discuss spirituality

    • Share the 5-components of planning for postpartum

  • Learning objectives:

    • Relationship between PMADS and breastfeeding

    • Clinical presentations of PMADs in breastfeeding mothers

    • Management of common breastfeeding challenges

    • Sleep, feeding schedules and back to work

    • Breastfeeding Grief & Trauma

  • Learning Objectives:

    • Recognize disparities in mortality, morbidity, and PMADs for Black birthing people

    • Acknowledge how racism affects inflammation and birth outcomes in Black birthing people

    • Describe three ways to apply an integrative approach to the perinatal mental health of Black birthing people

Module 5: Integrating with Traditional Treatments

  • Learning objectives:

    • Share a case of using maca for SSRI induced sexual side effects

    • Discuss a case of magnesium for benzo taper

    • Examine a case of utilizing amino acids for SSRI taper

    • Learn how to appropriately check interactions between supplements and medications

    • Discuss the situations when hormonal medications lead to mental health symptoms: OCPs, IUD

  • Learning objectives:

    • Review the most commonly utilized psychotherapy approaches

    • Discuss the data on psychotherapy for management of PMADs

    • Discuss the data on psychotherapy for PMDD and perimenopause

    • Share a framework for how to recommend a psychotherapy style

  • Learning objectives:

    • Share various examples of interventions about which patients often inquire and discuss how to navigate these conversations given limited available data. Topics will include blueberry extract for PPD prevention, ganglion block for PP PTSD, and more

    • Discuss the use and limitations of genetic and other types of laboratory testing

  • Learning objectives:

    • Discuss the use of ketamine in pregnancy

    • Review the data on lactation safety and ketamine

    • Describe the role of brexanolone in perinatal mood disorders

  • Learning Objectives:

    • Recognize the complex contributions to female sexual health – biological, psychological, social, emotional, and relational

    • Understand the magnitude of the problem of female sexual dysfunction and its underdiagnosis

    • Learn how to effectively discuss sexual health with patients

    • Dive in depth into Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder, Female Sexual Arousal Disorder, and Sexual pain disorders

    • Develop non-pharmacologic strategies to treat female sexual dysfunction

  • Learning Objectives:

    • Learn how rates of prenatal cannabis use are changing

    • Describe three reasons why pregnant individuals might use cannabis

    • Explain at least one strategy for talking to pregnant patients about their cannabis use

Module 6: Relationships & Networks

  • ** Lecture content being updated **

    Learning objectives to be posted prior to start of next cohort.

  • ** Lecture content being updated **

    Learning objectives to be posted prior to start of next cohort.

  • ** Lecture content being updated **

    Learning objectives to be posted prior to start of next cohort.

  • ** Lecture content being updated **

    Learning objectives to be posted prior to start of next cohort.

Complementary Mini Lectures

    1. NAC

    2. Vitamin D

    3. Nutraceuticals for Bipolar Disorder

    4. Definitions

    1.  Default Mode Network

    2. A Primer on Hormones

    3. Saffron

    4. PCOS

    1. Tapping

    2. Infertility

    3. Nutritional Interventions

    4. Zuranolone

    1. DRSP and PPD

    2. MIND Diet

    3. Apigenin

    4. Red Light Therapy

    1. Red Light Therapy

    2. Choline

    3. Microdosing

    4. Cognitive Supports

    5. Labs

    6. DIM (Diindolylmethane)

Supplemental Content

  • Dr. Glezer, a reproductive psychiatrist, and Dr. Bhopal, a sleep physician, will teach you about how to recognize the common symptoms of perimenopause, focusing on one of the most common and impactful issues - sleep disturbance, and will provide detailed discussion on how to address this important challenge.

  • By 2030, over a billion women will be postmenopausal. And more than half of all those going through the menopausal transition report utilizing non-conventional treatment tools. Many clinicians, however, are not familiar with an integrative approach to perimenopausal treatment. This webinar will provide an introduction to diagnosing perimenopause and utilizing a comprehensive and integrative approach with patients.

  • In this webinar, you'll learn about how to utilize the integrative psychiatry approach to provide comprehensive and holistic care for your patients, the benefits and uses of Omega-3 fish oil, one of the best options to help manage depression and inflammation, and how to navigate the complex work of nutraceuticals and supplements.

  • Coming Soon!

Closing

  • Learning objectives:

    • Learn strategies to grow your practice and market your newfound knowledge of this curriculum

    • Synthesize the case examples used throughout the curriculum

  • A 65 question multiple choice exam to test your knowledge. Passing score of 80% will receive our Certificate of Completion.

Meet the exploding need for integrative treatment

  • The only fellowship that combines the fields of reproductive & integrative psychiatry

  • A customized learning plan with with evidence-based knowledge & treatment tools you can use immediately

  • Earn 45+ CMEs

  • Complete on your own schedule - 100% virtual

  • Facebook group to foster Q&As and networking

  • In-depth content on how to start & grow your practice — e.g. biz formation, advertising, pricing, & psychology of being an owner

  • Regular live office hours for case discussion and teaching

Only $145 per month. Cancel any time.