DSW Showcase Student Presentation

Catrina Gould

MSW

What is the Relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Postpartum Depression?

Concentration -

Abstract

This presentation explores the complex relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and postpartum depression (PPD), emphasizing the interplay of early-life trauma and maternal mental health outcomes. It begins by defining ACEs and their prevalence, highlighting their long-term effects on psychological and physiological well-being. The session delves into the evidence linking ACEs to increased vulnerability to PPD, examining key mechanisms such as stress dysregulation, insecure attachment patterns, and intergenerational trauma. Risk factors that exacerbate this relationship, including lack of social support and socioeconomic challenges, are discussed alongside protective factors that can buffer against adverse outcomes. Participants will gain insights into trauma-informed approaches to care, screening strategies for ACEs and PPD, and evidence-based interventions designed to support affected mothers. The presentation concludes by addressing the broader public health implications of addressing ACEs as a modifiable risk factor for postpartum depression and promoting maternal and child health resilience. This session is ideal for social workers, healthcare providers, mental health professionals, and researchers seeking to deepen their understanding of the ACEs-PPD connection and its role in improving perinatal care and outcomes.

Biography

Catrina Gould is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Clarksburg, West Virginia. She is a dedicated social worker who has spent her career working with youth and families from various backgrounds. She is an alumna of West Virginia University, where she earned a master’s in social work. Catrina attends the University of Kentucky as a doctoral candidate in the Doctor of Social Work Program with a concentration in clinical social work. She is certified by EMIRDA to provide EMDR therapy services and has a certification in TF-CBT. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers.

Catrina is the program director at a non-profit organization in the Children with Serious Emotional Disorder Waiver Program. She works as a supervisor and provides in-home therapy services to youth and their family. Her work with vulnerable populations over the past 25 years allows for an empathic and supportive approach to all those she encounters. Catrina has spent much of her career focusing on trauma and the imprints left on youth, as well as the impacts of generational trauma. Recently, research interests have expanded to the development of a holistic approach to identifying and treating mothers who have experienced adverse childhood experiences and are experiencing postpartum depression.