ADVANCED TRAINING PROGRAMME IN PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH

KOITIDA Institute’s Advanced Training Programme in Perinatal Mental Health is an interdisciplinary programe that connects current scientific knowledge with clinical practice and the everyday experience of healthcare professionals.

PROGRAMME TITLE

Promoting Mental Health During Pregnancy and the Neonatal and Infant Periods: Prevention of Psychopathology and Early Intervention

The programme aims to strengthen the ability of frontline healthcare professionals to identify, at an early stage, mental health difficulties that may affect parents, infants and the relationship between them, as well as to develop appropriate frameworks for prevention and early intervention.

  • Programme cycle: 2026–2027
  • Duration: 60 hours
  • 10 ​Thematic Modules  
  • Athens and Online
  • For healthcare professionals working in perinatal and infant care
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Programme Dates

26 September 2026 – 27 February 2027

Training Day and Time

Saturday, 09:30–14:30

Attendance Options

In person or online, with the option to choose a different attendance format for each module

Programme Fee

1.300€ ​payable in three instalments

Application Deadline

10 July 2026

Who Is It For?

Obstetricians | Midwives | Neonatologists | Paediatricians | Child Psychiatrists | Psychologists | Social Workers | Physiotherapists | Nutritionists | Speech and Language Therapists | Gynaecologists

Programme Thematic Areas

The Advanced Training Programme is structured around four key thematic areas, which run across the ten modules and connect theoretical knowledge with clinical practice.

Perinatal Mental Life and the Development of Parenthood

This thematic area explores the psychological dimensions of the desire to have a child, pregnancy, the transition to parenthood and the early psychological processes associated with the arrival of an infant. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding the pregnant woman, the parents and the infant as members of an emerging relational system, within which the earliest bonds, expectations, anxieties and care needs begin to take shape.

Early Experiences, Development and Perinatal Stress

This thematic area examines the importance of early experiences in the infant’s physical, psychological and developmental journey. It explores the relationship between brain development, epigenetic mechanisms, perinatal stress and early forms of trauma or vulnerability. The aim is to help healthcare professionals understand how biological, psychological and environmental factors interact from the earliest stages of life.

Prevention, Early Identification and Interdisciplinary Care

This thematic area focuses on prevention, the early identification of difficulties and the development of appropriate interventions during the perinatal, neonatal and infant periods. Particular emphasis is placed on collaboration between healthcare and mental health professionals, ensuring that care for the pregnant woman, the infant and the family is characterized by continuity, coherence and sensitivity to the individual needs of each case.

The Parent–Infant Relationship and Family and Group Care Settings

This thematic area focuses on the parent–infant relationship and the contexts in which it develops. It includes understanding infant communication, family functioning, different family structures and forms of parenthood, as well as the professional team supporting the infant and the parents. It also provides space for a psychosomatic understanding of the neonatal and infant periods, during which the infant’s body may express difficulties relating to regulation, relationships and the caregiving environment.

What Participants Will Gain

By completing the programme, participants will deepen their knowledge and develop practical tools that can more effectively support their everyday professional practice.

1

Early Identification

Recognize signs of psychological or developmental difficulty in the parent, the infant and the relationship between them.

2

Understanding Early Experiences

Understand the role of perinatal stress, early experiences and the caregiving environment in the infant’s developmental journey.

3

Connecting Theory with Clinical Practice

Reflect on clinical examples and integrate new knowledge into the way they observe, understand and approach each case.

4

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Collaborate more effectively with professionals from different disciplines, supporting continuity and coherence of care.

Programme Scientific Director

Meropi Michaleli, PhD

Meropi Michaleli is a Psychologist, Psychoanalyst and Founder of the KOITIDA Institute. She is a member of the Hellenic Psychoanalytical Society, the International Psychoanalytical Association and the European Psychoanalytic Federation for Children and Adolescents.

She is the Scientific Director of the Advanced Training Programme in Perinatal Mental Health and contributes to modules relating to pregnancy, parenthood, early therapeutic interventions, infertility and psychosomatic expression during infancy.

Trainers and Guest Speakers

Εισηγητές / Ομιλητές

Why Choose This Programme?

There is an urgent need in Greece for pregnancy and infancy to be supported by professionals who are appropriately trained to understand the psychological functioning of the mother, the infant and the couple during this period.
Today, more than ever, birth is a collective experience. As a society and as healthcare professionals, we have a responsibility to continually examine the practices we apply to prevent infant abandonment, neglect and abuse.
The experience of childbirth can help transform even a deeply traumatised parent’s past, provided that they receive appropriate support from professionals working in childbirth and infant care. 

Frequently Asked Questions

For any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Which Professionals Is the Advanced Training Programme in Perinatal Mental Health Intended For?

The programme is designed for professionals and postgraduate students in relevant healthcare, mental health and social care disciplines, including:

Obstetricians | Midwives | Gynaecologists | Neonatologists | Paediatricians | Physiotherapists | Social Workers | Nutritionists | Psychologists | Child Psychiatrists | Nurses | Speech and Language Therapists

It is also open to other professionals working in healthcare or related fields who wish to broaden their knowledge and deepen their understanding of the early identification of psychological and developmental difficulties, the connection between early experiences and subsequent development, and the development of appropriate interventions and referral pathways.

Can I Attend Some Modules Online and Others in Person?

Yes. Participants may change their attendance format for each module, provided that KOITIDA is informed in advance. This allows us to manage the number of available places at the venue appropriately.

What Happens If I Cannot Attend a Session?

In the event of a serious impediment, participants must inform KOITIDA in advance. The effect of an absence on eligibility for the certificate of participation must be clarified before the final answer is published.

Is Attendance at Every Module Mandatory?

Yes. The programme consists of ten thematic modules, and attendance at all modules is mandatory.

Will I Receive a Certification Upon Completing the Programme?

Upon completion of the programme, participants receive a certificate of participation from KOITIDA. This certificate does not constitute a professional specialisation or qualification.

Is Citation Provided?

Yes. Participants are provided with relevant citations covering the topics addressed throughout the programme. The trainers’ presentations are also shared with participants.

What Does Participation Include Beyond Attending the Sessions?

Participation includes access to recommended bibliography, presentations and supplementary educational material provided by the trainers. Participants may also access available items from the recommended bibliography through KOITIDA’s lending library.

Useful Articles

The Value of Interdisciplinary Dialogue in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health

Pregnancy, the birth of a child and the first years of life are periods of significant change for the entire family. Throughout this journey, parents come into contact with...

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How Healthcare Professionals Can Recognise Mental Health Difficulties During the Perinatal Period

The perinatal period is not only a time of medical care and monitoring. It is also a period of profound psychological adjustment, during which pregnancy, childbirth, the postpartum period and the developing relationship with the infant may bring...

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