banner image

Adapting Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for the Perinatal Period: Using Strong Roots Perinatal DBT Model

Perinatal individuals navigating pregnancy and postpartum are uniquely vulnerable to mood and anxiety disorders, trauma, and identity shifts. Traditional DBT, while evidence-based, is not tailored to the complex emotional, relational, and systemic challenges faced during the perinatal period. This training introduces clinicians to the Strong Roots Perinatal Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (SR Perinatal DBT) model, a trauma-informed adaptation of DBT that integrates perinatal mental health principles. Clinicians will explore the five pillars of the Strong Roots model, learn how to integrate DBT skills with nurturing and exploration-based strategies, and leave with tools to support perinatal clients in enhancing self-awareness, emotional regulation, and connectedness during this transformative life stage. 

Upcoming Training Scheduled for October 17, 2025 from 10am-12pm (2 hours) via Zoom.

Cost: $100

Learning Objectives

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

  1. Describe foundational concepts of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and their relevance to the perinatal population.

  2. Identify the five pillars of the Strong Roots Perinatal DBT model and their role in supporting perinatal mental health.

  3. Explain how the biosocial theory and dialectical framework can be adapted to meet the emotional and relational needs of perinatal individuals.

  4. Explore at Strong Roots Perinatal DBT concepts that centers nurturance and self-exploration to promote healing and resilience.

  5. Apply culturally responsive and trauma-informed strategies from the SR Perinatal DBT model in clinical practice with perinatal clients.

Presenter Bio:

Sultana Karim is the Owner and Licensed Therapist at Karim Counseling Services, PLLC. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in MD, VA, DC, and MI; a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP); Certified EMDR Therapist; Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional (PMH-C); and Certified Yoga Instructor. With over 14 years of experience, she specializes in treating sexual and domestic violence, perinatal mental health, infertility, pregnancy and infant loss, birth and medical trauma, and childhood trauma. 

Sultana has facilitated Perinatal DBT groups the past 4 years and has adapted the Strong Roots Perinatal DBT model, originally developed by the Zero to Thrive Program at the University of Michigan, for use with patients in an outpatient private practice setting. She completed a three-day DBT certification training in 2013 and received advanced training in the Zero to Thrive: Michigan Model DBT for Pregnancy & Postpartum Training & Strong Root Perinatal Dialectical Behavior Therapy training through Zero to Thrive program. Her work integrates trauma-informed and culturally responsive approaches to support perinatal individuals in their healing journey.


Sultana currently serves as the Director of Mental Health at Villa Advocacy and is an Approved Clinical Supervisor in both Virginia and Maryland, where she provides supervision and mentorship to emerging clinicians. She has presented nationally on topics including racial and ethnic disparities in perinatal mental health, the biosocial model for healing in the perinatal period, infertility support, PMADs, mindful parenting, cultural humility, emotional regulation, perinatal trauma, Internal Family Systems, the impact of domestic violence and child abuse, play therapy, perceptions of seeking counseling, the impact of bullying on mental health, and perceptions of race and gender.

Continued Education Credits

TBA