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The Transformative Power of Maternal Rage: Clinical Insights and Applications
PHA Presents: Maternal Rage CE Workshop & Panel Discussion
San Diego Postpartum Health Alliance is excited to host a half-day, in-person continuing education (CE) program: The Transformative Power of Maternal Rage: Clinical Insights and Applications.
Attendees will be eligible for 4 CE credits. The first three hours will feature maternal rage therapist, researcher, and speaker Nicole McNelis, M.Ed., NCC, LPC, PMH-C, who will define maternal rage, describe its presentation, outline clinical frameworks and interventions, and review practical clinical strategies.
The final hour will include an expert panel discussion exploring maternal rage in the context of perimenopause and menopause, reproductive trauma, and ADHD. The panel will include Nicole, as well as Pany Robinson, MD; Ashley Hanna-Morgan, LCSW, PMH-C; and Emily Beltran, LCSW, PMH-C.
Target Audience: Licensed psychologists and therapists, graduate students, allied mental health professionals, and healthcare providers who work with new parents and families, including physicians, nurses, lactation consultants, and doulas.
Course Level: Intermediate
Learning Objectives: This 4-hour educational workshop and panel discussion is designed to help you:
- Define and contextualize “maternal rage” within perinatal mental health.
- Identify clinical presentations and triggers associated with maternal rage.
- Examine how social, cultural, and systemic factors influence maternal rage.
- Apply evidence-based interventions and somatic tools for regulation and repair.
- Describe how maternal rage intersects with perimenopause- and menopause-related hormonal changes, reproductive trauma, and ADHD.
Continuing Education Credits: 4 CE Credits will be available for participants who attend this event live, in-person in San Diego. Partial credit will not be awarded if you do not stay for the entire presentation. At this time, PHA only plans to offer the entire 4-hour learning opportunity in person.
The Postpartum Health Alliance is approved by the California Psychological Association (CPA) to provide continuing professional education for psychologists. The Postpartum Health Alliance maintains responsibility for this program and its content. CPA CE credit is accepted by the Board of Behavioral Sciences for their licensees. If you are an out-of-state participant or seeking CEs for another license, please check with your licensing board to ensure they accept CPA CEs.
To earn CE credits, we kindly ask that you comply with the following requirements: a) Be sure to provide your license number during registration; b) Arrive no later than 15 mins after the start of the workshop and stay for the entire workshop; and c) Take the post-workshop evaluation survey by the specified due date.
This workshop is approved by Postpartum Support International for CE credits for maintaining PMH-C.
Start and End Times: The educational portion of this workshop will begin promptly at 1 PM and conclude at 5:15 PM. All ticket holders are invited to an optional networking reception, scheduled to begin at 5:15 PM.
Event Schedule
Half-Day Workshop + Reception (4 CEs)
- 12:30 to 1:00 PM – Arrival & Check-In
- 1:00 to 1:30 PM – Understanding Maternal Rage: Definition, Context & Stigma
- 1:30 to 2:00 PM – Clinical Frameworks
- 2:00 to 3:00 PM – Interventions & Practical Applications of Clinical Techniques
- 3:00 to 3:15 PM – Short Break
- 3:15 to 3:45 PM – Rage Bait: How Social Media Impacts Mom Rage
- 3:45 to 4:15 PM – Q & A and Group Discussion
- 4:15 to 5:15 PM – Panel Discussion: Intersection of Maternal Rage and Reproductive Trauma, ADHD, Menopause (conclusion of CE programming)
- 5:15 to 7:15 PM – Networking Reception; Beverages and refreshments will be served compliments of Postpartum Health Alliance
Attendance Policy: Participants must attend the 4-hour CE workshop and panel discussion in full and complete the appropriate evaluation form to receive CE credits. Participants will not receive partial credit for partial attendance. Those arriving more than 15 minutes after the start time or leaving more than 15 before the workshop ends will not receive CE credit. This policy is strictly enforced to ensure attendance verification in compliance with CPA guidelines.
Pricing:
Early Bird Rate, $185
Register by Jan 16th
PHA Members: Use coupon code sent on 12/4/25 for $40 off early bird ticket
Regular Rate, $205
Register Jan 17th or later
PHA Members: Use coupon code sent on 12/4/25 for $20 off regular rate ticket
Please note: This event is a special, in-person workshop offered in addition to our regular virtual CE workshops, which will still be available to PHA members at no cost.
Limited capacity available. Reserve your seat early! Registration closes at 11:59 PM on Feb 23rd or upon selling out; whichever occurs sooner.
PHA Membership
If you are local to San Diego County and interested in becoming a PHA member, please visit our membership page for more information.
Out-of-Town Participants
The closest hotels are located near Liberty Station in Point Loma or on Shelter Island. PHA does not have a room block and cannot recommend specific venues, but the following hotels are all conveniently located near the event space:
- Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Airport/Liberty Station
- DoubleTree by Hilton San Diego Bayside
- Hampton Inn & Suites San Diego Airport Liberty Station
- Humphreys Half Moon Inn
- Kona Kai San Diego Resort
- TownePlace Suites by Marriott San Diego Airport/Liberty Station
Refund Policy: Cancellations may be subject to incidental processing fees and must be requested 48 hours prior to the workshop or training to be eligible for a refund. Please email PHA at phacoordinator@gmail.com to cancel your registration.
Accommodations: Please request any accommodations through our Program Coordinator who can be reached at phacoordinator@gmail.com.
Featured Presenter: Nicole McNelis, M.Ed., NCC, LPC, PMH-C
Nicole McNelis is a licensed professional counselor and perinatal mental health specialist known for her integrative and experiential teaching style. She is dedicated to supporting women and families through the emotional complexities of pregnancy, postpartum, and parenthood, drawing on both clinical expertise and lived experience. Nicole is recognized for creating warm, grounded, and deeply engaging learning environments that help clinicians build confidence in working with perinatal clients.
The founder of an award-winning private practice, Nicole is frequently featured in books, podcasts, conferences, and media outlets focused on maternal mental health and women’s wellness. Nicole also serves as a subject-matter expert, speaker, and content contributor for Postpartum Support International.
Nicole earned her Masters in Education from West Chester University. At the 2024 PSI Conference, Nicole’s one-hour session on maternal rage was met with critical acclaim. The topic resonated so strongly with therapists and conference attendees—many of whom are mothers themselves—that the ballroom filled to capacity, with additional attendees turned away due to space limitations. For the first time ever, she will offer an expanded three-hour version of her workshop with enhanced clinical applications during this event.
Expert Panelists:
Pany Robinson, MD (Perimenopause and Menopause)
Pany Robinson, MD is a board-certified family medicine physician and the founder of Next Phase Clinic, a private concierge practice in San Diego where she provides specialized, relationship-centered care for individuals and families. She is especially passionate about women’s health, prevention, education, and empowerment—helping women understand their bodies, navigate the transitions of midlife with confidence, and feel truly supported in their health and wellness journeys.
In her practice, Dr. Robinson focuses on treating a wide range of perimenopause and menopause symptoms, including fatigue, weight changes, mood and sleep disturbances, hot flashes, and vaginal dryness. Her clinical work includes advanced wellness screenings, hormone balance, and personalized, evidence-based care. With over two decades of experience, she is known for bringing warmth, clarity, and partnership to every patient encounter.
Dr. Robinson earned her medical degree from the University of California, Irvine, and completed her family medicine residency at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. In addition to leading her private practice, she continues to care for patients at Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group, where she is recognized for her integrative, whole-person approach to care.
Ashley Hanna-Morgan, LCSW, PMH-C (Reproductive Trauma)
Ashley is a licensed clinical social worker and perinatal mental health specialist. She has expertise in treating reproductive trauma, as well as grief and loss, infertility, and other perinatal mood conditions. Ashley combines clinical expertise with personal experience, creating supportive and evidence-based spaces for parents navigating pregnancy, postpartum, and life transitions.
Ashley earned her Master’s in Social Work from Baylor University and began her career teaching parenting skills and providing therapy to children and adolescents. She then spent seven years in hospice care, deepening her understanding of grief, loss, and life transitions. Her personal experience with postpartum mood challenges inspired her to develop the Afterglow Curriculum and launch one of Los Angeles’s first free cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness–based support groups for parents with postpartum depression and anxiety.
In her private practice, Ashley works with individuals and couples on fertility, pregnancy, postpartum challenges, birth trauma, and perinatal grief. She also volunteers with Postpartum Support International, writes and advocates for mental health awareness, and balances her professional work with family life. Ashley brings warmth, insight, and creativity to her clinical work, helping clients navigate complex emotional landscapes with confidence and care.
Emily Beltran, LCSW, PMH-C (ADHD and Neurodiversity)
Emily is a licensed clinical social worker and perinatal mental health specialist who offers inclusive, affirming care to individuals and families across California via telehealth. As a neurodivergent, queer-affirming therapist and mother of three neurodivergent children, Emily brings both personal insight and extensive clinical experience to her work. Her focus spans the perinatal spectrum — including fertility and family-building, pregnancy, birth trauma, pregnancy or infant loss, postpartum adjustments, and parenting neurodivergent or highly sensitive children.
Emily earned her Master’s in Social Work from San Diego State University. In her private practice, Emily works with individuals and couples from diverse backgrounds, including LGBTQ+ families and those traversing complex fertility or loss journeys. She supports clients navigating anxiety, depression, OCD, trauma, grief, and other perinatal mental health challenges. Her clinical approach is trauma- and attachment-informed, and she draws on evidence-based modalities including EMDR, ERP (for perinatal OCD), CBT, and mindfulness; aiming to meet clients where they are and support compassionate, individualized healing.
Disclosures/Conflicts of Interest: There are no conflicts or disclosures known to PHA at this time.