Infant Mental Health Certificate Program — Erikson Institute
B.A. in Sociology and Psychology, summa cum laude — University of Houston
Ms. Lively is a certified Emotionally Focused couples Therapist and Supervisor (EFT), Certified in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C) through Postpartum Support International and trained in Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Her main area of expertise is supporting women, men, infants, couples and families in the transition to parenthood and specializes in women's reproductive health. She guides women and birthing people to understand and manage mood and anxiety symptoms that are triggered or exacerbated by the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and postpartum, and perimenopause and menopause as well as processing and healing from traumatic experiences during pregnancy, and/or labor and delivery.
Ms. Lively also teaches the Transitions to Parenthood Seminar, a continuing education and advanced training workshop for clinicians interested in deepening their expertise in perinatal mental health. The Transitions to Parenthood seminar is an approved option for advanced training for clinicians applying for Certification as a Perinatal Mental Health provider through Postpartum Support International, and is an approved option for Continuing Education in Perinatal Mental Health for maintaining certification.
Ms. Lively is the director of marketing for the Chicago Center for Emotionally Focused Therapy. She also co-hosts several Transitions to Parenthood themed episodes of The Family Institute's "Let's Talk" podcast and is a board member of the Illinois Chapter of Postpartum Support International.
Lively, Nikki. (2012). Reclaiming the Subjectivity of Motherhood: Integrative Relational Approaches in Psychotherapy with Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders. The Illinois Society for Clinical Social Work Newsletter. Summer 2012.
Astrachan-Fletcher, Ellen; Veldhuis, Cindy; Lively, Nikki; Fowler, Cynthia & Marcks, Brook. (2008). The Reciprocal Effects of Eating Disorders and the Postpartum Period: A Review of the Literature and Recommendations for Clinical Care. Journal of Women’s Health (17) 2, p. 227-239.
Lively, Nikki M. (2006). What do mothers want? Developmental Perspectives, Clinical Challenges. Book Review. Psychiatric Services (57) 11, p. 1661.
Lively, Nikki M. (2000). Briefer and deeper: A comparative analysis of depth-oriented psychotherapy. The Advocate’s Forum (5) 1, p.8-11.
Lively, Nikki M. (1999). Short-term couple therapy: Book Review. The New Social Worker (6) 4, p. 24.