Conscious Motherhood
Institute
Translating cutting-edge perinatal neuroscience and somatic psychology into clinical practice and maternal wellbeing — from pregnancy through postpartum and beyond.
I am a clinical psychologist and the founder of the Conscious Motherhood Institute. Since 2003, I have been dedicated to providing psychological and emotional care for mothers, babies, and families — supporting conscious parenting, maternal mental health, and respectful, evidence-based obstetric care.
Trained in somatic psychotherapy and EMDR, with international postgraduate training from the European Institute of Perinatal Mental Health (Spain) and Postpartum Support International (USA), I bridge clinical neuroscience with human warmth. Thousands of women, families, and healthcare professionals have been supported through this work across South America and Europe.
When we find grounded care, understand the neurobiology of our body, and see that other mothers walk a similar path, we can move from trauma into strength and reclaim our autonomy and vitality.
Since 2011, Josie Zecchinelli has trained over 1,000 psychologists, obstetric nurses, doulas, and healthcare providers in perinatal mental health, somatics, and evidence-based maternal care across South America and Europe.
Preserved memories from our university extension cohorts in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum psychology.
The Institute has been training psychologists, midwives, doulas, obstetricians, and maternal health teams since 2011. Over 1,000 clinicians have graduated from our programs in Brazil and Portugal.
Now expanding to English-speaking clinicians worldwide, our curriculum brings together somatic trauma psychotherapy, empirical autonomic neurophysiology, and neuroaffirming perinatal care.
I'm a psychologist and have followed Josie's work for more than 10 years. I've taken both in-person and online courses with her, and her presence and delivery always stand out for their care, sensitivity, and up-to-date, innovative content. I've been studying perinatal psychology for 13 years, and I believe the Institute's courses truly stand apart for their empathic and ethical communication, combined with evidence-based content and a deep sense of welcome toward us, professionals and mothers, as people. I highly recommend them!
Fernanda Mendes Toledo, Psychologist (Brazil) Google review · Translated from PortugueseComprehensive clinical training led by Hilary Waller, MS, LPC (The Postpartum Stress Center), Dr. Sunita Osborn (author of The Miscarriage Map), and Dr. Kristine Spano. Covers PMAD differential diagnosis, scary intrusive thoughts, attachment-informed perinatal grief, and DBT/CBT distress-tolerance toolkits.
Free, full-length clinical guidelines developed for hospital wards, delivery suites, and outpatient clinics. Features acute triage decision trees, somatic grounding protocols, and differential diagnosis between intrusive OCD thoughts and psychosis.
Our clinical letter for healthcare providers: case reflections, empirical autonomic neurophysiology, trauma-informed somatosensory tools, and clinician self-care. An ongoing dialogue before and beyond formal training.
Compassionate, science-grounded support for the specific emotional and bodily shifts women experience from pregnancy to the postpartum years.
Navigating emotional ambiguity, addressing intrusive fears, and preparing your body and mind for birth without toxic positivity.
Evidence-based choices, somatic regulation tools for labor, and written birth preferences so your autonomy is respected.
Emotional recovery through the fourth trimester — identity shifts, nervous system settling, sleep depletion, and partner dynamics.
Dedicated, non-punitive emotional containment for pregnancy loss, infant loss, and respectful, gradual weaning journeys.
Accessible, non-pathologizing physiological tools designed to help you settle your nervous system, quiet scary intrusive thoughts, and restore a sense of bodily calm during postpartum overwhelm.
Gentle sensory anchoring tailored for postpartum panic, acute sensory overload, and intrusive thoughts.
Two quick inhales followed by an extended sighing exhale to recruit cardiac-vagal braking when adrenaline spikes.
Compassionate guidance on sleep fragmentation, hormonal shifts, and navigating partner dynamics without self-blame.
Foundational literature, evidence-based perinatal psychotherapy manuals, and non-toxic postpartum recovery essentials curated by Josie Zecchinelli.
Matrescence, scary thoughts, postpartum recovery, attachment parenting, and perinatal grief support. Featuring Lucy Jones, Karen Kleiman, and Dr. Sunita Osborn.
Perinatal psychotherapy manuals, empirical autonomic neurophysiology (RSA, cardiac-vagal tone), somatic trauma protocols, and infant mental health.
Ergonomic upside-down peri bottles, herbal sitz sprays, ergonomic babywearing wraps, circadian red-light sound machines, and somatic settling tools.
Choose the letter dedicated to your journey. Written with clinical rigor, emotional warmth, and zero synthetic filler.
We provide high-quality, evidence-based guidance and therapeutic resources to support the physical, emotional, and psychological wellbeing of women throughout the perinatal cycle. We train healthcare professionals to provide attuned, respectful care to mothers, babies, and families.
Our purpose is to illuminate the realities of maternal experience and advocate for conditions that honor the biological and psychological needs of women and infants. Strengthening community and family support, alongside specialized psychological care, enables women to reclaim agency and vitality in their lives.
Join our global community for clinical notes, postpartum reflections, and neurophysiology updates.
The Conscious Motherhood Institute is the international face of Instituto Maternidade Consciente, founded in Brazil by perinatal psychologist Josie Zecchinelli. We translate clinical perinatal psychology, active inference, and somatic trauma psychotherapy into accessible resources for families and clinicians worldwide.
If you are a mother, pregnant person, or family member seeking personal guidance, choose Maternal Tides. If you are a psychologist, therapist, midwife, doula, nurse, or physician, choose Senses of Care for clinical case discussions, empirical neurophysiology updates, and continuing education recommendations.
Yes. Both the 16-chapter Perinatal Psychological First Aid Guide and the 7 Bedside Clinical Pocket Cards are open-access digital resources. You can read them directly on our website or download the official print-ready PDFs for your personal clinical practice and hospital units.
We partner with PESI, a premier continuing education provider, to highlight accredited, evidence-based certifications and clinical courses in maternal mental health, trauma treatment, and somatic regulation. Clinicians can earn accredited CE/CEU hours recognized by healthcare boards.
Yes. All materials, newsletters, and digital guides on this platform are written in English for an international readership, with clinical sensitivity to practice across North America, the UK, Europe, and Australasia.
Yes. The Institute provides customized training and consultancies for hospitals, midwifery teams, and mental health practices on respectful perinatal care and somatosensory de-escalation. Please reach out via our contact email.
Join our community through our newsletters, explore our open clinical guides, or get in touch with our clinical team.
