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Friday, January 16, 2026 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Zoom | 1 CE
Program Description:
Description of the program: We will explore the varied and diverse roles of grandparents in the US through an anthropological and biological lens focusing loosely on "The Grandmother Hypothesis." Demographic data on grandparenting will be presented and differences in grandparenting roles and styles in various ethnic and racial communities will be discussed.
The purpose of the workshop will be to enhance the therapists’ ability to better conceptualize and work with the relationship between adult clients and their parents. The connection between the concepts of “The Grandmother Hypothesis” and clinical work emerges directly from the presenters’ case load. Clinical vignettes will be shared.
Small-group discussions in break-out groups will focus on questions regarding grandparenting that not only promote self-understanding for the therapist but also augment their clinical skills. Suggested questions for the break-out groups include the following:
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What was the role of your grandparents during your childhood? Were there values or cultural traditions that they passed down to you? How did your grandparents impact the person/therapist that you are today?
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Do you see yourself becoming a grandparent at some time in your life? What do you envision that role to look like for you?
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Are you currently a grandparent or step-grandparent? What do you envision your role or impact to be in the lives of your grandchildren or step-grandchildren?
Level of Instruction:
Introductory
Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the varied roles of grandparents in relation to their adult children and grandchildren in US culture in 2025.
2. Summarize the anthropological and biological concept of "The Grandmother Hypothesis"
3. Utilize "The Grandmother Hypothesis" to foster your psychological understanding of the relationship between your adult patients and their parents - a clinical example will be given.
About the Presenter: Brita Reed Lucey is a native New Englander who received her undergraduate education, as well as her MD and PsyD, in New Hampshire. She practiced OBGYN for 20 years before focusing exclusively on mental health. Currently, she is a reproductive psychologist, licensed in both New Hampshire and Vermont, who counsels individuals and couples who are in IVF fertility treatment. She is the author of several papers on psychodynamic treatment of fertility patients published in The Journal of Psychodynamic Psychiatry. She is also the author of two recent books on the psychological aspects of both IVF treatment as well as pregnancy: Ladies in Waiting: How to Find the Joy in Fertility Treatment and Ladies in Waiting: How to Find the Joy in Pregnancy. After becoming a grandmother to four grandchildren, she is now writing her third book about the psychological aspects of the relationship between fertility patients and their mothers ("intended grandmothers").
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NHPA prices workshops by CE credit hour:
$25.00 per CE for members; $35.00 per CE for non-members
Paying with a check:
Checks must be received within one week of the event. If payment has not been received, registrant will still have option to pay online with a credit card up until the day before the program. If an invoice remains open on the day of the event, the registrant will not be allowed to attend.
Cancellation policy:
Refunds, minus a 10% cancellation fee, will be issued for all cancellations received two weeks prior to the start of the course. No refunds or vouchers will be made thereafter. No-shows are not refunded.
Attendance policy:
Full attendance is required to obtain CEs per NHPA policy. No partial credit will be given. Those who attend the workshop and complete the evaluation form will receive 1 continuing education credit. Please note that APA CE rules require that we only give credit to those who attend the entire workshop. Those arriving after the scheduled start time or leaving before the workshop is completed will not receive CE credits.
Registrations are Transferable:
Registrants can transfer an event confirmation to another individual. The NHPA office must be notified of the transfer at least 24 hours prior to the event.
This program is sponsored by the New Hampshire Psychological Association. NHPA is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. NHPA maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
