Keri Hanson, LCSW, PMH-C

Hello - I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a certification in perinatal mental health through Postpartum Support International. I completed my graduate degree at the University of Denver School of Social Work in 2000 and have since devoted my practice to supporting the journeys of women and new families.

Experience

Prior to establishing Ebb & Flow, my work focused on providing “integrated” mental health care in the medical setting. More than 20 years ago, I began working at Saint Joseph Hospital as part of a multidisciplinary team supporting women and families through medically complicated pregnancies, NICU hospitalizations and the trials of infertility and pregnancy and infant loss.

To this end, most recently I led the development of a grant supported “integrated” perinatal behavioral health program with the goal of reducing the negative consequences of unidentified and untreated perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. This program focused on universally screening all women for emotional complications and making counseling services available from within the obstetric medical setting. This is now part of the care that women receive in SCL Health’s Denver-Metro Area obstetric clinics and hospitals.

Community & Professional Engagement

I have served on CDPHE’s Pregnancy Related Depression Advisory Committee, the Saint Joseph Hospital’s ethics committee and have been engaged with the Colorado Children’s Campaign. I remain engaged with the Colorado Perinatal Action Network (PAN) and I am a professional member of Postpartum Support International, the National Association of Social Workers and Yoga Alliance.

Healing Philosophy

My clinical practice is guided by the assumption that each one of us is “pre-programmed” for growth and that each one of us has the inherent capacity to relieve most of our own suffering through self-study and the cultivation of a compassionate and nurturing relationship with ourselves. Because of this assumption, I approach the therapeutic relationship as a collaborative effort to discover and evolve the therapeutic path together.

Race & Diversity

I believe that every person deserves competent and culturally aware medical and mental health care. Alongside this, I believe that a strong “therapeutic alliance” is key to progress and that conversations about race and identity, as well as systems of power, privilege and oppression are necessary for this is to be achieved.