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Stories That Heal: Support For Moms Facing Tough Times
M
Michelle Miller
Primary Investigator
Recruiting
18 years or above
Female
Phase
N/A
106 participants needed
1 Location
Brief description of study
Many individuals who experience extremely stressful or traumatic events may feel irritable or on edge, have unpleasant memories of the event that they try to avoid, and feel more distant from others. Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) is a treatment that can help, particularly pregnant and postpartum women who have gone through very stressful or traumatic experiences. In NET, women talk through their life stories with a therapist to process stress and emotional pain. We are especially focusing on supporting Black women and women living in rural areas who may have faced difficult challenges. The goal of our study is to help participants learn (and practice) new ways to cope with these difficulties during an important time in their life.
All study tasks can be completed virtually (online and via webcam). There is no transportation required required to participate.
Virtual sessions will be scheduled at a time that is convenient for you. You will be compensated for your time.
Detailed description of study
If you agree to be in this research study, you will be randomly assigned (like the flip of a coin) to either a Treatment Group or or Usual Care Group:
- Those in the treatment group will attend 6 to 8 virtual sessions of NET over the course of 6 weeks, while the usual care group will complete weekly mental health assessments online.
- No matter which group you are in, you will be asked to complete online questionnaires about your mental health and experiences over a period of several weeks.
- Study involvement lasts 6 months total.
Benefits of participating:
- You will learn practical ways to deal with stress, irritability, and bad memories.
- You will receive up to $120 for completing all of the study requirements. If you complete the third questionnaire, we will also provide you $50 in baby supplies of your choice (diapers, wipes, or formula; an additional gift card is possible if you do not want the baby supplies).
- We will provide you with information, resources, and referrals for help during pregnancy or the postpartum period, including for mental health. For mental health specifically, you will be provided a list of mental health services across IUSM and the state of Indiana if you do not have an existing mental health provider.
- For those in the Usual Care Group, you will also hear a description of the NET intervention for which you have the option to participate in free of charge after your participation in the study has ended.
Eligibility of study
You may be eligible for this study if you meet the following criteria:
- Conditions: Pregnant, Pregnancy, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD
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Age: 18 years or above
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Gender: Female
Inclusion criteria:
• Be 18 or older
• Be pregnant or had a baby no more than 12 weeks ago
• Read and understand English
• Live in Indiana
• Have had an event that caused trauma or lasting emotional pain
• Have a device with internet access and webcam capability
Exclusion criteria:
• Current psychotic or manic symptoms
• Cognitive impairment
• Trauma-focused psychotherapy
• Recent change in psychiatric medications
• Severe suicide risk
• Medical advice limiting participation in exposure therapy
• Current legal actions related to trauma
Updated on
21 Oct 2025.
Study ID: PSYC-IIR-NEXT, 22909
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