Foundations of Infant Mental Health

Catalog description

This course will provide an historical, theoretical, and empirical overview of the field of infant mental health. The different definitions and parameters of infant mental health will be explored, from promotion to prevention, intervention and treatment. Classic literature will be revisited, including the evolution of the concept from early infant psychiatry to the pioneering work of Selma Fraiberg to modern conceptions that focus on the promotion of social-emotional well being in the early years. The empirical basis to practice will also be examined, focusing on how important theories of social development (e.g., attachment, temperament) are applied to infant mental health work. Emphasis is placed on how infant mental health principles provide a foundation for work with infants, toddlers, and families across all settings and disciplines.