Independent Therapist and Consultant private practice Burlington, Wisconsin, United States
It is well known that Infant Mental Health (IMH) is focused on the relationship development in a particular caregiver dyad. Because of this relationship-based approach to practice, many professionals in this field receive Reflective Supervision/Consultation with a trained provider. This approach allows for a safe place for a practitioner to discuss difficult thoughts/feelings about a case that may be impeding the relationship with the client, thus service provided. This safe place can also be a spot to talk about unconscious bias and systemic racism. The systems that support maternal child health are often neglected from being supported through IMH principals that result in enhanced outcomes for not only the identified adult client, but the identified baby and attachment of current and future children to that parent. The aims of this poster are to: 1) increase awareness of the need to enhance IMH principals of relationship development in the services that are supporting parents/caregivers, and within the staff that support them 2) map out the service areas that are touched by parents/caregivers of young children such as medical (OB/GYN, pain management, cardiology) providers, substance abuse clinics, psychiatric clinics, mental health therapists, insurance companies, 4) discuss how IMH training/awareness and reflective supervision/consultation can impact the service provided to these parents, and thus the potential for increased growth in the parent’s ability to provide healthy socio-emotional development skills (trust, overcoming barriers, enhancing strengths, etc), as well as help break the cycles of intergenerational trauma 5) discuss how reflective supervision/consultation can impact employee/practitioner well-being.
