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How to Become an Infant Mental Health Specialist
Infant Mental Health Certification for Mental Health Professionals Weatherston (2000) describes the infant mental health specialist “…not as a member of a particular discipline, but rather as someone with a distinct set of core beliefs, skills, training experiences, and clinical strategies who incorporates a comprehensive, intensive and relationship-based approach to working with young children and families.” Professionals in the field of mental health as well as other disciplines can obtain certification as an infant mental health specialist. This certification is often sought by and most times only offered to those with an advanced degree but can also be offered at the undergraduate level. Coursework is intensive and consists of interdisciplinary and specialized training in the areas of infant and child growth and development as well topics related to family functioning, dysfunctions in development, and assessment and intervention strategies. Programs also include an intensive clinical internship. The infant mental health specialist will provide services based on the community in which they work, but most times services are provided to families with multiple risk factors that could include: adolescent parents, poverty or inadequate income, single parents, first born infants, low birth weight infants, parents diagnosed with mental health issues, developmental disability or delay, or substance abuse (Michigan Department of Community Health, 2002). Services may be provided after birth, during the first year of life or even during pregnancy. Some areas have specific infant mental health programs within community mental health agencies or through other state or federal mental health programs. Early intervention by an infant mental health specialist can reduce the incidences of developmental disorders, child abuse and neglect, and emotional or behavioral disorders (Michigan Department of Community Health, 2002). The infant mental health specialist provides the following services (Weatherston, 2000): Concrete Assistance- Immediate needs attended to in order to assure the parent is able to feed, protect, and nurture the infant Emotional Support-Acknowledgement of parental needs and strengths, addressing concerns and offering consistent support Developmental Guidelines-Education on and recognizing and anticipating specific infant development milestones and using play to nurture positive development Early Relationship Assessment and Support-Allowing the opportunity to utilize the practitioner’s presence and observations “in the moment” to reinforce positive interactions and invite parents comments about their relationship with the infant. Advocacy-Speaking on behalf of the infant or the parent to express unmet needs and navigate social service systems for assistance. Infant-Parent Psychotherapy-Offering the parent the opportunity to express their feelings regarding the infant in the presence of the infant. Also offering the parent the opportunity to discuss past trauma or negative experiences separately in individual therapy to help reduce the risk of repeated dysfunction in the parent-child relationship.
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Contributor's Note
This is part of a series on Infant Mental Health.
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