What is infant mental health or IMH?
IMH is a treatment which aims to strengthen relationships between a parent and a child. It is not that the child is "bad" or "the problem"; it is the relationship or connection which needs help. This type of therapy helps parents and caregivers learn how to meet the emotional needs of their baby, toddler, or young child.
How Children Communicate
Children and babies don't communicate with their words like adults can to express themself. Instead, they exhibit behavior to express themselves. When a child is crying, we tend to their needs. If we don't tend to their needs, they cry louder, longer, harder, until their needs are met. Once the caregiver then tends to their needs the child learns that that specific strategy i.e. louder, longer, or harder- works. Then, we have a child who believes they must meet their needs by initiating that specific intensity, resorting to that level of intensity the next time they have a similar need.
Therefore, it is not that they are a cry baby or a bad baby who cries too much, rather, it is a baby who has learned that is what must be done in order to satisfy their needs- emotional or physical. Once a caregiver truly understands their child's physical and emotional needs, we can begin to respond to the child's ques at a lower intensity. This healthy give and take, is called mutual reciprocity. We look for acknowledgement in our children, as do they with us. Parents and caregivers can do this intentionally, and create a healthy responsiveness which will result in harmony within the relationship.
What about gentle parenting? This is a great way to teach children that they are in control of their emotions, which in turn means they are in control of their behaviors. Just what most households are looking for- responsiveness and equilibrium, aka, mutual reciprocity.
This is one example of strategies which are learned through IMH services. Serene Trails Therapy is a practice with expertise in this domain. Call now if you believe your child is expressing their emotions in a manner which has become intense, severe, dangerous, challenging, or impacts their functioning.
Written by: Brittany Rice, LCSW
Contact Brittany for more information
Call/text 561-335-6658
Email: info@serenetrailstherapy.com
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