Early Childhood Mental Health

For children ages 0-5 years, mental health is defined as healthy social and emotional development. This includes the ability to:

  • Form close and secure relationshipsAfrican American Father Worried About His Mixed Race Son as They Sit in the Park.
  • Experience, regulate and express emotions
  • Explore the environment and learn

Infants and young children grow within relationships with the adults who care for them, so their health depends upon the health and well-being of their parents and families.

Parents of children ages 0-5 years are often concerned about whether their children’s behavior is typical or age-appropriate. Infant-parent and child-parent therapies are relationship-based (dyadic) therapies that promote healthy development through prevention, early intervention and treatment for families with concerns about their young children’s well-being.

Infant-Parent Therapy

Infant-Parent Therapy is a dyadic therapy, which means we make use of the powerfully important relationship between you and your baby to help your baby thrive. My role is to respectfully, compassionately support you as you provide loving, mindful, attuned care to your baby, building upon the strengths in your relationship and easing any conflict or distress. The infant-parent relationship is among the most intense and important experiences of our lives. Challenges can be deeply painful and may have long-term consequences. Seeking psychotherapy early on can have a lifelong positive impact on the health of the child, parent and family.

You and your infant may benefit from this type of therapy if:

  • You have experienced disruptions in bonding due to adoption, NICU stays, postpartum depression or other early relationship stressors
  • You are worried that your baby is too fussy or difficult to soothe
  • You are worried about your baby’s sleeping or eating habits
  • You are worried that your baby seems disconnected or uninterested in you
  • You have a baby with developmental delays or medical problems and this is a source of stress or anxiety
  • You notice that your baby is having a hard time with separations or transitions
  • You are feeling overwhelmed by the demands of parenthood
  • Being a parent is bringing up painful memories from your own childhood, including adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
  • You and your baby have experienced loss, trauma or other life issues that are affecting you or your relationship

Baby handChild-Parent Therapy

Child-Parent Therapy is a dyadic therapy, which means we make use of the powerfully important relationship between you and your child to help your child thrive. Parents often decide to place their child in therapy due to child behavior issues. Child-Parent Therapy capitalizes on the importance of the parent-child relationship to address the child’s needs within the context of their family. My role is to respectfully, compassionately support you as you build upon the strengths in your relationship, ease any conflict or distress, and explore new ways to deal with emotional and behavioral concerns.

You and your child may benefit from this type of therapy if:

  • Your child has frequent tantrums or defiant behavior
  • Your child has aggressive behaviors such as biting or hitting
  • Your child is experiencing difficulties in school or childcare
  • Your child has difficulty connecting with either peers or adults
  • Your child exhibits fear, worry or anxiety, including separation anxiety
  • Your child has eating or sleeping problems
  • Your child is struggling with an adjustment such as the birth of a sibling, entering school or day care, etc.
  • Your child appears withdrawn or disconnected, or is experiencing regressive behaviors
  • You and your child are coping with a recent separation or divorce
  • You and your child are coping with loss such as the death of a loved one
  • Your child has experienced trauma such as domestic violence, abuse, hospitalization, etc.
  • You are feeling overwhelmed by the demands of parenthood
  • Being a parent is bringing up painful memories from your own childhood, including adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)