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Presenter: Laurie Schoenberg, LMFT and IECMHS
ILLUMINATING INFANT-EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH (IECMH)
Researchers over the last decade have verified the significance of brain development during the early childhood years. Unfortunately, surveys regarding the general public knowledge of IECMH are significantly dissonant from the experts’ understanding. For example, some surveys have revealed that the general public believes “things that happen before the age of 3 have no impact later in life.” Of course this is a myth and in fact scientists have been able to validate those babies’ earliest relationships and experiences will shape the architecture of the brain and the foundation upon which all later learning, behavior and even long term physical health depend on. All of society benefits from providing young children with a healthy environment in which to learn and grow. Economists have also shown an impressive return on early childhood investment/resources to the public (i.e., decreased cost in special education, crime, welfare, and increased income taxes due to increased earnings).
Seminar participants will discover that babies come into this world totally dependent on their caregivers for the best opportunity for healthy social-emotional development. We will discuss how the outcome of the quality of the relationship will set the pattern for all future relationships for the rest of the child’s life. From an infant/young child’s perspective, caregivers are to be trusted, to love, comfort and provide all the resources to their ultimate survival. Every child deserves the right to be a star in their caregiver’s eyes and to feel their love as unconditional. Nurturing experiences directly influence the healthy growth of a young child’s brain. This information is essential in understanding a healthy brain promotes a securely attached child. During these early years, a child’s brain has tremendous potential to develop appropriate circuitry, which will specifically support his ability throughout his life to accurately respond to situations from an emotionally balanced frame work.
This two-hour presentation focuses on an overview of infant-early childhood mental health through a framework of promotion and prevention, focused intervention and intensive treatment. The core message the participants will be able to use as a short elevator pitch as a result of this course.
Relationships matter during the early childhood years!
It will become abundantly clear by the end of the presentation that adult mental disorders/problems can be prevented during the early years of life! Caregivers truly hold the blueprint to a child’s relationship legacy and can prevent a child from growing up and needing to recover later from their childhood. This course will have meaning for all therapists/participants because the understanding how relationships matter during the early childhood years is either an already nested story with our client or a story which has not been yet been told. Lastly, I am hoping the significance of IECMH leaves the participants with a possibility that effective prevention can reduce the long term risks of mental disorders and collectively we can all advocate for the tenets of IECMH as a public health priority!
Participants will be able to:
- 1. Describe the gaps in public perceptions about infant/early childhood mental health.
- 2. Explain the definition of infant/early childhood mental health.
- 3. Discuss why infant/early childhood mental health is important; individually and as a society.
- 4. Know how they can raise public awareness for infant/early childhood mental health (through promotion, prevention, interventions and treatment).
Bio
Laurie Schoenberg, LMFT in private practice specializing in the infant & early childhood years and a mental health consultant for early childhood education programs. Laurie holds a Master of Science degree in Instructional Leadership with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education and a Master of Arts in Psychology Counseling. Laurie participated in a post-graduate Fellowship through the UC Davis Napa Infant-Parent Mental Health Program during 2016-2017 and is now a graduate Fellow. Laurie is an author of a recent volume titled: PARENTAL REFLECTION BUILDS RELATIONSHIP AFFECTION. The culmination of experience and education has created a passionate mindset for Laurie to see the world through the eyes of a child. Laurie and her husband have five adult, married children and six very special grandchildren!
IE-CAMFT Illuminating Infant Early Childhood Mental Health.ppt