Infant Mental Health

The mental health of our infants and young children is critically important, yet is rarely part of the curriculum for professionals who serve children and their families. Nor is it ever taught to parents as a way for them to nurture their baby, from newborn throughout their parenting journey.

Infant and early childhood mental health is the foundation for healthy social and emotional development, and also addresses the most appropriate, effective ways to support young children who experience trauma.

Infant Mental Health Training - For Professionals

As a developmental psychologist, I support professionals in learning about infant and early childhood mental health so that they can better serve their own patients and clients.

Infant Mental Health Foundations, 2.5 hours

In the Foundations session, Dr. Hughes Pontier will illustrate what infant and early childhood mental health is, and what typical and atypical social and emotional development is for infants and young children. She will explain what infants and young children need to support their physical health, mental health and typical development, and will frame the latest developmental science and neuroscientific findings on the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on our lives.

After the training, participants will be able to:

define what healthy/typical social and emotional development is in infancy (0-3 years) and early childhood (3-5 years);
describe the importance of the role of caregiving on infant mental health and healthy/typical social emotional development;
indicate what adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are and summarize how they impact us throughout our lives; and
apply this information to their own work with the clients/patients they serve.

Infant Mental Health Promotion & Prevention, 2.5 hours

In this session, Dr. Hughes Pontier will dive further into the science behind the promotion of good mental health for all infants and young children, as well as the prevention of mental health problems/disorders in children who are at risk based on their adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). She will demonstrate ways in which caregivers can support a young child’s mental health as well as how professionals can support caregivers in doing so, too.

Participants will be able to:

define infant/early childhood mental health promotion and infant/early childhood mental health prevention;
evaluate how they, as professionals, can promote positive infant/early childhood mental health of their clients/patients;
evaluate how they, as professionals, can help prevent mental health problems in their clients/patients who may be at risk for poor mental and physical health, and developmental concerns due to their ACEs;
apply this information to their own work with the clients/patients they serve.

Infant Mental Health Understanding Trauma, 2.5 hours

In this session, Dr. Hughes Pontier will interpret and explain the complex interaction of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on our health, development and lifespan. She will illustrate the evidence-based best practices for intervention and treatment of infants and young children with mental health concerns. Together with participants, she will discuss how this knowledge relates to their work and the population(s) they serve.

Participants will be able to:

identify how major systems of the body and brain become dysregulated due to experiences of toxic stress;
associate adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to the risk for a variety of poor outcomes (mental health, physical health, and developmental);
locate appropriate resources and supports for infants and young children who are experiencing the effects of ACEs and their families in Miami; and
apply this information to their own work with the clients/patients they serve.

Infant Mental Health Intervention & Treatment, 2.5 hours

In this session, Dr. Hughes Pontier will share the evidence on how to help children and families heal after they have experienced trauma. She will illustrate the evidence-based best practices for intervention and treatment of infants and young children with mental health concerns.

Participants will be able to:

identify evidence-based models of intervention and treatment for children and families;
understand the comprehensive supports and strategies that help children heal after trauma;
locate appropriate, evidence-based intervention and treatment programs for infants and young children and their families in Miami; and
apply this information to their own work with the clients/patients they serve.

View available training dates on our Events page.

Infant Mental Health Workshops - For Families

As a developmental psychologist and mother, I support families in learning about infant and early childhood mental health so that they can be a better informed and more supportive parent.

Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health , 1.5 hours

Dr. Hughes Pontier will illustrate what infant and early childhood mental health is, and what typical and atypical social and emotional development is for infants and young children. She will explain what infants and young children need to support their physical health, mental health and typical development, and will frame the latest developmental science and neuroscientific findings on the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on our lives.

After the training, participants will be able to:

define what healthy/typical social and emotional development is in infancy (0-3 years) and early childhood (3-5 years);
describe the importance of the role of caregiving on infant mental health and healthy/typical social emotional development;
indicate what adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are and summarize how they impact us throughout our lives; and
apply this information to their own parenting and family context.

View available training dates on our Events page.