Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health

Programs that specialize in providing preventive, diagnostic and treatment services that focus on strengthening the social and emotional development and well-being of infants and young children within the context of early primary relationships. Services may include emotional support, developmental guidance, early relationship assessment and support, infant-parent psychotherapy and advocacy. The objectives of the discipline are to help infants and young children develop close and secure relationships with others; experience, express and regulate a full range of both positive and negative emotions; and actively explore the environment and learn.