Infant Mental Health Online Course(s) & Continuing Education
Access the latest clinical skills and research for Infant Mental Health for PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH professional training. These Infant Mental Health online courses provide practice-changing skills and valuable perspectives from leading global experts. This Infant Mental Health education has been accredited for a variety of CEUs / CERPs and can be accessed on-demand, at your own pace.
Infant Mental Health: What Does It Look Like in Practice?
Gretchen Becker Crabb is an Occupational Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor, and Endorsed Infant Mental Health Therapist. She is also a Certified Lactation Counselor, La Leche League Leader, and Brazleton Newborn Observation (NBO) trainer.
Gretchen’s passion is rooted in fostering lifelong relationships and connection through co-regulation in pregnancy and beyond. Her unique approach to lactation support and therapy is rooted in culturally attuned sensory, somatic, and trauma-informed mental health techniques.
Gretchen owns and operates a private practice in Madison, Wisconsin. For 21 years, she has provided developmental, trauma, feeding, and attachment support for tiny humans and their caregivers in birth to three, preschool, private practice, and peer group settings. Gretchen is an international speaker, reflective supervisor, and infant mental health consultant. In these roles, she offers compassionate, experiential, and reflective holding spaces for professionals. She is a proud United States Air Force spouse and mother of three boys.
Topic: Breastfeeding as an Essential Component of Developmental Care in the NICU - [View Abstract]
Topic: Infant Mental Health: What Does It Look Like in Practice? - [View Abstract]
Topic: Scent-Sational Connections: The Role of Olfaction in Development - [View Abstract]
Topic: Sensory Processing and Breast/Bodyfeeding: Using Co-Regulation to Support the Feeding Relationship - [View Abstract]
Topic: Vestibular Processing: Using the Sixth Sense to Support Lactation and Parent/Infant Relationships - [View Abstract]
In this presentation, we will dive into the world of infant mental health and explore the unique ways that providers promote relationship development in families and communities for the first five years and beyond. We will discuss the basic philosophies and strategies used in the field of infant mental health, then engage together in an interactive and thought-provoking case study. Somatic techniques, reflective strategies and cultural considerations will be woven throughout to deepen learning and curiosity-- bringing the concepts to life and promoting the integration of infant mental health concepts into your daily practice.
Interdisciplinary Neuroprotective Practice Standards and Perinatal Mental Health in the NICU
Dr. Craig lives in metro Atlanta, GA., is an Associate Professor and the Department Chair of Brenau University’s School of Occupational Therapy program. She has been practicing for 35 years, received her degree in OT at the Medical College of Georgia, her MBA from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, and her PhD in Infant and Childhood Disorders with emphasis in Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities from Fielding Graduate University. Jenene currently serves as the Director of Education for National Association of Neonatal Therapists (NANT). She is also on the executive committee of the Board of Directors for the National Perinatal Association. In addition to consulting with several local NICUs, Jenene works PRN at a regional Level III NICU. She serves as a national speaker for the care of premature infants and families embattled in the stressful environment of the NICU. Jenene’s personal passion is to support multidisciplinary work in the NICU with a focus on parent-infant outcomes.
Hospitalization of a baby in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) has been described as a traumatic experience for both parents and baby leading to higher rates of postpartum depression and posttraumatic stress disorder in parents and to adverse developmental, cognitive and behavioral outcomes in their infants. The focus of care in the NICU has been broadening and evolving to emphasize the importance of supporting the family-infant relationship, since ultimately, the well-being of the family affects the well-being of the baby. Research documents that NICU parents both desire and benefit from psychosocial support from NICU staff, yet many staff, including neonatologists and neonatal nurses, do not feel they have adequate skills to support these needs. NICU staff need knowledge and tools beyond what typical healthcare education provides. Interdisciplinary recommendations for work toward best practice around psychosocial support of infants/parents and staff are presented.
Using an Infant Mental Health Model to Support the Breastfeeding Dyad: A Case Based Presentation
L. Hope Wills is a pediatric dietitian and international board-certified lactation consultant. She provides clinical care for children with feeding problems and chronic health conditions. In 2022 Ms. Wills completed the NAPA Fellowship in Infant Mental Health. Her interest in infant mental health stems from her belief in the importance of the first 1000 days of a child’s life and the need to support the breastfeeding dyad. Ms. Wills has presented at the national and local level on the topic of nutrition, feeding, lactation and infant mental health. In addition to clinical service, Ms. Wills serves as nutrition faculty for the California LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disablities) program, funded by the maternal child health bureau.
Lactation consultants use a variety of tools and strategies to support the breastfeeding dyad. This presentation will describe three core concepts and approaches embedded within infant mental health: the neuro sequential model, Facilitated Attuned Interactions (FAN) and Touch points. Using a case-based format, the presentation will offer examples of how these approaches can be used to support the breastfeeding dyad through engagement and co-regulations and will be shown how to integrate these practices into a lactation care plan for improved infant mental health outcomes.
