Infant Mental Health

PARENT- INFANT ATTACHMENT PROBLEMS

The most protective factor against later developmental, emotional or behavioral problems begins in the first year after birth: the formation of a secure attachment relationship with a primary caregiver. This early attachment relationship influences later development in a number of ways:

  • Experiences with the mother or primary caregiver affect the neurobiology and structure of the infant’s developing brain. The infant-parent attachment provides opportunities to develop capacities for higher levels of cognitive processing.
  •  It is the foundation for learning affect-regulation and impulse control. The baby is soothed by the parent’s responses, which then become internalized and something that the infant will later be able to do on his or her own.
  • Infants learn relationship skills, especially empathy, behavioral regulation, communication and emotional attachment to others.
  • Internal working models are being developed during this time. Infants begin to anticipate the responses to their actions and signals. If they are consistently and caringly attended to when in distress, they will likely develop a secure attachment to the primary caregiver and be able to learn to trust others and form healthy relationships. If on the contrary, they are neglected or caretaking is inconsistent or ambivalent, infants will likely develop attachment styles that are insecure, avoidant or disorganized. These internal working models generate the unconscious expectations of relationships that may last a lifetime.

 I have experience working as an infant mental health specialist for many years. The majority of my clients in this area of mental health have been mothers with mental health problems, i.e. mild to severe depression (including post-partum), or anxiety, which often impacted and put at risk the appropriate cognitive, emotional and social development of their infants and toddlers (0 to 3 years old).

There are times when these infant-parent developing relationships maybe disturbed by the parent's own mental health problems, such as histories of unresolved losses and traumatic life events. Since the environment provided by the child’s first caregivers has a profound effect on every aspect of his or her early development, infant-parent psychotherapy helps reduce the risk of relationship failure which can interfere with this process.  

Young children need to develop a relationship with at least one primary caregiver in order for their social and emotional development to occur normally. Without this attachment, they will suffer serious psychological and social impairment. A timely assessment of your relationship with your infant or toddler may provide you with the information you need to know if your child's development is at risk.

Vilma Sylvester, LMFT provides psychotherapy and coaching to individuals, teens, children, couples and families.  Her office is close to Albany, Emeryville, Alameda, Oakland, Piedmont, Walnut Creek and Lamorinda.  1664 Solano Ave. Berkeley, CA 94707

    Contact me to arrange for a free consultation.

 (925)640-7481

 vilmasylvesterlmft@gmail.com