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Training Registration
Location
Relationship Specificity in Infancy and Early Childhood
Julie Larrieu, Ph.D.
The relationships that infants and young children form with their significant caregivers provide the context for development in all spheres of functioning. The kind and quality of relationships that young children have with each of their caregivers can differ substantially. These relationships are the centerpiece of assessment in infant and early childhood mental health. The Working Model of the Child Interview (WMCI) is a clinical interview that assesses how a caregiver perceives, feels, and thinks about their child and their relationship. This interview assesses internal, subjective aspects of the relationship which are critical to identify in order to understand relationship quality and the functioning of the dyad. Observations of caregiver and child interactions also provide essential information about the kind and quality of the relationship. Information obtained from both internal representations and external observations can then be used to build on strengths and intervene with concerns, in order to optimize the relationship between the child and each of their parents or caregivers. In this training, Dr. Larrieu will present an overview of relationship assessment and illustrate with a child and his significant caregivers the diverse ways in which different caregivers think about and understand the same child. This training will demonstrate the importance of understanding each caregiver’s perspectives of their child and themselves as parents towards impacting their child’s development, as well as current and future functioning. Intervening to impact caregiver-child relationships must include attention to internal representations as well as external observations of the relationship so that change can be sustained. Illustrative case and video vignettes will be presented.
Participants will be able to:
- Understand the importance of caregivers’ perceptions of the child (i.e., the internal representations regarding caregivers’ relationships with their child and how they impact functioning).
- Understand the importance of caregiver-child observable interactions and their relevance for assessing the kind and quality of the relationships.
- Recognize common themes that can be demonstrated by internal and external aspects of caregiver-child relationships.
- Use information based on relationship assessment to identify goals for intervention with caregivers and children.
This training is provided at no-cost by the Health Care Authority - mental health providers serving children birth through five enrolled in Apple Health are eligible to participate.