Slide source: Sherry Hill, Babies, Brains and Relationships
Another great story to demonstrate the importance of not being stuck in the "silo" of the discipline we were trained in. Barbara Kalmanson PhD is speaking to me here. -gw
...mental health providers are often under informed about the impact of sensory processing, motor development, or communication systems on the social and emotional development of the child. Here’s an example from the mental health consultation room. A young mother brings her toddler son for consultation. She is concerned he is on the Autism Spectrum. During the play assessment, the child shows interest in a toy drum. Mom and therapist join his play, each sitting to one side of him. The child bangs on the drum. The therapist captures his interest by holding her hand in the air and exaggerating a look on her face that signals high affect anticipation. With the therapist’s support, Mom tries the same gesture and facial expression, but the child only looks in the therapist’s direction. Mom’s facial expression sinks into depression. The therapist, informed by sensory processing differences, as well as psychological processes, sees Mom’s face and checks on her perception. Mom thinks the child prefers the therapist to his own mother. The therapist empathizes with her worry but also conjectures that it might have to do with his visual – motor systems. What if he prefers to look to the right? She has Mom switch places with her on the floor, and low and behold, the child only looks toward the mother. The mother’s faith in her capacity to engage her child is restored and the treatment can proceed by noticing the individual difference needs of her son, and how the parents can build engagement and intimacy in the relationship.
Implementation of principles of infant mental health across disciplines
No comments:
Post a Comment