Infant-Parent Training Institute

The Infant-Parent Training Institute (IPTI) is the only institution in New England that offers integrated clinical and theoretical training in infant mental health. The Institute is a unique resource for providing multidisciplinary training to direct care staff, supervisors, and program directors. Participants in our training include social workers, mental health clinicians, psychologists, psychiatrists, early child care providers, and Early Intervention Directors and Specialists. Professionals trained at IPTI bring a focus on the social-emotional health of the infant-parent relationship back to their work in human service agencies, early intervention programs, hospitals, early child care centers, and private practice.

What is Infant Mental Health?
What Can I Do with Training in Infant-Parent Mental Health?

Program Offerings:

Infant Mental Health Fellowship
The IMH Certificate Programs include coursework in infant/parent development, assessment, intervention, and consultation; clinical practice in infant-parent psychotherapy; and case presentations.

Infant Observation Course
Observing infants over time in their family setting forms the foundation for understanding early development and the parent-child relationship. In addition, the experience of close observation builds awareness of the observer's internal experiences and responses, a critical base for therapeutic work. Formal training in infant observation has long played a role in the training of psychotherapy professionals and child development specialists. Observers become sensitized to intricate aspects of infant behavior and parent-infant interaction. The seminar is a small (maximum of five students) and supportive learning environment.

Maternal Mental Health Course
This course meets for 10 consecutive Friday mornings from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. To find out when the next section will be offered please contact us. The course includes issues of trauma, intergenerational parenting patterns, research on maternal depression and mothering under special circumstances. Use of video and opportunities for exploring case material will be provided.

Maternal Mental Health Interventions Course
As screening and awareness of maternal depression become more widespread, the need for interventions in the postpartum and early childhood periods grows. Both traditional and alternative treatment options, aimed to meet the needs of each woman's unique experience, have proliferated. This course aims to examine different approaches, expand the working knowledge of treatment options and explore the integration of interventions into practice. Opportunities for learning and integration are maximized through readings, class discussion, and case presentations.

Toddler Observation Course
The Institute is now offering the opportunity to observe toddlers over time in their family setting. Observers will study: themes of attachment, self-development, separation, the evolution of play and changing relationships within a family with the added complexity of the toddler’s new mobility, cognitive and language development.

Master Classes
Guest lecturers renowned in the infant mental health field are invited to share their research and clinical expertise. Open to IPTI students and the public.

CEU’s are Available for Some Disciplines
Some courses may be eligible for Early Intervention Competencies. Information about scholarship and funding for training for Early Intervention professionals can be found on the EI Training Center website. Look for information on the Shishmanian Fellowship.

See the Connected Beginnings website for information about scholarships.

The Infant-Parent Training Institute is a Training Affiliate of the Cambridge Health Alliance Department of Psychiatry, which is a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School.

For more information, call 781-647-JFCS (5327) or email your questions via our contact us page.