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Infant Mental Health: An Attuned Developmental, Clinical, and Relational Service in Accordance with the Fraiberg Model

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WAIMH Handbook of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health

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Abstract

This chapter explores infant mental health, an attuned developmental, clinical, and relational service on behalf of an infant or young child identified as at high risk for social or emotional disturbances and their caregiving parent(s). After providing a brief overview of the origins of Fraiberg’s infant mental health model, firmly rooted in psychoanalytic and developmental understanding, the authors review research specific to infant mental health practices; introduce core principles and practices, clinical concerns that contribute to caregiving difficulties and disturbances of infancy; and provide an overview of intensive therapeutic responses. One case story illustrates ways in which infant risks may be reduced and parental competencies enhanced through Fraiberg’s unique and complex model of service.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. IMH Consultant, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, USA

    Deborah Weatherston

  2. Clinical Psychologist and IMH Mentor, Childhood Matters, Cork, Ireland

    Catherine Maguire

  3. Executive Director of Pregnancy to Parenthood, Perth, WA, Australia

    Rochelle Matacz

Authors
  1. Deborah Weatherston
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  2. Catherine Maguire
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  3. Rochelle Matacz
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Joy D. Osofsky

  2. Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, DeWitt, MI, USA

    Hiram E. Fitzgerald

  3. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Bar Ilan University Azrieli Medical School, Safed, Israel

    Miri Keren

  4. Department of Child Psychiatry Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland

    Kaija Puura

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Weatherston, D., Maguire, C., Matacz, R. (2024). Infant Mental Health: An Attuned Developmental, Clinical, and Relational Service in Accordance with the Fraiberg Model. In: Osofsky, J.D., Fitzgerald, H.E., Keren, M., Puura, K. (eds) WAIMH Handbook of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-48631-9_17

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