Perinatal parent-infant art therapy: from pregnancy to two years old

This course introduces art therapy practice within perinatal parent-infant mental health. Adult mental health throughout the perinatal period and infant personality development are described in a theoretical context. The course explores perinatal trauma, including sub-fertility, baby loss and how mental health illness can impact parents and the parent-infant relationship. Treatment planning, safeguarding risk and infant observation using video analysis are demonstrated using clinical material.

Book tickets

Date & Time

Saturday 26 November 2022

10am - 4pm

Tickets

Non-members: £195

Associate members: £120

Full members
Employed: £120
Underemployed: £110
Unemployed/retired: £100

Trainee members: £100

Please create a free booking account if you don't have one or are not a member.

Location

Delivered via Zoom, information for the day and invite to join will be sent 1 week before

Perinatal parent-infant art therapy: from pregnancy to two years old

This course introduces art therapy practice within perinatal parent-infant mental health. Adult mental health throughout the perinatal period and infant personality development are described in a theoretical context. The course explores perinatal trauma, including sub-fertility, baby loss and how mental health illness can impact parents and the parent-infant relationship. Treatment planning, safeguarding risk and infant observation using video analysis are demonstrated using clinical material.

Open to all suitably qualified and trainee professionals.

This course introduces a dynamic intergenerational mode of art therapy that focuses on the complexities of relationships and deep-rooted traumas. The perinatal period is a time when adults’ sensitivity to their own childhood memories of being parented are heightened. The non-verbal nature of art therapy can help adults gain a deeper understanding of themselves whilst making links to current relationships. Intergenerational repair during the perinatal period can achieve positive psychological change that can affect a baby’s neurological and personality development.

Pandemic lockdowns have curtailed sensory interventions like art therapy, yet touch is central in perinatal trauma, baby loss and parent-infant work. This course considers the effectiveness of online delivery and physical proximity in the community therapy room. Infant observation, formulation, treatment planning, safeguarding risk and suitable measures to evidence practice are also discussed.

A model of perinatal parent-infant art therapy is introduced. This highlights the dynamic relationships formed between the parent and infant mind, the therapist’s mind and the objective position of the artwork made. A description is given of how video analysis is shared in supervision and sensitively reviewed with parents to help facilitate bi-directional creativity. Parental reflective function (mentalization) is also discussed.

Participants may find it useful to have artmaking materials such as clay, paper, and ink available as opportunities will be given to reflect on course content using art practice.

On completing this course, you will have:

1. Gained a deeper theoretical understanding of the perinatal period, perinatal trauma, parent mental health and infant personality development

2. Learnt how a transgenerational model of perinatal parent-infant art therapy can be applied to clinical work

3. Learnt how the perinatal period offers a small window of time to: (a) help halt transmissions of deep-rooted trauma; (b) maximise parent-infant interaction to positively affect personality development; (c) value the use of video and artmaking in this field

Tutor: Diane Bruce

Thank you to the excellent trainers.

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