Clinical Infant Mental Health

This section of the WAIMH Handbook of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health is crucial to the field of infant mental health as it includes chapters reflecting the changing theoretical understanding of the field and the emergence of developing clinical treatments. The different approaches to infant mental health treatments address not just current developmental, behavioral, and emotional problems but also prevention of later more serious problems with development and adjustment that, without treatment, are likely to emerge over time for infants, young children, and parents/caregivers. According to the ZERO TO THREE Infant Mental Task Force, “infant mental health” (IMH) is described as “the developing capacity of the child from birth to 3 years to experience, regulate (manage), and express emotions; form close and secure interpersonal relationships; and explore and master the environment and learn -all in the context of family, community, and cultural expectations for young children” (Nov 7, 2015).