In this insightful episode, our special guests, Kirsten Sippel-Klug and Kena Chambers, shed light on the process of building a stronger therapeutic relationship despite cultural differences. They discuss how they fostered a positive working relationship by navigating the nuances of their backgrounds. The conversation delves into instances of mismatch and repair, highlighting the challenges faced and the strategies employed to overcome them. Additionally, the guests share a pivotal moment in their collaboration that significantly contributed to the development of their relationship. For therapists and parents interested in creating their own positive therapeutic relationships, valuable advice is offered based on the guests' experiences. Tune in to gain valuable insights into cultivating meaningful connections in therapeutic settings.

Resources:

John, M. S. S., Thomas, K., & Noroña, C. R. (2013). Diversity-informed infant mental health tenets: Together in the struggle for social justice. Retrieved from https://perspectives.waimh.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2017/05/ZERO-TO-THREE-Corner.-Diversity-Informed-Infant-Mental-Health-Tenets-Together-in-the-Struggle-for-Social-Justice-.pdf

Vikitsreth, N. (2022). Queering “Ways of being:” Replacing politeness with honesty to create belonging. Zero to Three, 42(4).

Nat Vikitsreth, LCSW, DT, CEIM, Founder of Come Back to Care, Inc.
Listen to the Come Back to Care Podcast: https://www.comebacktocare.com/podcast
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Caring Across Colors: Bridges to Understanding with Kirsten Sippel-Klug and Kena Chambers

In this episode, Andy Gomm joins Lisa and Tracy to discuss ways to elevate policy and advocacy efforts in infant mental health.

Visit https://veipd.org/main/index.html or https://www.vaimh.org/ for more information

This podcast is a collaborative effort from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (through a contract with the Partnership for People with Disabilities/VCU).

Resources:

Briefing Paper and Planning Tool: Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health and Early Intervention (Part C): Policies and practices for supporting the social and emotional development and mental health of infants and toddlers in the context of parent-child relationships: https://ectacenter.org/topics/iecmh/iecmh-partc.asp

Elevating IMH through Policy and Advocacy

In this episode, Lisa and Tracy share tips to promote gratitude daily. Visit https://veipd.org/main/index.html or https://www.vaimh.org/ for more information

This podcast is a collaborative effort from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (through a contract with the Partnership for People with Disabilities/VCU).

Resources:

Promoting Gratitude for Mental Health: https://www.childrenscolorado.org/doctors-and-departments/departments/psych/mental-health-professional-resources/primary-care-articles/gratitude-and-mental-health/

The Neuroscience of Gratitude and Effects on the Brain: https://positivepsychology.com/neuroscience-of-gratitude/

Chasing Life Podcast, Sanjay Gupta, Topic: The Rested Brain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALDPDBh1JhU

Positive Mindset, by Simon Sinek: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENJGh8PnobQ

Book Resource: Ten Percent Happier, by Dan Harris

Promoting Gratitude

In this episode, Valerie Abbott joins Lisa and Tracy to share her lived experience with Postpartum OCD. Thank you, Valerie, for being open, honest, and vulnerable with us.

Visit https://veipd.org/main/index.html [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVJ3QkdOWnJTbnlDckt1VE9nNFFDczRnVDZId3xBQ3Jtc0trd3VrdUM0a3NLSk1TazRfWl9IdWlpdU85ZGhIMmxnc19vTm1fX3dJalVKXzlSRWFWQnBFQmg3T1ZPNUNreTZJZTJ1X25icGV2VzVCYVhoaVpXT1hMM2pub3dmV0lGQmd6ZUtTWTlUenBpdWIydHNobw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fveipd.org%2Fmain%2Findex.html&v=jxXIdYDPADs] or https://www.vaimh.org/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbDNDOXVnT2t6UTZVb2JZSTRsZjBsajRic3BQUXxBQ3Jtc0tsbXZFeWN4Y05oM2U3d3RBdHhmY21xT2t0RUlNWC1Dc3BuSHdRclRJOHhsSmVPZFlXb1BySTBQR0N4TUFVcHh3Wm9XSUU1cjZIR1o5dVdLdW9TbUJISlJ3UDctYjNEcUgwVkNxRnFpQVRPYzJ0akZvdw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vaimh.org%2F&v=jxXIdYDPADs] for more information.

Postpartum OCD with Valerie Abbott

In this episode, Lisa and Tracy provide the definitions of Infant Mental Health (IMH) and early relational health, share statistics, and break down the stigma around IMH.

Visit https://veipd.org/main/index.html [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVJ3QkdOWnJTbnlDckt1VE9nNFFDczRnVDZId3xBQ3Jtc0trd3VrdUM0a3NLSk1TazRfWl9IdWlpdU85ZGhIMmxnc19vTm1fX3dJalVKXzlSRWFWQnBFQmg3T1ZPNUNreTZJZTJ1X25icGV2VzVCYVhoaVpXT1hMM2pub3dmV0lGQmd6ZUtTWTlUenBpdWIydHNobw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fveipd.org%2Fmain%2Findex.html&v=jxXIdYDPADs] or https://www.vaimh.org/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbDNDOXVnT2t6UTZVb2JZSTRsZjBsajRic3BQUXxBQ3Jtc0tsbXZFeWN4Y05oM2U3d3RBdHhmY21xT2t0RUlNWC1Dc3BuSHdRclRJOHhsSmVPZFlXb1BySTBQR0N4TUFVcHh3Wm9XSUU1cjZIR1o5dVdLdW9TbUJISlJ3UDctYjNEcUgwVkNxRnFpQVRPYzJ0akZvdw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vaimh.org%2F&v=jxXIdYDPADs] for more information.

Additional Resources discussed:

How to Communicate Effectively About Early Relational Health: What It Is and Why It Matters: https://nurtureconnection.org/resource/how-to-communicate-effectively-about-early-relational-health-what-it-is-and-why-it-matters/

Briefing Paper: Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health and Early Intervention (Part C): Policies and practices for supporting the social and emotional development and mental health of infants and toddlers in the context of parent-child relationships: https://ectacenter.org/topics/iecmh/iecmh-partc.asp

Neufeld Institute: https://neufeldinstitute.org/

References:

Center for the Study of Social Policy (n.d.). Advancing Early Relational Health. https://cssp.org/our-work/project/advancing-early-relational-health/#:~:text=Early%20Relational%20Health%E2%80%94or%20the,healthy%20children%2C%20healthy%20families%2C%20and

Zero to Three (n.d.). Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. https://www.zerotothree.org/issue-areas/infant-and-early-childhood-mental-health/

Zero to Three Infant Mental Health Task Force Steering Committee . Definition of infant mental health. National Center for Clinical Infant Programs; Washington, DC: 2001.

Breaking Down the Stigma of IMH

In this episode, Lisa and Tracy discuss the skills and strategies from Weatherston’s (2000) article, The Infant Mental Health Specialist.

Visit https://veipd.org/main/index.html [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVJ3QkdOWnJTbnlDckt1VE9nNFFDczRnVDZId3xBQ3Jtc0trd3VrdUM0a3NLSk1TazRfWl9IdWlpdU85ZGhIMmxnc19vTm1fX3dJalVKXzlSRWFWQnBFQmg3T1ZPNUNreTZJZTJ1X25icGV2VzVCYVhoaVpXT1hMM2pub3dmV0lGQmd6ZUtTWTlUenBpdWIydHNobw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fveipd.org%2Fmain%2Findex.html&v=jxXIdYDPADs] or https://www.vaimh.org/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbDNDOXVnT2t6UTZVb2JZSTRsZjBsajRic3BQUXxBQ3Jtc0tsbXZFeWN4Y05oM2U3d3RBdHhmY21xT2t0RUlNWC1Dc3BuSHdRclRJOHhsSmVPZFlXb1BySTBQR0N4TUFVcHh3Wm9XSUU1cjZIR1o5dVdLdW9TbUJISlJ3UDctYjNEcUgwVkNxRnFpQVRPYzJ0akZvdw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vaimh.org%2F&v=jxXIdYDPADs] for more information.

Additional Resources discussed:

CDC Milestones: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html

Brain Power of Natural Learning Opportunities (page 2): https://www.veipd.org/main/pdf/coaching_and_telehealth_families_9.11.20.pdf

Ghosts in the Nursery Video Explanation: https://youtu.be/e7HxuTZ7A_E

References:

Weatherston, D. The Infant Mental Health Specialist. Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families, Oct./Nov. 2000. October 2000.

We ALL Have a Role in Infant Mental Health (IMH)

In this episode, Lisa and Tracy break down the various stress factors those working with young children and their families may face including the impact on practitioners and ways to reduce stress. Visit https://veipd.org/main/index.html [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVJ3QkdOWnJTbnlDckt1VE9nNFFDczRnVDZId3xBQ3Jtc0trd3VrdUM0a3NLSk1TazRfWl9IdWlpdU85ZGhIMmxnc19vTm1fX3dJalVKXzlSRWFWQnBFQmg3T1ZPNUNreTZJZTJ1X25icGV2VzVCYVhoaVpXT1hMM2pub3dmV0lGQmd6ZUtTWTlUenBpdWIydHNobw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fveipd.org%2Fmain%2Findex.html&v=jxXIdYDPADs] or https://www.vaimh.org/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbDNDOXVnT2t6UTZVb2JZSTRsZjBsajRic3BQUXxBQ3Jtc0tsbXZFeWN4Y05oM2U3d3RBdHhmY21xT2t0RUlNWC1Dc3BuSHdRclRJOHhsSmVPZFlXb1BySTBQR0N4TUFVcHh3Wm9XSUU1cjZIR1o5dVdLdW9TbUJISlJ3UDctYjNEcUgwVkNxRnFpQVRPYzJ0akZvdw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vaimh.org%2F&v=jxXIdYDPADs] for more information.

Additional Resources discussed:

BOOK: What Happened To You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey

BOOK: The Anti-Anxiety Notebook: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Other Essentials by Hod Tamir, Rachel E. Brenner, Diana Hu, Emory Strickland, Haley Nahman

Stress and the Early Interventionist 

In this episode, Lisa and Tracy discuss the impact of stress on caregivers and children, the various stress factors families are facing, and ways to help families manage stress. Visit https://veipd.org/main/index.html or https://www.vaimh.org/ for more information.

Stress on Caregivers and Children

Early interventionists (EIs) play a critical role nurturing the relationship between the caregiver and child to enhance all children’s social and emotional development to promote successful future outcomes. This podcast focuses on infant mental health topics that support the emotional well-being of all families. Join us to listen and reflect to promote meaningful moments for all families in early intervention.

Visit www.veipd.org for more information. You can watch the video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCQjRma-0n1ZsNicCeyIweSLJEMGptA_6

This podcast is a collaborative effort from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (through a contract with the Partnership for People with Disabilities/VCU).

Meaningful Moments - Connecting IMH to EI