An Introduction to Infant-Preschooler Mental Health

Course Overview
Quality early childhood mental health practices utilize evidence-based, relationship-focused approaches to promote cognitive, developmental, emotional, and social growth. These practices are not specific to any one discipline; infant and preschooler mental health practitioners come from a myriad of professions. Infant-preschooler mental health is often a subspecialty within a specific discipline, spanning from child development to psychiatry. This course provides a brief introduction to the foundational concepts and principles of infant and preschooler mental health, highlighting the complex and important role of relationships and attachments in early childhood.

Learning Outcomes 
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:

• Define and discuss the tenets of infant-preschooler mental health.
• Identify common risk and resiliency factors for children younger than 5 years of age.
• Compare and contrast various attachment styles.
• List and describe common screening and assessment tools used in infant-preschooler mental health.
• Evaluate evidence-based interventions for children younger than 5 years of age.

About the Author/Presenter 
Julie Torok-Mangasarian, MA, LMFT, RPM, is a mental health clinician and the Clinical Director of the California Psychological Institute in Fresno, CA. She received her MA in Counseling Psychology in 2006 and a certification in Infant-Preschooler Mental Health in 2011. She specializes in the treatment of complex and developmental trauma in young children. She has acted as a consultant and presenter on topics such as infant mental health, reflective practice, complex and developmental trauma, and attachment/attachment disorders. She utilizes her skills as a Registered Play Therapist and Endorsed Infant-Family and Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist in her daily work with infants, children, and families within the child welfare system. She has specialized training in Infant-Preschooler Mental Health and Development, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), Play Therapy, Infant Massage, and Reflective Practice Facilitation/Supervision.

Audience/Accreditations and Approvals 
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE 
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. 
This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details): 
Counselor, Nursing, Psychology, Social Work

If you require special accommodations, please contact Colibri Healthcare Support by clicking here: Contact Us