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Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health

Ryther’s Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Program is dedicated to addressing the mental health needs of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and their families. By working collaboratively with caregivers and children, we provide psychoeducation about development, parent coaching to enhance caregiving effectiveness, and evidence-based treatments for behavioral challenges, trauma, depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. Early intervention is key to preventing more significant challenges later in life.

 

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Who We Serve

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  • Infants, toddlers, and preschoolers (ages 0-5) experiencing developmental, emotional, or behavioral challenges.

  • Families seeking support for their child’s mental health and developmental milestones.

  • Caregivers who want to better understand and support their child’s needs or improve their parenting strategies.

 

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Consider reaching out if your child:

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  • Is not meeting growth milestones or has lost previously achieved milestones.

  • Experiences difficulties with sleep, feeding, or potty training, or frequently reports stomachaches or headaches.

  • Shows social challenges such as withdrawal, frequent crying, difficulty being comforted, reduced enjoyment of play, or struggles connecting with other children.

  • Demonstrates behavioral challenges such as intense tantrums, difficulty following directions, clinginess, or separation anxiety.

  • Caregivers may also seek support if they feel unsure about parenting strategies, struggle to manage their child’s challenges, or lack examples of effective parenting from their own experiences.

 

 

Evidence-Based Modalities We Offer

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  • Promoting First Relationships (PFR):

    • Ages 0-5

    • A 10-week program that strengthens the parent-child attachment relationship.

    • Helps caregivers understand their child’s social-emotional needs and build on existing parenting skills.

  • Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT):

    • Ages 3-5

    • Builds positive parenting skills and enhances parent-child attachment.

    • Provides strategies for managing behavioral challenges.

    • Treats anxiety, depression, and trauma symptoms in children.

  • Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP):

    • Ages 0-5

    • Helps caregivers and children manage trauma by reducing symptoms and fostering resilience.

    • Uses play and discussion to help families make meaning of difficult experiences.

 

 

Program Goals

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  • Support healthy development and strengthen parent-child relationships.

  • Address behavioral, emotional, and developmental challenges early.

  • Equip caregivers with effective parenting skills and strategies.

  • Foster resilience and healing in families impacted by trauma or other challenges.

 

 

Program Schedule

The Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Program operates on a flexible schedule to meet the needs of families. Specific session lengths and frequencies vary by modality and family needs. Contact us for detailed information on program availability and scheduling.

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