An Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Clinic at Emory
Where families can learn to support healthy social-emotional development of their young children, ages 0-5.
What is Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health?
Early Childhood and Infant Mental Health describes a young child's ability to feel and manage their emotions, form close relationships with others and learn from their families and other caregivers.
What types of concerns might a family have?
Concerns that families may have in infancy include sleep and feeding problems, and excessive crying. Some families may find that medical problems have been addressed and they continue to struggle to help their baby. The toddler and preschool years can be challenged by excessive aggression and tantrums, problems with friends, not settling to learn, and overwhelming worries. Families that have gone through traumatic experiences often need support to understand behaviors and emotions and to get the child back on track in the aftermath.
How do I understand if what my child went through is "traumatic?"
One very scary event or frequent, recurring stressors that stack up can overwhelm a child's nervous system.
Examples are as follows: physical or emotional abuse, chronic neglect, caregiver substance abuse or mental illness, exposure to violence, car accident, a scary medical procedure, and/or the accumulated burdens of family economic hardship—without adequate adult support.
How do I get an appointment?
*This clinic is designed to be a more intensive intervention. There are other services already embedded within our communities to support children that are at risk of falling behind in development including Babies Can't Wait, Head Start, and home visiting programs. For more information visit our state's Department of Public Health Website.
Additional Resources
- Learn more about Parent Child Interaction Therapy.
- Learn more about healthy development.
- Basic Parenting Strategies for young children.
- Learn more about TF-CBT.
- Find additional information and support for children and families coping with trauma.