Infant-Parent Psychotherapy (IPP) is a specialized, relationship-focused intervention designed for children aged newborn to six years. Both the child and the parent(s) attend the sessions together, as the focus is on the health and quality of their connection. IPP is rooted in attachment theory, child development, psychodynamic principles, and neuroscience. It is a child-led, parent-centered, and play-based approach.
Why Focus on the Early Years?
Research shows that a secure early parent-child attachment significantly impacts a child’s cognitive, social, and emotional functioning. Investing in the early years promotes:
- Fewer future mental health issues
- Better social skills and emotional regulation
- Increased resilience to stressors
The ultimate goal of IPP is to foster the child’s healthy social and emotional development while improving parental confidence and sensitivity.
What to Expect in Therapy
IPP provides a safe space for the parent, infant, and therapist to observe and understand presenting difficulties through play and communication.
- Understanding the Child: We reflect on the meaning of the child’s play and behavior to understand their internal and emotional experience. This allows the child to “teach” their parent about their needs, promoting emotional safety for growth.
- Supporting the Parent: This therapy identifies and explores parental anxieties, expectations, and emotional triggers—often addressing past experiences that may disrupt the parent-child relationship. Processing these feelings helps parents heal negative experiences and foster sensitivity, attunement, and responsiveness.
This shared process of understanding and reflection facilitates positive change in the child, the parent, and their relationship, empowering parents and increasing their confidence.
IPP During Pregnancy (Preventative Support)
Infant-Parent Psychotherapy can also be offered preventively during pregnancy. This is often recommended when a mother-to-be is anxious about having a baby due to previous experiences (miscarriage, birth trauma) or has concerns about repeating negative patterns from their own childhood. IPP attempts to break negative inter-generational patterns of relating to reduce the impact these patterns have on the unborn child.