The Power of WHO! Bob Beaudine

Infant Massage

Infant Massage is awesome!

I found these videos and wanted to share them with you.

Spread the word about the benefits of Infant Massage!

Free ‘2011 Infant Mental Health Guide’ ebook now available

The 2011 Infant Mental Health Guide is now available for you to read for free. It's a list of groups involved in Infant Mental Health in the United States.  I hope that by using the new online marketing tools we can help to connect people to Infant Mental Health and to each other.

Here's the file.  If you want to post it on your own site, or email it to your friends, please go right ahead.  The only rules are no changes, no commerce.

Happy reading and clicking. Spread the word.

Father to the Fatherless groups beginning in January 2011

On January 25 there will be two new F2F groups starting in the counseling center led by counselors Katie Comer and Caroline Marcos.  The groups will take place on Tuesday mornings (8:30-10:00 am) and evenings (5:30-7:00 pm). The group will be 13 weeks long and the basic premise and focus of the group is for:

-       Women who struggle with identity and self-worth
-       Women who did not have fathers (or other significant male figures) who were emotionally available
-       Women who have questions about their relationship patterns with men and how this might relate to their relationship with their father
-       Women who have a hard time seeing God as Father and accepting other characteristics of God
This is a therapeutic group therefore there will be a cost associated with each session which is lead by licensed counselors. The cost will be $40 per session and the book we will use will cost from $15-$16. We will have those books available for you at our first session. The morning group will meet every Tuesday starting promptly at 8:30 and ending at 10:00 am.  The evening group will meet every Tuesday starting promptly at 5:30 and ending at 7:00 from January 25 until April 19, 2011. Since we are limiting the number of people in the group we do ask that you come in for a screening interview on or before January 17, 2010.

We are very excited to be providing this group and cannot wait to get to know you more! Please let us know if you have any additional questions or concerns by e-mailing me at Katie.comer@houstonsfirst.org and if not please reserve your spot by coming in for a screening interview with either Katie Comer or Caroline Marcos. You can do so by calling the counseling center and making an appointment (713-335-6462). Please let them know you are coming in for the screening interview for the F2F group.

God Bless,

Katie Comer

Infant Mental Health in the context of Early Childhood Intervention

Here are three good questions about Infant Mental Health.

WHAT IS INFANT MENTAL HEALTH?

Babies and young children thrive when they are cared for by adults. Responsive relationships with consistent primary caregivers help build positive attachments that support healthy social-emotional development. These relationships form the foundation of mental health for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

"Infant Mental Health" is defined as the healthy social and emotional development of a child from birth to 3 years; and a growing field of research and practice devoted to the:

* promotion of healthy social and emotional development;

* prevention of mental health problems; and

* treatment of the mental health problems of very young children in the context of their families.

WHAT ARE SOME RISK FACTORS THAT IMPACT INFANT MENTAL HEALTH?

* The impact of poverty
* Early parenthood
* Parental mental illness
* Maternal substance abuse
* Prematurity and serious medical conditions in infancy
* Exposure to violence and early childhood trauma

WHAT ISSUES IN DEVELOPMENT ARE LINKED TO INFANT MENTAL HEALTH?

* Communication problems
* Autism/PDD
* Regulatory issues
* Sleep issues
* Feeding issues, failure to thrive, and obesity
* Attachment
* Posttramautic Stress
* Depression
* Aggressive behaviors

New research sheds light on early signs of autism

Though it’s baby steps in medical research, it could mean an enormous leap forward for the youngest of patients facing a lifelong diagnosis of autism.

How do you raise a thankful child?

How (and when) do children develop gratitude?  During this week of giving thanks, Zero to Three offers us some tips on helping children develop the values of thankfulness and gratitude. Learning to be appreciative helps children to build strong and healthy relationships and to become sensitive to the needs of others less fortunate than they are. Click here to discover tips on how to raise a thankful child.

Finding Happiness

THIS EMOTIONAL LIFE opens a window into real lives, exploring ways to improve our social relationships, cope with emotional issues, and become more positive, resilient individuals. Hosted by Daniel Gilbert, Harvard psychologist and best-selling author of Stumbling on Happiness. Watch insightful videos, get help and more information, and connect with others at http://www.pbs.org/thisemotionallife

Eating and Emotions in Obese Toddlers: Facilitating Self-Regulation

ZERO TO THREE: 

Infants and young children have the ability to regulate their food intake according to their energy needs, and parents play an important role in facilitating their self-regulation. When overweight children learn to eat in accordance with feelings of hunger and fullness and learn to soothe themselves without eating, they will reduce their caloric intake and normalize their weight. In this article the author illustrates these principles in a case study of the treatment of a 2-year-old boy with morbid obesity. Read this free article now: http://tinyurl.com/29fewzn

Resources on Child Trauma and Infant Mental Health

THE CHILDTRAUMA ACADEMY

A not-for-profit organization, based in Houston, Texas, working to improve the lives of high-risk children through direct service, research and education.

http://childtrauma.org/

THE LIFESPAN LEARNING INSTITUTE

For nearly twenty years Lifespan Learning Institute has brought together leading experts from around the world to present their latest research and critical thinking.

http://lifespanlearn.org/

THE INSTITUTE OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT

The institute strives to help children suffering the effects of early trauma, abuse or neglect. They conduct research to deepen understanding about the complex needs of these children and how and why these harmful experiences can impair development and lead to social, behavioral and emotional problems.

http://www.child.tcu.edu/

Infants Take Self-Regulation Into Their Own Hands

Abstract:  Language serves as a mental tool set for self-regulation, allowing us to reflect on and modify our own behavior. Children as young as 3 years talk out loud to themselves to regulate their behavior, using self-regulatory self-talk. Can preverbal children use infant signs as self-talk for the purpose of self-regulation? The author shares observations from a child development center using the Baby Signs® Program.

Infants and toddlers use signs to request comfort in regulatory interactions with caregivers, and they use signs when alone to modify their own behavior in emotionally challenging situations. Infant signs provide infants with the cognitive tools to participate actively in their own regulation.

CLICK HERE to download the article now.

Latino Social Work

Ana Leon, PhD explores the importance of understanding the different Latino cultures when dealing with social work issues.

Life isn’t easy

Psalm 121

A Pilgrim Song

 ^1-2 I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains? 
   No, my strength comes from God, 
      who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.

When we’re worried, God can reassure us.  When we’re sad, God can comfort us. When our hearts are broken, God is not just near; He is here. So we must lift our thoughts and prayers to Him. When we do, He will answer our prayers. Why? Because He is our shepherd, and He has promised to protect us now and forever.

God is God whether we recognize it or not. Nothing about that can change, except us.~Lisa Whelchel

Either we are adrift in chaos or we are individuals, created, loved, upheld and placed purposefully, exactly where we are. Can you believe that? Can you trust God for that?~Elisabeth Elliot

God is in control, and therefore in everything I can give thanks, not because of the situation, but because of the One who directs and rules over it. ~Kay Arthur

The choice for me is to either look at all things I have lost or the things I have. To live in fear or to live in hope. Hope comes from knowing I have a sovereign, loving God who is in every event in my life.   ~Lisa Beamer

Latino Mental Health

This is a great short article about the Latino community in the United States and adequate mental health.  Cultural issues get in the way of needed mental health services.  Access to care is a serious problem.  Latino youth are especially at risk.  

Aid to Haiti

There are a lot of needs and a number of opportunities for us to reach out and help.  Here are some great organizations that offer a number of ways for aiding the people of Haiti. 

http://www.water.cc/initiatives/haiti/

http://www.one.org/blog/category/earthquake-in-haiti/?aux=27

http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.94aae335470e233f6cf911df43181aa0/?vgnextoid=15c0c5a210826210VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD

70 Words for 2010 (if you enjoy thinking differently once in a while).

Business thinkers:  celebrate the holiday season with the gift of great ideas.

Seth Godin, the innovator, writer, and blogger guru, has persuaded 70 other innovators, writers, and bloggers to participate in a project he calls What Matters Now.  Click here to download for FREE.

The idea is simple: Each of them suggests one word that all of us should think about in 2010, and then takes one page to explain why and how that word matters.

Caution: once you start reading it, you might not be able to put it down (or click the X button, since you will probably be reading it on your screen).  Unfortunately, nothing about this collection of ideas will close your eyes or put you to sleep. But if you put some of these eye-opening ideas to work, they may just help you to sleep more soundly in 2010, which promises to be another year of challenge and change.

Infant Mental Health?

Have you ever heard this term before? What do you think it means? 

I agree with the definition found here:  Infant Mental Health * Houston

I plan to attend the next meeting in Houston for Infant Mental Health providers scheduled for Monday, January 4, 2010 12:00-2:00 PM. 

DePelchin Children's Center 
4950 Memorial Drive Conf. Room F 
Houston, TX 77007 

The meeting is designed to help Infant Mental Health providers in private and public practice by: 

* Offering continuing education programs 
* Presenting opportunities for professional growth 
* Exchanging information 
* Providing a networking forum 
* Sharing experiences 
* Reducing practitioner isolation 
* Acting as a voice to promote infant mental health 

I would love to hear your thoughts about Infant Mental Health. 

The Soloist

Medication can be helpful in the treatment of mental illness.  But understanding, respect and love are incredible therapeutic tools.

Nathaniel Ayers is mentally ill.  He is also a musical genius.  He was discovered while living on the streets. Steve Lopez, a Los Angeles Times columnist, connected with him.  This 60 Minutes clip talks about the remarkable relationship between them. Their story is the subject of a motion picture called The Soloist, starring Jamie Foxx as Nathaniel Ayers. Highly recommended. How can we continue to improve the treatment of persons with mental illness?  What does Mr. Ayers' story teach us?

3 great LPC supervisors

Here are the 3 great supervisors who were chosen to have their information featured on our website.  If you (or someone you know) are looking for a great supervision experience, this is probably the right place to start your search.  Choose wisely.  Your LPC supervisor will most likely have a huge impact on the rest of your career as an LPC.

How could we connect mental health interns and supervisors online?

Do you think that it would be useful for interns and supervisors to have a website where they can share information and get connected? Of course, this service would be FREE. I have some ideas on how to do this, but I want to hear from YOU first.  E-mail me at dbuenom@gmail.com or leave your comment.