This concentration in Parent-Infant Mental Health prepares clinical psychologists to interpret and integrate current research and knowledge from the social sciences and behavioral medicine to enhance the quality of life for parents and their young children.
- Develop interventions to help in the prevention of and adjustment to infant or parent infant dysfunction
- Promote healthy growth for parents and their young children through intervention and education
- Integrate elements of psychology, multidisciplinary research, neurology, biology, sociology, economics, anthropology, medicine, and human ecology
In addition to the required courses within the degree curriculum, the Parent-Infant Mental Health concentration curriculum for Clinical Ph.D. students consists of the following requirements:
- Dissertation on a Parent-Infant Mental Health Psychology topic. It may focus upon the interface between biological, psychological and health psychology as it relates to infants and their parents.
- Internship that includes at least one minor rotation or its equivalent in Parent-Infant Mental Health Psychology. Sites could include a psychology service in a hospital with participation in consultation services or in an out-patient setting or clinic. A high risk follow up clinic or work on a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit would meet this requirement.
- 1 credit of Psychological Assessment Labs training in Parent-Infant Mental Health assessment, to include: clinical assessment of parent-infant interactions, infant behavior, parental behavior, Brazelton Neonatal Assessment Scale and Mother Infant interactions.
- 4 additional Knowledge Area courses (2 credits each) with a focus in Parent-Infant Mental Health Psychology chosen from: PSY 720, 726, 732, 735, 751.