Expanding Infant Mental Health Treatment Services to At‐risk Preschoolers and Their Families Through the Integration of Relational Play Therapy

Abstract

The expansion of infant mental health (IMH) to at-risk preschoolers and their families has contributed to the integration of relational play therapy (RPT) into IMH treatment services for this population. Integrating RPT allows access to specialized play and expressive techniques specific to preschool and family development, which improves the clinical ability to meet the multiple and complex needs of at-risk parent-child dyads and their families. This article will examine the RPT literature and explore the similarities and differences between IMH and RPT. In addition, two case studies will highlight a five-phase, integrative clinical-treatment process and provide insight into how IMH clinicians are integrating RPT models and maintaining adherence to the IMH treatment approach.

Review: Improving access to mental health interventions for children from birth to five years: A Scoping Review

“…The integration of innovative interventions to improve existing practice models. The fifth thematic finding examined the integration of innovative interventions to improve existing practice models (Facchini et al, 2016;Farley et al, 2020;Farley & Whipple, 2017;Kennedy et al, 2017). These innovations are often borne out of a need to increase IMH service reach to infants in at-risk populations.…”

“…Many included studies were conducted among families and child‐caregiver dyads. Eighteen of the articles reported on samples of infants and children across the 0‐ to 6‐year age range (Berg, 2012, 2016; Bohr et al., 2021; Brophy‐Herb, Schiffman, McKelvey, Cunningham‐DeLuca, & Hawver, 2001; Cheng et al., 2007; Dawson, Richards, & Frost, 2017; Facchini, Martin, & Downing, 2016; Farley & Whipple, 2017; Farley, Whipple, & Riebschleger, 2020; Fox & Holtz, 2009; Fox, Mattek, & Gresl, 2013; Hunter, Glazebrook, & Ranger, 2020; Kadik, Shaff, Okeke, & Berger, 2020; Kennedy, Ball, & Barlow, 2017; Klawetter, Glaze, Sward, & Frankel, 2020; Marcus et al., 2017; Molnar et al., 2018). The study samples of infants and children under 6 years ranged from 1 (Berg, 2016) to 237 (Fox et al., 2013).…”

“…The majority of included studies were conducted in the United States (Brophy‐Herb et al., 2001; Farley et al., 2020; Farley & Whipple, 2017; Fox et al., 2013; Fox & Holtz, 2009; Kadik et al., 2020; Klawetter et al., 2020; Lyon & Budd, 2010; Marcus et al., 2017; Molnar et al., 2018; Ofonedu et al., 2017; Rodriguez et al., 2018; Shea et al., 2016, 2020), followed by South Africa (Berg, 2012, 2016; Dawson et al., 2017; Preston et al., 2019), Australia (Macdonald et al., 2005; Segal et al., 2018; Taylor et al., 2019), the United Kingdom (Hunter et al., 2020; Kennedy et al., 2017), Canada (Bohr et al., 2021; Marcellus & Shahram, 2017), Italy (Facchini et al., 2016), Japan (Cheng et al., 2007), and New Zealand (Masoe & Bush, 2009).…”

“…The majority (Berg, 2012, 2016; Bohr et al., 2021; Brophy‐Herb et al., 2001; Cheng et al., 2007; Dawson et al., 2017; Facchini et al., 2016; Farley et al., 2020; Farley & Whipple, 2017; Fox et al., 2013; Fox & Holtz, 2009; Hunter et al., 2020; Kennedy et al., 2017; Klawetter et al., 2020; Lyon & Budd, 2010; Molnar et al., 2018; Ofonedu et al., 2017; Preston et al., 2019; Taylor et al., 2019) of the study samples in the retrieved articles involved children and caregivers enrolled in infant or child mental health‐based programs or services. Ten (Berg, 2012, 2016; Bohr et al., 2021; Dawson et al., 2017; Facchini et al., 2016; Kennedy et al., 2017; Klawetter et al., 2020; Lyon & Budd, 2010; Ofonedu et al., 2017; Preston et al., 2019) of these services were offered in clinical environments and six (Brophy‐Herb et al., 2001; Cheng et al., 2007; Farley et al., 2020; Farley & Whipple, 2017; Fox et al., 2013; Fox & Holtz, 2009) were offered as home visits. Of the remaining children and caregiver‐based studies, two offered telehealth services (Marcus et al., 2017; Taylor et al., 2019), one offered a combination of in‐clinic and home visit services (Hunter et al., 2020), and one offered services within a community paediatric medical home (Molnar et al., 2018).…”

“…Fourteen articles (Berg, 2012;Bohr et al, 2021;Brophy-Herb et al, 2001;Cheng et al, 2007;Facchini et al, 2016;Farley & Whipple, 2017;Farley et al, 2020;Fox et al, 2013;Fox & Holtz, 2009;Hunter et al, 2020; Child Adolesc Ment Health 2024; 29(1): 84-95 Kennedy et al, 2017;Klawetter et al, 2020;Lyon & Budd, 2010;Molnar et al, 2018) examined infant and child mental health and behavioural outcomes based on the results of screening or assessment procedures conducted within multidisciplinary medical clinics or during home visits, which would typically be within the scope of practice for mental health nurses and other allied health professionals. Articles included both prospective and retrospective data.…”