Together with Baby by Together with Baby

TogetherWithBaby — 2022-01-10 11:14:32 UTC

We are a specialist Parent and Infant Mental Health Team from Essex Partnership University Foundation Trust.

Our team consists of:

Clinical Psychologists
Parent and Infant Therapists
Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist
Art Psychotherapist
Assistant Psychologist
Psychotherapist
Clinical Psychology Doctorate Trainees
Undergraduate Student Psychologists

TogetherWithBaby — 2022-01-10 11:20:03 UTC

Our service is based at Cherry Trees, St Peter's Hospital in Maldon but we work in the community across all of Essex. The locations we cover, but are not limited to, are:

North East Essex (Colchester, Clacton, Harwich)
Mid Essex (Chelmsford, Maldon, Braintree)
South Essex (Basildon, Southend, Thurrock)
West Essex (Stansted, Harlow, Loughton)

We work remotely via video consultation and in person at parent's homes, NHS buildings, or can arrange to meet at local children's centres/family hubs.

What do we offer to parents and infants?

TogetherWithBaby — 2022-01-10 11:25:22 UTC

We offer specialist assessment and intervention to parents who are facing difficulties in their relationship with their infant. We aim to improve this relationship by supporting parents to better understand their infant's needs, emotional responses, and communications. We also support parents to explore their history and own experiences of being parented which might be impacting on their role as a parent now.

Can we help you?

Are you finding things with your young baby more difficult than you expected?
Are you concerned you have not formed a bond with your baby in the way you had hoped?
Has becoming a new parent stirred up some unexpected difficult feelings?

Parents and babies start family life in a range of circumstances; and if you are facing additional difficulties such as physical or emotional ill health, financial stress, housing difficulties, isolation or relationship breakdowns, being a parent can be even harder.

Often our knowledge of being a parent is influenced by our own experience of childhood. Sometimes we want to repeat good experiences of childhood for our own children. But sometimes we want to provide our baby with a different and better experience. You are doing the best you can with the knowledge and experience you have.

What do we offer to professionals?

TogetherWithBaby — 2022-01-10 11:26:36 UTC

As a specialist service we offer our expertise to those working in Early Years professions through teaching, consultation, and reflective practice. To find out more please contact us on:

Email: epunft.pimhs.eput@nhs.net

Tel: 01621 866900

Together with Baby - Evaluating a New Parent-Infant Relationship Team

TogetherWithBaby — 2022-01-10 11:38:21 UTC

This video outlines the results found from an evaluation of the Together with Baby service.

Referral Form

TogetherWithBaby — 2022-01-11 11:57:22 UTC

For support with completing the referral form please get in touch

TogetherWithBaby — 2022-01-11 11:57:47 UTC

Parents can self-refer or their involved workers (GP, Midwife, Health Visitor, etc) can refer on their behalf using the referral form on this page.

Referrals will be processed, with the referrer receiving acknowledgement of the referral, within 5 working days of receipt. We encourage professionals to seek consultation with us prior to making a referral.

Email: epunft.pimhs.eput@nhs.net

Tel: 01621 866900

1001 Days

TogetherWithBaby — 2022-01-11 12:21:13 UTC

Information taken from the Parent Infant Foundation Website:

"The first 1001 days include pregnancy and the first two years of a child's life. There is clear, compelling evidence that this is a significant and influential phase in development. This is an age of opportunity. What happens during this period lays the foundation for every child’s future health, wellbeing, learning and earnings potential. It sets the groundwork for children’s developing emotional wellbeing, resilience and adaptability; the competencies they need to thrive. During this period we can lay a foundation of health and wellbeing whose benefits last a lifetime – and carry into the next generation."

Parent-Infant Psychotherapy

TogetherWithBaby — 2022-01-24 11:27:21 UTC

"Parent-infant psychotherapy is a psychoanalytical and attachment-based intervention which aims to help the parent(s) reflect on past and/or present experiences which may be influencing their view of their infant and their relationship with them. The psychotherapist models sensitive responding and helps the parent to interpret their baby’s behaviour appropriately. Psychotherapy pays particular attention to the unconscious and non-verbal aspects of communication between parent(s) and their baby. Parent-infant psychotherapists are trained to work with the parent and infant (dyad), and parents and infant (triad), the couple relationship and systemically (including wider family members) as required."

Video Interactive Guidance (VIG)

TogetherWithBaby — 2022-01-24 11:28:13 UTC

"In VIG, practitioners are trained to use video feedback through a series of filming and review sessions in order to encourage parents to see and build on what they are doing to help things go well and thus become aware of the positive aspects of the caregiver-infant interaction. The intervention is based on principles for attuned interactions and guidance."

More information can be found on https://videointeractionguidance.net/

Circle of Security (COS)

TogetherWithBaby — 2022-01-24 11:28:59 UTC

"Circle of Security is an attachment-based parent reflection model. It uses video to help parents to reflect on how children communicate their needs through their behaviour and to consider how best to meet these needs."

Watch, Wait, and Wonder

TogetherWithBaby — 2022-01-24 14:52:39 UTC

"The Watch, Wait and Wonder intervention involves parents being encouraged to play with their babies in a way that follows the baby’s lead. The parent is then invited to explore the feelings and thoughts that were evoked by what he or she observed and experienced during the play. The intervention aims to enhance parental sensitivity, mentalization and responsiveness, the child’s sense of self and self-efficacy, emotion regulation, and the parent-infant relationship."

Meet the team

TogetherWithBaby — 2023-02-21 13:47:43 UTC

Link to our NHS webpage

TogetherWithBaby — 2023-02-21 13:50:45 UTC

Meet Ellen, our Service Lead

TogetherWithBaby — 2023-02-21 13:52:28 UTC

Some of the interventions we do

TogetherWithBaby — 2023-02-21 13:56:58 UTC

Newborn Observation

TogetherWithBaby — 2023-02-21 14:14:44 UTC

The Newborn Observation (NBO) is a tool whereby the practitioner explores a baby’s communication and behaviour to support the parent’s understanding of their baby. Click on the attached link to read about one Dad's experience of having an NBO and what it involves.

Attachment & development

TogetherWithBaby — 2023-02-22 11:41:43 UTC

Babies do not socialise until they can speak...

TogetherWithBaby — 2023-08-01 10:47:25 UTC

... FALSE!

Babies are born social beings

I need to meet my baby's needs 100% of the time for them to have a secure attachment...

TogetherWithBaby — 2023-08-01 10:50:31 UTC

... FALSE

The research tells us that meeting our babies' needs just 30% of the time is enough to build a secure attachment.

Our children need us to be good enough parents not perfect parents!

Always responding to my baby will spoil them...

TogetherWithBaby — 2023-08-01 11:55:19 UTC

...FALSE

You cannot spoil a baby