The Infant Mental Health Podcast

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we explore what it means to move beyond a solely trauma-informed lens and begin focusing on what’s possible. While trauma-informed care is essential, we discuss the importance of not allowing trauma to become the defining narrative. People are more than what has happened to them. Each person holds the capacity for growth, connection, and a life full of meaning. To...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Natalie and I sit down with Carly Schrimpl, LCSW, RPT, owner of Power Within Child Therapists in Provo, Utah, to explore her journey into infant mental health, her work in trauma, and how co-regulation is at the center of her work with children and families. 

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Natalie and I talk with Jenny Baldwin and Holly Gursslin Beseda  from the Texas Institute for Mental Health at The University of Texas at Austin about their work on an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) project here in Texas. Our guests are incredibly knowledgeable and bring the vision and practical expertise needed to build something m...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Natalie and I dig into the article Mattering in Early Childhood: Building a Strong Foundation for Life   and reflect on what it really means to feel like you matter—starting in infancy and continuing throughout our lives. We talk about being seen, valued, and knowing that who you are (and what you bring) counts, both in our work and in our relationships. It’s an h...

Send us Fan Mail Our conversation with Jess touches on navigating change, embracing growth, and maintaining connection with ourselves while staying committed to the families we support. Whether you’re a professional in the field or someone curious about the complexities of early relationships, this episode offers reflection, insight, and encouragement for the evolving journey of life and work in I...

Send us Fan Mail Natalie and I spend most of our time working directly with providers and students through reflective consultation and training, so it was a refreshing shift to step back and talk with Christy Serrano about the broader policy landscape. Our conversation offered a wider lens on how policy shapes infant mental health. It was a great reminder that while our work often happens in the m...

Send us Fan Mail We thought we wrapped it up last time… but there’s more to say!  After our Same Baby, New Name? episode, we kept thinking — and talking. So we’re back to revisit the ideas we didn’t quite finish, explore what still feels fuzzy, and reflect on how our understanding of Early Relational Health continues to grow. 

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we’re diving into the buzz around Infant Mental Health and Early Relational Health — are they really different, or just two ways of talking about the same thing? We chat about where the language came from, why the shift is happening, and what it means for those of us working with babies and families — what we know, and what we don’t. Let’s talk about it. And for t...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Natalie and I dive into the unique experience of providing reflective supervision as a manager. We share our insights, challenges, and practical takeaways for anyone navigating this important role.  We’d love to hear what you think! Drop us a note at amy@theinfantmentalhealthpodcast.com

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Natalie and I dive into my experience participating in a fishbowl presentation at the Safe Babies Cross Site Conference. We unpack what it was like to be “in the bowl” and even create a little fishbowl of our own as we reflect together. 

Send us Fan Mail   In this episode, Natalie and I share our reflections from the Safe Babies Cross Site Conference — focusing on one powerful presentation that has stayed with us. Join us as we unpack what we learned and why it continues to shape our thinking.  Find out more about Safe Babies . 

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Natalie and I reflect on a powerful webinar we attended through First3Years, From the NICU to the Nest: The Dual Journey of Infant and Parental Mental Health. We revisit one family’s story and explore it through the eyes of the parents, the medical professionals, and our own lens as reflective practitioners. Join us as we consider what these different perspectives...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Natalie and I explore the importance of cultivating compassion and empathy — why they matter and how we can intentionally grow them in our daily lives.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Natalie and I talk with one of her former students to hear her perspective on reflective practice.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Natalie and I discuss a recent webinar she attended that sparked some reflections on the power of perspective-taking — a key element we practice in reflective supervision and consultation.  Find more information on the Greater Good Science Center here .

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Natalie and I share a bit about what’s been going on in our lives recently, along with a preview of what’s coming up. We also take some time to process our personal reactions to the devastating floods that impacted Central Texas on the Fourth of July. If you feel moved to support the flood relief efforts, you can donate here . Interested in registering for one of...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Natalie and I talk with Dr. Phill Stepka about Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP).   We explore the foundations of CPP, its impact on young children and their caregivers, and what it looks like in practice.  Resources mentioned in the episode: Learn more about Dr. Phill Stepka . You can find out more about Child Parent Psychotherapy .

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with our colleague and Infant Mental Health trainer, Heather Pugh, MS, IMH-E®.  We explore her journey into the field, what has shaped her path, and the insights that continue to guide her professional growth. Here are a few of the resources we mentioned: " The Danger of a Single Story " – TED Talk by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie How Emotions Are...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Natalie and I talk with Dr. Eric Hansen about his work, what it’s like being a man in the field of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH), and the importance of relationships. It was such a pleasure to meet him and have this conversation. If you're doing work in this space and would like to connect, we’d love to hear from you! We're always exci...

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, Natalie and I explore what it's like to hear about an incident from someone else's perspective, and how to invite others into the process of change rather than trying to force them to be different. 

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Natalie and I discuss an upcoming training she has planned for new reflective supervisees.  

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Natale and I have the opportunity to sit down with Alex Mylius, the interim CEO of First3Years, Texas' leading organization for infant mental health. Alex brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and wisdom, and we hope you enjoy our conversation as much as we did.  Let us know what you think!

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Natalie and I talk more about co-regulation.  We discuss how our presence, not only our words, can be a tool.   Here are a few things we referred to in the podcast: Dr. Cynthia Frosch on Calming Cycle Theory Dr. Stephen Porges Polyvagal Theory Alex Korb Ted Talk Bonnie Badenoch: The Myth of Self-Regulation

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Natalie and I discuss the concepts of Ghosts in the Nursery and Angels in the Nursery.  Please see the following references for the full articles: Fraiberg, S., Adelson, E., & Shapiro, V. (1975). Ghosts in the nursery: A psychoanalytic approach to the problems of impaired infant-mother relationships . The Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 23...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Natalie and I discuss the magic of "I Wonder..." As always you can send us your feedback and questions at amy@theinfantmentalhealthpodcast.com.