Attachment and Biobehavioural Catch-up: An infant mental health case study
Tracks
Royal Poinciana Room
| Tuesday, March 21, 2023 |
| 11:55 AM - 12:15 PM |
Overview
Ella Scholl, Accoras
Speaker
Ella Scholl
Accoras
Attachment and Biobehavioural Catch-up: An infant mental health case study
Abstract
There is clear scientific and therapeutic consensus that the first 1000 days are critical period for neurodevelopment. Infants need consistent and repeated positive “serve and return” relational experiences with their primary caregiver to develop optimal neurological architecture. Infant mental health interventions are a key resource for supporting parents and families who, for various reasons, struggle to form a secure and positive relationship with their infant. This presentation will detail a specific infant mental health intervention, Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC). One of the best-evidenced manualised infant mental health interventions, ABC has decades of research evidence demonstrating effectiveness in improving caregiver sensitivity and infant development outcomes. However, it is very new to Queensland, having only been piloted her in 2021-2022. A case study will give delegates an in-depth look at the ABC intervention, including the carefully delineated therapeutic techniques that have been shown to be the critical success factors of the intervention.
Biography
Changing lives is at the heart of why Ella Scholl is passionate about being a Parent Coach with the Attachment and Biobehavioural Catch-Up (ABC) Parenting Program, which was first introduced to Accoras in 2021. It is a game changer for families.
Ella has extensive experience walking alongside people with disability, mental health and families. As a Social Worker, Ella believes that prevention is better than early intervention.
Ella advocates strongly that parents, ‘don’t know, what they do not know’. And with the parents investing in their child and being given the right parenting tools they can improve their relationship with their child; which will help their infant be to be emotionally regulated, emotionally resilient and confidence individuals in the future.
The ABC Parenting Program can establish the right foundations for any child to have a better attachment and loving relationship with their parent/carer and others. It reinforces the importance of being present and valuing a child’s contribution. This is our legacy that we leave to for these vulnerable and dependent human beings.
