Infant Mental Health

Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health — Center for Child Counseling
Maternal, Infant & Early Childhood

Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health

The earliest years shape a lifetime. Our work begins where it matters most — in the relationships between babies, young children, and the adults who love them.

Since 1999, infant and early childhood mental health has been the foundation of our expertise. We provide specialized therapy, training, and consultation that support healthy brain development, nurture parent-child attachment, and build the protective relationships that buffer against adversity — from the very beginning of life.

Request an Appointment → Make a Referral
Founded on This Work

Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health has been at our heart since 1999 — it's not just a program, it's the foundation of everything we do.

Relationships First

A baby's brain is built through relationships. We strengthen the parent-child bond as the most powerful vehicle for healthy development.

Prevention & Early Intervention

The science is clear: investing early changes trajectories. Our HOPE-informed approach promotes positive experiences from the start.

Learn More
The Science

Why the Earliest Years Matter Most

A child's brain develops more rapidly in the first three years of life than at any other time. The quality of early relationships and experiences during this period shapes the architecture of the brain — and lays the foundation for all future learning, behavior, and health.

"Toxic stress and adversity in early childhood don't just affect early learning — they can alter brain development and lead to chronic disease across a lifetime. But safe, nurturing relationships can change the story."

— Renée Layman, President & CEO

When young children experience adversity without the buffer of supportive relationships — poverty, discrimination, violence, abuse, neglect, or caregiver mental illness — it can create toxic stress that disrupts healthy brain development and many systems in the body. Research shows that many of the most prevalent chronic diseases of adulthood are rooted in early childhood experiences.

But the science also tells us what works: positive childhood experiences, especially safe, stable, nurturing relationships with caring adults, actively buffer against adversity and promote healthy development. This is the heart of infant and early childhood mental health — and the heart of our work.

Through our public health approach, we work across prevention, early intervention, and treatment — supporting families, training professionals, and strengthening the systems that serve our youngest children. Everything we do is grounded in the HOPE framework and A Way of Being with Children.

Watch: Toxic Stress & Early Childhood

How toxic stress and adversity in early childhood connect to chronic disease in adults — and what we can do about it.

Watch: Early Childhood Development

Understanding how early experiences shape a child's developing brain — and the power of positive relationships.

Relationships

The parent-child bond is the most powerful force in a baby's development

Environments

Safe, stable settings where families feel secure and supported

Engagement

Connecting families with each other and their communities

Emotional Growth

Supporting parents through the challenges of early caregiving

Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health — Center for Child Counseling
Our Services

Comprehensive Support for Families & Young Children

We provide a full continuum of infant and early childhood mental health services — from prevention and parent education through clinical treatment and mental health consultation — serving families across Palm Beach County.

Counseling for Parents & Young Children

Through our CPYC contract with the Children's Services Council, we provide therapeutic services for pregnant women and families with children birth to five in northern Palm Beach County — addressing attachment, behavioral concerns, developmental challenges, and caregiver mental health.

Parent-Infant & Parent-Child Therapy

Dyadic and family therapy models that strengthen the parent-child relationship — the most powerful force in a young child's development. We work with the relationship as the vehicle for healing.

Mental Health Consultation

Supporting childcare providers, early learning programs, and other professionals who serve young children — building capacity to recognize, understand, and respond to social-emotional needs.

Developmental Screening & Assessment

Comprehensive screening and assessment to identify developmental, emotional, and relational concerns early — connecting families with the right support before challenges escalate.

Caregiver Support & Education

Individual and group support for parents and caregivers — addressing their own mental health, stress, and trauma as a critical part of their child's healing and development.

Training & Workforce Development

Sharing our expertise in IECMH through professional training, reflective supervision, and consultation — building the workforce that supports our youngest children and their families.

Evidence-Based Approaches

Child-Parent Psychotherapy

Healing the attachment relationship between young children and their caregivers after trauma, loss, or disrupted caregiving.

Child-Centered Play Therapy

Using play as the child's natural language to process emotions, build connection, and develop healthy coping.

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy

Real-time coaching for parents to strengthen the relationship, improve communication, and reduce behavioral challenges.

Filial Therapy

Teaching parents to use therapeutic play skills at home to deepen connection and support emotional growth.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

A structured model for caregivers and young children who have experienced trauma — including pregnant women affected by adversity, violence, or loss.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Helping parents and expectant mothers manage anxiety, depression, and stress — building the emotional foundation their children need from the very start.

Our Foundation
A Way of Being with Children: PreK Edition

Our newly revised A Way of Being with Children manual — the cornerstone of our approach — focuses specifically on the birth-to-five years. It integrates the HOPE framework, trauma-informed principles, and the latest research on early brain development to guide how every adult shows up for the youngest children in their care.

Explore A Way of Being →

"How we show up for a child matters more than any single program or technique. It begins with presence, empathy, and the belief that every child can heal."

— Renée Layman, President & CEO
Our Partners

Strengthening the System of Care

Our infant and early childhood mental health work is strengthened by deep partnerships with the organizations and systems dedicated to our youngest children and their families.

Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County

As the provider for northern Palm Beach County through the Counseling for Parents and Young Children contract, we serve as part of the Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County's Healthy Beginnings system of care — ensuring families with young children have access to quality mental health services.

Visit CSCPBC →
Florida Association for Infant Mental Health

We are a member agency of FAIMH, and our CEO Renée Layman serves as President of the Board. Our specialists and therapists work toward FAIMH endorsement — the gold standard in infant and early childhood mental health professional development.

Visit FAIMH →
The Haley Charitable Fund

Through the generous support of Melissa Haley — a dedicated board member and Chair of our Circle of Giving — and The Haley Charitable Fund, we have been able to expand and deepen our infant and early childhood mental health services, investing in the foundational work that changes children's trajectories from the very start.

Learn About Circle of Giving →
Access the System of Care

Connect with CSC-funded services for families with young children

CSC Available Services
Find available services for families in Palm Beach County
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Healthy Beginnings
Learn about CSC's investment in early childhood services
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"

Healthy development of young children in the early years of life literally provides a foundation for just about all of the challenging social problems that our society faces.

— Jack P. Shonkoff, MD, Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University
We're Here to Help

Get Connected

If you're a parent concerned about your young child's development or behavior, or a professional looking to refer a family — reach out. Our team is here to help.

Request an Appointment

For families with young children — our intake team will connect you with the right services and support.

Request Appointment →
Submit a Referral

For pediatricians, childcare providers, case managers, and community partners.

Referral Form →
Or call us directly
561-244-9499
info@centerforchildcounseling.org
Resources for Families & Professionals
A Way of Being with Children
Videos, tip sheets, and our foundational approach
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Ways to Play
Play ideas to strengthen the parent-child bond
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Parent & Caregiver Resources
Guides and tools for families with young children
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Center for Child Counseling

The Earliest Years Shape a Lifetime.
Every Baby Deserves HOPE.

When we invest in the mental health of our youngest children and the families who love them, we change trajectories — not just for one child, but for generations to come.

Request an Appointment → Make a Referral → Support Our Work →
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