Motherhood is celebrated by our society, but what if your story is different?
Premies
In the US, 1 in 10 babies are born to early. Having a premie can be scary, looking at all the tubes and listening to all monitors can be traumatic. All you want to do is hold your baby, and take them home. You worry whether they are getting enough skin on skin contact, you worry whether they are going to latch on, you even worry you might hurt them because they are so tiny. Babies need touch, especially the premies. I can help you learn a safe technique that can benefit the growth and development of your baby, as well as enhance the bond they need with you.
Postpartum Depression
Our culture assumes that all mothers fall in love with their baby the minute they are placed in their arms. The reality is that giving birth can be both physically and emotionally traumatic. Having a little human changes your life completely and adjusting to being a parent can be overwhelming. Due to a variety of factors some parents just have difficulty bonding with their babies. If you are currently receiving treatment for postpartum depression, you are already taking a huge step in the right direction for yourself and your baby. The program I offer can compliment your treatment, I can help foster a bond between you and your baby.
Infant and Toddler Adoption:
You wish you would’ve given birth to your baby yourself. However, for you adoption was the way to motherhood. Whether you were there for the birth, or you met your child a few weeks, months or a year later, your baby needs to bond with you. I can teach you a beautiful therapeutic activity that you can do with your baby or toddler that creates attachment between you and your child.
FirstPlay® Therapy is an attachment-based approach that incorporates fun interactive touch-based activities that gives children the foundation needed to build healthy interpersonal relationships. Brain research supports that pre-symbolic play wires the brain for life-long intimacy, and for advanced cognitive ability and emotional regulation of distress.
FirstPlay® is so named because it focuses on the therapeutic aspects of pre-symbolic play, or play that happened first in a child’s life ~ “first-play” is, for example, the early joyful touch-based activity play that happens between a parent and infant such as “patty cake,” “peek-a-boo,” or sing-song games.
FirstPlay® Infant Massage Storytelling was developed for infants ages birth to toddler. FirstPlay® Therapy is a cutting-edge preventative and treatment model of intervention that evolved from the work of Viola Brody, founder of Developmental Play Therapy; and is supported by Attachment Theory; Ericksonian Play Therapy; infant massage literature; and research and ethics in touch.
Benefits of FirstPlay Infant Massage include:
- Attachment
- Relaxation
- Sound Sleep
- Boundaries
- Caring Touch
- Self-Regulation
- Digestion
- Fun
- Nutrient Flow
- Language Development
- Brain Potential
As a Certified FirstPlay® Practitioner I instruct, guide and supervise parents in the activities of the Baby Tree Hug Massage- a playful touch based story illustrated in the FirstPlay® Parent Handbook. In FirstPlay® sessions, I demonstrate the storytelling movements on a babydoll while parents simultaneously practice the technique on their infant. I then guide parents on how to incorporate FirstPlay® sessions into their daily schedules.
Sessions can be held in the office or in your home. Group sessions of no more than 3 can be arranged.
Program includes:
- Phone introductory session
- Initial Session
- Follow up Session
- Parent Handbook (Available in English or Spanish)
Contact me today to schedule your session or obtain additional information.