About this course
Intensive Clinical Training Program for Professionals Working with Infants and Parents.
We are pleased to announce that Professor Peter Fonagy will be delivering the 'Introduction to PEMA in Context' between 10:00 - 11:00 on the first day. Drs Dana Shai and Rose Spencer will lead the rest of the training.
In the first year of life the baby communicates his or her mental states through bodily movements, and the caregiver manifests her understanding of the infant’s mental state via bodily gestures and the accent accompanying every movement. Based on a rich body of developmental research, it is evident that mentalizing must be embodied during the pre-language period.
The Parental Embodied Mentalizing Assessment (PEMA™) is a 12-point tool used to assess non-verbal risk and protective factors in parent-infant (0-2) dyads. PEMA™ is based on over a decade of empirical research in which PEM has been found to be associated with parental mental health and predict infant’s security of attachment, behaviour problems, and cognitive functioning in infancy and childhood.
Drawing from this evidence-base, this 5-day course orients professionals working with parents and infants to using PEMA™ in their clinical work. PEMA™ Intensive Training Program is an in-depth training where participants will learn to identify parent-infant embodied circles of communication and specific elements of parent-infant communication through didactic and experiential exercises and video examples to explore key features of parent-infant nonverbal communication and their significance in child development.
Additional time information
Please note the training schedule allows delegates time to code independently for homework which must be completed overnight and which will form the basis of discussion the next day.
- Who is this course suitable for?
This training is suitable for professionals working with young children and their families including: Psychologists, Psychotherapists, Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, Mental Health Counsellors, Home Visitors, Family Support Workers, Outreach Workers, Nursery Staff, Behaviour Support specialists, and anyone providing parenting education and/or counselling to parents of young children.
- Aims of course
- Introduce the theory and research behind Parental Embodied Mentalizing (PEM) from its developer, Dr. Dana Shai
- Explore and identify the theory and movement language underlying PEM
- Learn step-by-step processes to identify risk and protective factors in parent-child dyads
- Fulfill prerequisite requirements for Reflective Practice and PEMA™ Certification
- System requirements for online training
The online platform Zoom will be used to deliver this training.
Prior to booking on, please ensure you meet the system requirements so you're able to join this training.
Before the training, please test your equipment is working by going to zoom.us/test and follow the instructions.
- Pre-training requirements
This training will assume a working knowledge of the concept of mentalization. Prior to starting this training, you must complete the self-guided online training “An Introduction to Mentalizing and Mentalization Based Treatments with Children, Young People and Families” (MBT CYP). You can book onto this self-guided online training here.
You will be given access to the MBT CYP training one month before the start date of your PEMA training. MBT CYP is a self-directed online training and consists of a series of short videos, presentations and activities that span six hours and can be worked through at your own pace. Topics covered include what is mentalizing and why it’s important; identifying effective and ineffective mentalizing; how mentalizing develops; its relevance in childhood, adolescence, and family contexts; and will introduce the mentalizing stance which underpins Mentalization-based Treatments. It is essential that you complete this training otherwise you will not have the theoretical knowledge to get the most out of the PEMA training you are scheduled to attend.
If, for any reason, you require access to the training sooner than one month prior to the training start date, please let us know and we will be able to grant you access.
- PEMA for Research Purposes - Reliability Test
For participants wishing to use PEMA for research, and not clinical purposes, in order to receive PEMA certification, participants are required to complete the Reliability Test, which includes the additional coding of up to 5 practice and 10 standardized pre-coded videos of parent-infant interactions.
Those who choose to do the PEMA reliability for research purposes will be sent links to access the videos. On successful completion of the Reliability Test you will be authorized to use the PEMA research purposes only.
- What happens after the PEMA Intensive training
After completing the online Introduction to MBT CYP training and the PEMA Intensive Training, you will have a sound understanding of mentalizing theory and its clinical application with parent-infant dyads.
You will have developed a range of observational skills in identifying non-verbal risk and protective factors and non-verbal communication between parents and their infants. You will have started to practice how you can use PEMA clinically, using the MBT stance and therapeutic approach.
To become certified in using PEMA for clinical or research purposes it is essential to complete inter-rater reliability.
- Becoming certified in using PEMA for research purposes
For participants wishing to use PEMA for research and not clinical purposes, in order to receive PEMA certification, participants are required to complete the Reliability Test, which includes the additional coding of up to 5 practice and 10 standardized pre-coded videos of parent-infant interactions.
Those who choose to do the PEMA reliability for research purposes will be sent links to access the videos. On successful completion of the Reliability Test you will be authorized to use the PEMA research purposes only.
- Becoming certified in using PEMA for clinical and research purposes
To use the PEMA reliably in clinical practice, it is necessary to complete an 8-week reflective practice group process. Participants will meet for 8 x 90-minute group video reflective practice sessions, exploring the application of PEMA with pre-coded (standardized) training video samples. One tape needs to be coded per week in preparation for the reflective practice meeting. Additionally, participants will employ PEMA with videotaped parent-infant interactions from their own concurrent clinical practice for group reflection.
For more information or to book on, please click here: Parental Embodied Mentalizing Assessment (PEMA™): 8-week Reflective Practice
- Getting supervision in using PEMA
For those wishing to use PEMA in clinical practice, after completing PEMA Reflective Practice and achieving reliability, ongoing support and supervision will be important. This will help you to continue to develop your skills in implementing PEMA and support your ability to hold a mentalizing stance in working parents and their infants.
29th January 2024 - 2nd February 2024
- Online – live via Zoom (Joining instructions will be sent to the email address you booked on with at least one working day before the event)
- 29th, 30th and 31st January, 1st and 2nd February (5 half days)
- 5 half days
- 09:30 - 12:30
Price
£875.00
Training fee without reliability
£1000.00
Training fee with reliability for research purposes
Tutors
The Anna Freud Centre brings together those with a stake in the mental health of children and young people. Please subscribe to our mailing list to receive a bi-monthly e-newsletter and occasional updates about the Centre's training and events.