About
Infant Mental Health
Infant mental health focuses on the social and emotional well-being of children from birth through age six. This period is critical as early experiences shape brain development and future health outcomes. VCU’s Infant Mental Health program offers professional development opportunities that emphasize relationship-based practices and attachment principles. Students engage in a 28-hour training that includes 18 hours of instructor-led sessions and 10 hours of required work, culminating in a Certificate of Completion from VCU Continuing and Professional Education and the Early Childhood Mental Health Virginia Initiative. This training aligns with the competencies required for the Virginia Association for Infant Mental Health Endorsement for Culturally Sensitive, Relationship-Focused Practices Promoting Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health.
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Play Therapy Training Program
Play Therapy is a therapeutic approach that utilizes play to help children express feelings, process experiences, and develop coping skills. VCU’s Play Therapy training program (APT Approved Provider 15-397) offers workshops designed for professionals in the behavioral health and school social work field who are looking to enhance their skills in this area. This program includes foundational workshops such as “Principles of Play Therapy,” which covers the history, theories, and techniques of play therapy, and “Games, Activities, and Children’s Literature,” which focuses on using creative methods to engage children. All VCU play therapy workshops meet the requirements for the Registered Play Therapist™ (RPT), Registered Play Therapist—Supervisor™ (RPT-S), and School-Based Registered Play Therapist™ (SB-RPT) credentials, as established by the Association for Play Therapy. With both in-person and virtual options, this program provides flexible learning opportunities for professionals aiming to integrate play therapy into their practice.
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