4.1

Defining the Consultative Stance in the Context of Relationship-Based Work

girl at piano

According to Johnston and Brinamen (2006), the central tenet of mental health consultation to early care and education is the “consultative stance,” used to capture and describe the consultant’s “way of being” in relationship-based work. At its core, this descriptor represents the belief that the ways in which people are treated influence their views of

Collaborative Relationships and the Relationship-Based Work of Consultation

mother, father and infant

Although there is diversity among mental health service providers as well as early care and education providers, including Head Start and Early Head Start, the most essential features of early childhood mental health consultation are a collaborative relationship, problem-solving and capacity building goals, focus on an identified concern, and consultants with a set of specific

This product was developed [in part] under grant number 1H79SM082070-01 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The views, policies and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SAMHSA or HHS.