Element 2 of 10
Avoiding the position of sole expert
In accepting that the work is a collaborative effort between consultant and providers and parents, the position as exclusive expert must be abandoned.
Key points
- The IECMH consultant does have specialized and crucial knowledge to contribute.
- Gathering information from all participants is critical.
- The IECMH consultant seeks to legitimize and heighten the provider’s and caregiver’s sense of expertise.
- The consultant’s attitude conveys the belief that consultees hold valuable information; helping them to see themselves as the source of ideas.
- Avoiding the position of sole expert becomes increasingly difficult when called in to respond to a crisis.
Source: Element text is reproduced from 10 Elements Comprise the Essential Core of an Effective Consultative Stance, Center of Excellence for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (2025).