Center of Excellence for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation, part of Georgetown University’s Thrive Center

Element 7 of 10

The centrality of relationships

Because we know that development for both young children and adults is transactional, relationships are the focus of IECMH consultation.

Key points

  • Primacy is given to the consultant-consultee relationship. Studies show that the quality of this relationship is highly correlated to positive outcomes in the provider-child relationship.
  • Intervention is aimed at relationships rather than individuals, especially the adult-child relationship.
  • Recognizing that children’s development is impacted by the surrounding adult relationships, the consultant attends to adult interaction as well.

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).

Practical Certificate in IECMHC

How you show up is a skill you can build

The Practical Certificate gives you room to practice the consultative stance. You learn the consultative relationship, record a first meeting with a teacher, and talk it through in monthly reflective supervision with a licensed clinician.

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I am learning how I show up matters just as much as the strategies I bring with me.

Behavioral Support Specialist, Washington