This is a second module in a series of two modules on parent infant observations. Students undertake a weekly hour-long observation of a baby at home (either in person or remotely via video). This is to acquaint students with the capacities, growth and changes that occur in the early months of life and to enable them to learn first-hand about this developmental period and early caregiver-baby relationships. Students write up what they’ve observed after the observation and discuss this in a small group seminar led by an experienced psychoanalytic clinician. These discussions allow students to gain further understanding of what they’ve observed and make links to psychoanalytic and developmental theory and research.



This particular module will focus on the second year of baby’s development.

This is one module in a series of two modules on parent infant observations. Students undertake a weekly hour-long observation of a baby at home (either in...

This is one module in a series of two modules on parent infant observations. Students undertake a weekly hour-long observation of a baby at home (either in person or remotely via video). This is to acquaint students with the capacities, growth and changes that occur in the early months of life and to enable them to learn first-hand about this developmental period and early caregiver-baby relationships. Students write up what they’ve observed after the observation and discuss this in a small group seminar led by an experienced psychoanalytic clinician. These discussions allow students to gain further understanding of what they’ve observed and make links to psychoanalytic and developmental theory and research.



This particular module will focus on the first year of the baby’s development.

This is one module in a series of three modules on early child development, which focus on child development and the caregiver-child relationship in the early years, considering the interplay of different factors, such as psychological, biological and environmental. Particular attention will be given to the bi-directional nature of the parent-child relationship, how the child influences and is influenced by their environment. The focus of the module is on normal development in the early years and which aspects or issues in the child, the parent and their relationship that can lead to future mental health problems.

This third module in the series will look at the impact of early years development and parenting on later stages of life such as latency, adolescence, young adulthood and the process of becoming a parent. More specifically, the module will consider how early experiences of separation, trauma, object constancy, containment, parental reflective functioning, parental mental health, as well as attachment relationships can influence different aspects of emotional, cognitive and social development, such as:

Mental health;
	Development of own identity
	Formation and quality of new relationships (peer, romantic, work, becoming a parent);
	Capacity for emotion regulation;
	Reflective Functioning
All these aspects will be considered through teaching of psychoanalytic theory and contemporary research in developmental psychology and neuroscience, and exemplified through clinical examples.