Early years of life

At The Younger Years we support families across the years, that is from pregnancy right through to adulthood! Right from the perinatal period (which is, the time before and after childbirth and inclusive of pregnancy, labour, birth and the first years of the baby’s life), our clinicians work at promoting the emotional well-being of both babies and parents. At The Younger Years we have clinicians that specialise in providing support, early intervention and care during this critical time. We can help lay the groundwork for a healthy and positive future for both the child and their caregivers.

What are some challenges that parents/carers can face during the early years of a child’s life?

Early attachment issues:

We know that the early attachment relationship lays the foundation for a child's emotional and social development. Secure attachment, where a child feels safe, loved, and supported by their caregivers, promotes healthy emotional regulation, positive social interactions, and a strong sense of self-worth. On the other hand, insecure attachment can lead to difficulties in emotional regulation, social relationships, and self-esteem.

We can assist in parental bonding and early attachment support and provide therapy that focus on repairing and strengthening the parent-child bond. Such as, attachment-based therapies, family therapy and play therapy which can help address underlying issues and support healthy attachment.

Parental mental health:

Becoming a parent can be both joyful and challenging, and some parents may experience stress, anxiety, or depression during pregnancy or after childbirth. The mental health of the baby and the parent are deeply interconnected. For example, a baby's emotional well-being can be influenced by the parent's emotional state and how they respond to the baby's needs. Similarly, parents' mental health can be affected by the demands of caring for a baby. We can provide support for parental mental health which may include mood management, assistance with alcohol and other drug dependence and in some instance support for parental trauma and risk issues.

Early childhood problems:

Feeding, sleeping, and toileting are common challenges that many parents and caregivers face. These issues can arise due to various reasons, and they often require patience, understanding, and sometimes professional guidance to address. We can assist with these early childhood problems and also issues of encopresis and enuresis.

Separation Anxiety:

Separation anxiety is a normal developmental phase during early childhood. However, excessive and prolonged separation anxiety may indicate attachment issues and again with understanding, support and psychological intervention this can be supported.

Childhood Trauma Grief and Loss:

Traumatic experiences, such as the loss of a parent or caregiver, or early neglect, abuse or disruptions can disrupt a child's attachment process and lead to emotional and behavioural challenges.

For all these issues, if problems persist and significantly impact a child’s well-being or daily functioning, early intervention is essential. Remember each child is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to addressing these challenges. At The Younger Years we can assist you in helping children overcome these early childhood problems.

Please reach out to us and book an appointment with our experienced psychologists for further help.