Mind Over Mood Initiative
Bridging Gaps in Accessing Treatment and Care for Mothers in Early Childhood Home Visitation
The Mind Over Mood Initiative addresses maternal mental health within early childhood Home Visitation in multiple ways. One key component is the development of partnerships with independent practice therapists statewide. Mind over Mood is building a community of specialized perinatal mental health and attachment psychotherapists to attend to the unmet clinical needs of mothers participating in early childhood Home Visiting. Since 2015, we have cultivated collaborations with over 170 private practice and small group practices across the state.
Fully licensed, Husky-credentialed therapists who are passionate about providing psychotherapy to early childhood mothers experiencing depression, anxiety, and/or trauma, are encouraged to introduce us to their practice to be invited to our two-part training series.
In an effort to recapture our original mission to break down barriers for mothers enrolled in Home Visiting by providing home-based therapy, we are emphasizing partnerships with therapists who provide office-based and/or home-based services. We have many partnerships already with telehealth-only providers.
Trainings
We offer Part I and Part II trainings periodically throughout the year. These are invitation-only trainings for qualifying therapists. Part I trainings are offered more frequently to keep the trainings as intimate groups for more interaction. Each training offers three CECs awarded under NASW CT approval.
Training Description
The two-part virtual training designed in 2020 is a response to the pandemic and now replaces the full-day in-person training that was developed in 2015 by Kathy Novak, Karen Steinberg Gallucci, Julia González Candela, and Jen Vendetti. This interactive training seeks to build rapport with therapist partners, provide education on the nuances and salient factors of perinatal mental health, the initiative itself, and all five components and the framework (COMPASS) and integrated treatment model. The training will describe the model, intervention strategies, and the role of the Mind over Mood therapist. The training includes didactic lecture, group discussion, interactive exercises, video and live demonstrations, role-play activities, and opportunities for trying out different strategies. Participants will receive the instruments and protocols that form the core of their work, supported by a wide variety of materials and skill training. As part of this training, therapists will receive instruction in Motivational Interviewing, Motivational Enhancement Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, Positive Psychology, and Attachment theory, and how to integrate therapy components into a coherent sequence to form the COMPASS intervention.
For questions or more information, contact:
Jennifer Vendetti, LMSW, CEIM, PMH-C
Phone: 860-679-3703
Email: jvendetti@uchc.edu