Description
WEBINAR Nov 4th & 11th 2026
“As an expressive arts therapist, (previous work as a midwife) my curiosities lie in the non-verbal, somatic, and sensory ways we all communicate to ourselves and each other. Infants communicate through movement, rhythm, and vocal play long before developing words. The Meeting the Infant Model, offered by Emma, perfectly aligns with how I sit-with the parent-infant dyad in my studio practice. This model widens my “lens” through which I notice, become curious, respond and co-reflect with my families, the subtle relational dance between the caregiver and infant. Emma’s model gently reminds me to bring myself back to a sense of “looking through the Childs eyes.” L- Creative Arts Therapist
MTIM Overview
To be able to effectively support to infants and young children and provide a responsive early intervention, professionals need to be able to step into their world, to see what it looks like, to sense how it feels, and to understand their needs.
Relational observation (RO) is an approach that centres the infant’s experience and their voice, so that this can be included in matters that concern them. However, RO skills are not routinely taught in clinical training, even though they are an expected competency in infant mental health (IMH). Developed to address this gap, the Meeting the Infant Model© or MTIM is an interactive and observation method for professionals working in IMH and/or early intervention looking to enhance their observational skills to support therapeutic evaluation and planning. Designed to provide a comprehensive description of an infant’s individual capacities, abilities, and strengths in relation to the quality of caregiving experiences and context of the caregiving environment, it shifts away from being a diagnostic/assessment tool. Instead ‘meeting’ infants in situ is privileged, so that we can briefly enter their world to better understand their experiences, relationships, and understand their needs. This is especially important when supporting infants who have complex experiences of early life adversity or co-occurring developmental differences.
To ensure infants stay in view, the Infant Capacities Observation Wheel© (ICOW) and Infant Capacities Observation Tool© (ICOT) capture and organise descriptive information recorded during observation that is essential, but often missing. This information is needed to inform comprehensive therapeutic planning. The MTIM© is underpinned by trauma-informed and neuro-affirming principles and aims to provide a culturally sensitive and family-centred approach to early intervention.
The structure of the training program reflects different needs and preferences for various practitioners working in IMH with 3 levels of the course available. Unlike other courses structured for learners to ‘consume’ the theories and skills in a concentrated period of time but leaving unprepared for everyday practice, the MTIM© training intentionally builds in different types of skills practice. This means professionals can practice and refine skills together with peers as well as real-life applications with the hope trainees leave feeling confident in using the MTIM© that can be taken straight into practice. After all, infants cannot afford to wait and rely on highly competent professionals to help meet their needs.
Online Workshop (12 hours)
UPCOMING 2026 DATES: Nov 4th & 11th 9.30am- 1.30pm AEDT
Designed to be live and interactive workshops, Level 2 builds on the foundational level with a focus on how to implement the MTIM© using the Infant Capacities Observation Wheel© (ICOW) and the Infant Capacities Observation Tool© (ICOT) tools to record and organise observational phenomena that informs a therapeutic response. Trainees learn about the preparation, implementation, and concluding stages of the method through an iterative process of practising observation using the tools to develop applied skills in relational observation.
Time is spent becoming familiar with the key concepts, techniques, and tools of the MTIM© including the ICOW© and the ICOT© that are used to organise the observational information (data) and inform a therapeutic response.
A dynamic learning approach is used that incorporates pre-reading, video observation, small group discussion, practice using the tools, and self-reflection activities. Examples from practice are used to help illustrate different applications and demonstrate techniques. The final module asks trainees to spend time after the training to critically reflect on their responsibility to listen to the voices of young children in matters that affect them and identify areas for improvement in practice.
Modules
Module 4—MTIM© Framework
Module 5—MTIM© Applied skills part 1
Module 6—MTIM© Applied skills part 2
Module 7—Bringing it together
Module 8—Reflective practice (submission after course)
Learning Aims:
- To introduce the MTIM© including core concepts, techniques, and tools of the ICOW© and ICOT©.
- To develop the necessary relational observation skills to implement and undertake the MTIM© ethically and responsibly with young children 1-5 years of age in various settings.
- To learn engagement approaches that elicit salient information and informs a therapeutic response.
- To equip trainees to devise a clear rationale for the MTIM© identifying clear benefits as well as recognising areas of limitation.
- To centre the infant’s voice in the process and documentation.
- To engage in a critical self-reflective process that invites a deeper understanding of the inner world of infants.
The training includes:
The MTIM© Manual (PDF)—valued at $60
ICOT© and ICOW© Tools
Observation practice videos
Breakout groups
Pause moments (questions to help monitor progress and explore consequences, commitments to do things differently, and identifying practice knot that need further untangling)
A certificate of attainment will be provided upon completion of the eight modules.
Target audience: This introduction course is suitable for health, allied health, education, and social services professionals who possess a foundational knowledge in child development, early intervention, and infant mental health (0-5 years). Course learners do not need to be currently working with young children but expected to have relevant experience.
Infant Mental Health Competencies: The modules correspond to infant mental health competencies described by various infant mental health frameworks in Australia, UK, and USA. Although different competency models are used around the world, observation is identified as a core competency falling under various domains. Refer directly to your relevant framework.
2027 DATES: Feb 10th & 17th, 9.30am – 1.30pm AEDT. Registration will be available after the upcoming training has finished. To get a reminder, subscribe to our newsletter!
EARLY BIRD PRICE $400 (ex GST) until Sept 30th | REGULAR PRICE $500 (ex GST)
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MTIM© FAQ’s
What is the MTIM©?
The MTIM© is a brief, semi-structured observation tool that captures the various capacities of infants and young children whilst contextualising the caregiving conditions and environments. The observations inform therapeutic assessments, planning, reports, and advocacy.
Who is this training for?
The MTIM© was developed for allied health, early education, and social welfare professionals working with children 1-5 years who use observation in their work. Relational infant observation is a specialised skill set used to inform assessments, therapeutic planning, and advocacy efforts.
The MTIM© can be used by any professional working with children and families who possesses a sound knowledge of child development and adopts a neuro-affirming, trauma-informed, and family-centred approach to their work.
How is MTIM© observation different from other observation methods?
The MTIM© is grounded in the psychoanalytic frame of infant observation focused on the subjective experience of young children, understanding their inherent strengths and capacities, and seeing the world from their perspective using an unstructured approach. However, training in traditional infant observation takes a minimum of 12 months and does not equip trainees to apply observation in everyday practice. Other structured observations are commonly diagnostic tools that focus on deficits or identifying problems. These instruments can only be used by some professionals and often do not always privilege the infant experience or used in a culturally safe manner.
What are the main benefits of the MTIM© training?
Develop nuanced observation skills to take straight into your practice
The Infant Capacities Observation Tool allows the inherent strengths and unique capacities of an infant to be highlighted as well as helps to reframe deficits by contextualsing differences within broader systems.
Provides a comprehensive descriptive account that complements and extends other assessments, clinical reports, and case formulations.
Elevates the voice and experiences of infants in matters that concern them and in places that lack the ability to ‘hear’ them.
Increases ability to ‘think with’ not just ‘think about’ infant subjectivity
Upholds the rights of the infant.
Deepens reflective practice that holds the infant in mind in systems that struggle to.
