Very early art therapy intervention: Why work with infants and their caregivers?

This chapter looks at the importance of early attachment relationships for infant development and wellbeing and why these relationships may need to be supported through early intervention. It considers the theoretical basis for using an art therapy approach with this client group and the ways in which art may bring caregivers and their young children together by creating positive interactive experiences. An art psychotherapy approach can use the process of shared art making to support nurturing, synchronous, regulatory, and mind-minded interactions with caregivers, known to be key in building positive attachment. Case vignettes are used to ground this discussion with examples of an art psychotherapy approach in practice within the Art at the Start project in order to examine and better understand the ways in which the art making process can facilitate positive interactions and communication within parent-infant dyads.