ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book describes a therapeutic approach with a focus on interventions that are infant-led. It describes the therapeutic interventions that are mostly short-term when infant and parent are referred in the perinatal period and the first three years. In recognising an infant's intentional self from birth, the interactive approach with awareness of the infant's theory of mind is likely to contribute to developing the infant's sense of self even if in a small way. The book conveys the transformational nature of a therapist's embodied communication with an infant. Transference is used in the sense of the process by which an infant or parent displaces feelings and ideas on to his or her therapist. The book draws on psycho-dynamic principles for infant-parent therapy.
