Training
Dr. Bekman provides training and professional development across a range of topics in infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH). Specific training offerings include: Child-Parent Psychotherapy learning collaboratives, clinical diagnosis of young children aged 0-5 (i.e., DC:0-5™ training), relationship assessment of caregivers and young children as well as various other IECMH content areas. Dr. Bekman has extensive experience training both clinical and non-clinical audiences to gain in-depth knowledge of infant mental health theory and practice.
Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP)
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Child-Parent Psychotherapy is an evidence-based intervention model for children aged 0-5 who have experienced painful or traumatic events such as loss of a loved person, separation, serious medical procedures, abuse or violence at home or in the community. CPP aims to strengthen the parent-child relationship, reduce the child's traumatic stress symptoms, and enhance the young child's development and emotional well-being. For children exposed to trauma, caregivers and the child are guided over the course of treatment to create a joint narrative of the traumatic event and to identify and address trauma triggers that lead to dysregulated emotions and behavior. Therapeutic sessions include child and parent/caregiver. If clinically indicated, treatment may include multiple caregivers and/or siblings with the format determined jointly with the caregivers after learning about the needs of different family members during the foundational phase of treatment.
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Child-Parent Psychotherapy training is offered via an 18-month implementation- level learning collaborative. The Learning Collaborative (LC) model is the dissemination strategy used by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network to support uptake of best practices. An LC includes didactics, intensive case consultation, and peer to peer learning within and across organizations. Participants will gain core CPP knowledge and competencies that enable them to adopt CPP. Trainings are designed for teams of licensed mental health professionals rather than for individuals and are typically organized in collaboration with large systems or agencies. Participating agencies will increase their capacity to provide an evidence-based trauma treatment for children in the birth to six age range. Participants who complete minimum training requirements will be eligible for the national CPP roster.
CPP Learning Collaborative Components include:
Didactic trainings or “learning sessions” (three multi-day learning sessions totaling 42 hours are offered across the first 12 months of the LC)
Intensive clinical case consultation (Offered twice monthly across the duration of the 18- month LC)
Active Learning- Clinicians partner and provide CPP to families and learn by doing!
Click here to see detailed clinician training requirements
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Dr. Bekman partners with Dr. Jay Willoughby to train Colorado clinicians in CPP. We are currently recruiting for a Child Parent Psychotherapy Learning Collaborative that begins January 26-30, 2026. Training costs are generously covered by grant funding from Illuminate Colorado and thus training is free to participants. Please see this Overview Document for more information and eligibility criteria. Once you have read the document and are ready to apply, please complete this survey. If you have questions about the training, please email shannon@bekmanpsychology.com.
DC:0-5™: Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood
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DC:0-5™ is a comprehensive, diagnostic classification system for mental health and developmental disorders in infants and young children (ages 0-5). DC:0-5™ was developed to enhance the professional’s ability to diagnose mental health problems by identifying and describing disorders specific to infants and young children that are not well addressed in other classification systems. The approach to diagnosis is developmentally informed, relationship-based, contextual and culturally attuned.
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This professional development opportunity is designed for advanced practitioners such as mental health clinicians, psychiatrists, pediatricians, and early interventionists whose work with infants, young children and their families involves expert assessment, diagnosis and case formulation. The training allows clinicians to have in-depth knowledge of the approach and content of DC:0-5™ and to practice application of this nosology with the support of peers and expert faculty through activities and case examples. The training is 12 hours in length and offered over 3 half-days either in person or via Zoom.
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Reach out today to learn more. Training for providers is offered at least 1-2x per year. Additionally, Dr. Bekman frequently partners with local organizations and state agencies seeking to contract a private training for their teams.
Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Professional Development for Infant/Early Childhood Providers
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Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) training equips professionals with the knowledge and skills to promote healthy social-emotional development and address mental health challenges in the crucial early years of life. Training is available on the following topics:
Attachment
Infant/ Early childhood development
Trauma in infancy and early childhood
Reflective supervision/consultation
Infant Mental Health 101/ What is Infant Mental Health?!
And others…
Reach out today and share about your team’s IECMH training needs.
