Gentle Touch(r) Parent-Child Program Training for Professionals

Gentle Touch® Parent-Child Program

The Art of Gentle Touch®

Training for Professionals

Massaging young children is an ancient tradition and communication process which has been rediscovered in this country. Research and clinical evidence show that loving, touching, and nurturing contact between caregiver and child has a positive impact upon the caregiver, the child, their relationship, the child's subsequent development, and the family.

Gentle Touch® is the parent-child program developed by Emma Miller, D.Div., Certified Infant Massage Instructor and N.C. Infant/Toddler/Family Specialist. The Gentle Touch® elements of touch/massage, relaxation, communication, nurturing, support, information, and celebration are effective with vulnerable (“high-risk”) populations. The Gentle Touch® "Touch Continuum" allows for touch appropriate for the developmental stage of the young child, and the needs of the caregiver.

Key features of the Gentle Touch® Parent-Child Program include prenatal and infant mental health, sensory integration, state modulation, and a family-centered, collaborative approach. Trainees consistently report that information learned has a great impact on their professional and personal lives. Parents who then participate in this experiential parenting program, in their homes or clinical settings, claim numerous positive benefits for their children, themselves, and their family as a whole.

This skill-based training includes lectures, discussion, experiential exercises, videos and other visual aids, handouts, child/family stories, and demonstrations. The small class size maximizes interaction, and the supervised practice sessions ensures proficiency. Participants are encouraged to network and bring situations pertinent to their work for discussion. A substantial manual is provided for future reference.

Target audience: Professionals who are working in an intervention or supportive capacity with caregivers with children under age 5. (Longer trainings are available for those individuals without applicable training or experience.) Click here for examples

Registration: Class size is limited to insure individualized instruction. There is a minimum in order to hold the workshop.

Participants are asked to bring a large (16"+), life-like doll and a floor cushion.

Hours & Credit: A minimum of 21 contact hours will be offered for this program in its entirety. Shorter formats may be available. Longer formats are available for paraprofessionals. Continuing education units are an option.

Certification: The use of Gentle Touch® 4-, 6-, and 8-session curricula, forms, specialized manuals, marketing materials, and logo is available after training and demonstration of mastery of Gentle Touch® principles and practice. Please inquire about specifics.

Objectives: This training will cover (1) the Gentle Touch® "Touch Continuum" including several touch/massage routines, (2) applications to well parents with healthy children, and (3) modifications for children under age 5, and those parents and children with special needs.

Upon completion of the training, professionals will be able to:

demonstrate proficiency in a series of developmentally sensitive massage routines,

identify validated benefits of touch,

understand prenatal/infant/child communication and behaviors,

promote the child's self-regulation, and nurturing caregiving,

plan Gentle Touch® interventions based upon the needs of the child and family.

Fee: Trainer will consider budget allowances, the number of staff, and the number of trainings scheduled.

Sponsor a Training or Workshop: In addition to free registrations, there are other benefits of sponsorship. Please inquire.

Trainings are offered nationally and internationally.

See Quotes from Professionals about this training.

About the Trainer:

Emma Miller, D.Div., created the Gentle Touch® Parent-Child Program in 1993. She is an international trainer and program consultant, conference speaker and workshop leader. Author and co-producer of the Gentle Touch® Infant Massage Video, as well as author of articles in professional, parenting, and massage publications, Emma has had numerous media exposures (including Child Magazine, 11/97) and program endorsements. She holds certifications as a N.C. Infant/Toddler/Family Specialist, an Infant Massage Instructor, a Nursing Child Assessment Satellite Training (NCAST) Instructor, and in Pre- and Perinatal Massage, and is an Interfaith Minister. Active in numerous organizations related to parent and child issues, Emma has worked in hospital, pediatric practice, mental health, substance abuse, developmental disability, child development, residential treatment facility, social service, and family development institute settings. Her goal is to promote the competence of the child, nurturing parenting, strong family life, and a responsive system of care. Her focus is on serving all families but especially "vulnerable" ones, prenatal and infant mental health, and family-centered practices.

2009 Training and Conference Calendar is being scheduled now!

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NEXT OPEN TRAINING: Watch for 2008-2009 dates to be announced. (Experience working with children & families is required for this program; an additional training module is available for those individuals without applicable training or experience.)

Questions? Email Training@GentleTouchParent-Child.com

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