TerapiaLampi

Nurture Play Group is a Finnish mentalization based intervention that takes place from the time of pregnancy until the age of one.

The goal of the activity is to support the pregnant mother’s ability to mentalize as well as her emotional availability with the baby through tasks and playfulness.

Pregnancy group themes include (for example): ”what kind of a nurturing mother will I be”, ”what kind of a baby will I have” and ”what kind of close relatives will the baby have”. Each session includes deliberation of moods as well exercises that strengthen the ability to nurture and to be emotionally available. Mothers are guided towards a mentalizing deliberation: the baby is a separate human being, with his/hers own needs and wants.

As the baby is born, six different categories of emotional availability will be reviewed; sensitivity, the ability to structure, non-obtrusiveness, non-hostility as well as responsiveness and the child’s ability to take initiative.

Checking in on moods and the inner resources of the mother, a reflective way of working, playfulness, nurture and relaxation are all themes that are at the core of the group activity. The child’s father/support person is also activated through homework.

Each session includes conversation and exercises that increase the ability to mentalize, psychoeducation, both cognitive and physical exercises (including relaxation and massage) as well as interplay activities that support sensitivity.