Our ecosystemic focus in perinatal mental health

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Eco-systemic Focus

The Institute takes an eco-systemic approach to the perinatal period, which recognizes and integrates the importance of:

the neurobiological processes of pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period, with a special emphasis on the emotional needs of babies and the mother-baby dyad, the understanding that the natural habitat of the newborn is the mother, and that the bond with the father is equally important but different in its development;
the theory of attachment developed by Dr. John Bowlby and the latest developments in the field of pre- and perinatal psychology, including the human ecology approach of Dr. Urie Bronfenbrenner;
an understanding of family dynamics from a systems approach, including the transmission of attachment styles from generation to generation;
sociopolitical analysis, including most importantly a gender-based perspective and an understanding of the challenges inherent in childrearing in our current sociocultural context, with its many demands;
and the necessity of supporting and disseminating the concept of prevention in the perinatal period, including treatment options that are sustainable and respectful of human lactation.