Attunify by Thrive center
Become An Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant
Maximizing the reach and impact of consultation by training, certifying, and developing the next generation of consultants. Register below if you are interested in joining the October 2026 Cohort for Thrive Center IECMHC Certificate Program, a competency-based professional development program for infant and early childhood mental health consultants.
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We meet you where you are
Opening More Paths to Consultation
Mental Health Pathway
ECE Pathway
For Early Childhood Teachers & Directors
First, learn the ins and outs of early childhood settings, roles and routines so you can consult with credibility from your first visit even if you’ve never set foot in a classroom before. Then, learn the competencies of effective consultation.
Every Early Care, Education and Home Visiting Program Can Use More Consultation
How The Program Works
60% Self-Paced
- Video lessons & case studies
- Interactive scenarios
- Reflection journals
- Competency-based assessments
25% Live Sessions
- Weekly live sessions (90 min)
- Case consultation & role-play
- Q&A with Georgetown faculty
15% Practice
- Scenario-based practice
- Peer feedback
- Final capstone assessment
- Peer learning pods
What You'll Master: 8 Core Domains
This 4-month program covers the validated competencies that define effective IECMH consultation:
Foundations of IECMHC
Understanding the consultant role, distinguishing consultation from therapy, articulating your work to skeptical audiences
The Consultation Process
Phases of consultation from intake to closure, with practice scenarios for child/family, classroom, and programmatic consultation.
Infant & Early Childhood Development
Developmental milestones, attachment, trauma impact, recognizing when to refer.
Equity in Consultation
Addressing bias, disparities, and practicing culturally responsive consultation in diverse communities.
The Consultative Relationship
Building trust with directors, teachers, and families; navigating power dynamics and resistance.
Trauma-Informed Consultation
Understanding trauma’s impact, preventing secondary traumatic stress, self-care strategies.
Assessment & Observation
Clinical observation skills, documentation, interpreting data to inform consultation.
Reflective Practice & Supervision
Finding and using reflective supervision, participating in communities of practice, ongoing professional development.
Meet the Instructors
Dr. Neal Horen
Chief Clinical Officer
Director of Infant, Early Childhood and Relational Health
Director of Infant, Early Childhood and Relational Health
Jamie Knott, LCPC, PMH-C
Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant
Julia Sayles, LMHC, IECMH-E
Assistant Professor- Georgetown University
Lauren Rabinovitz
Project Director
San Juanita Guerra, MA, LPC-S
Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant
Sunny Cho
LMFT, IFECMHS
Trista Vonada
Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant
Our courses
Frequently asked questions
Who is this for?
Licensed mental health professionals, Early childhood educators, Recent graduates, Current consultants.
What are the prerequisites?
Bachelor’s/Master’s in related field or equivalent experience in early childhood settings recommended.
What do I receive at the end?
At the end of the training and required supervision period, you will receive a Thrive Center at Georgetown University Certificate. Eligible for IMH Alliance Crosswalk to Endorsement
How is this different from your previous $6k certificate?
The current certificate provides foundational knowledge on IECMH, it’s designed to give a broad base of skills and background. This certificate is designed for clinicians and early childhood educators with a laser focus on practical competencies of consultation. It’s designed for day-1 readiness VS theoretical knowledge robustness.
What makes Georgetown's certificate different?
Only SAMHSA Center of Excellence. We developed the national framework. Taught by field leaders.
Can my organization sponsor multiple participants?
Yes. Organizations enrolling 5+ participants may be eligible for group pricing. Contact programs@attunify.co
What's the time commitment?
Approx 8-10 hours per week over 4 months, followed by 8 month supervision and professional development.
Will I be ready to consult after completing this?
Yes. This is a foundational certification focused on day-one readiness.
I've signed up. How do I log in and access the course?
Prior to the start of the cohort, the administrator will enroll you into the course, and you will receive an email from programs@attunify.co with instructions on setting up your account, and next steps to start the course. (Please also check your spam folder if you don't see it)
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