Incredible Families has provided the governance and support for training and development of the Watch, Wait and Wonder intervention in Australasia, for infants and young children who may have relational, behavioural, regulatory and/or developmental difficulties and parents who may feel troubled in their relationship with their child.
Dr Denise Guy coordinates this training.
For information regarding the intervention’s development, clinical work and research visit www.watchwaitwonderdownunder.com or email denise@watchwaitwonderdownunder.com
Training
The training is in line with the Recommended Standards for Independent Practice of the Watch, Wait and Wonder Intervention (1999©) established by Elisabeth Muir, Mirek Lojkasek and Nancy Cohen when all worked at the Hincks-Dellcrest Centre and University of Toronto. Training involves attendance at Introductory and Advanced courses and supervision of cases including one case of ≥ 18 sessions.
The Introductory Course is a three-day course that provides the basic theoretical and technical foundation in the Watch, Wait and Wonder® Intervention. It includes the process of observing, viewing film of the intervention and participants are asked to do some filming ahead of the course. It is recommended for clinicians who are working with infants, preschoolers and their families and who preferably, but not necessarily, have psychotherapy experience.
The Advanced Course is for participants who have completed the Introductory Course and have used the intervention with at least one infant/toddler-parent dyad for a minimum of eight sessions. This course focuses on clinicians presenting case material. Full details regarding preparation for participation are sent to clinicians once they have a confirmed place on a course.
Supervision
There are currently three accredited supervisors – Denise Guy, Seonaigh Stevens and Rose Robinson. Supervision can be provided individually or to a small group. Clinicians are asked to film their work and this is the primary focus of the supervision. Clarification of confidentiality and consent issues are discussed with individual supervisees.
Scholarships
In late 2011 the Dove Trust made a donation to the Incredible Families Charitable Trust specifically funding supervision costs for New Zealand clinicians to complete their training in the Watch, Wait and Wonder® Intervention. This was a wonderful gift and we set up an application process for those professionals who had completed an Introductory and Advanced Course and one case of ≥ 8 sessions. In 2014 the Dove Trust and Eleazar Family Support Trust made donations supporting a second round of Scholarships. Fourteen clinicians have received scholarships and three have completed training. Financial support has been essential for these clinicians as funding for training in New Zealand is very limited. The Dove Trust has additionally funded group supervision for clinicians who have successfully completed their training and are beginning independent practice of Watch, Wait and Wonder.
For more information about Watch, Wait and Wonder courses or to register, please visit www.watchwaitwonderdownunder.com