“Messy Process of Mismatch and Repair”: A Book Chat with Claudia M. Gold, MD

The “messy process of mismatch and repair” was the topic at a June 25th book chat with renowned infant expert Claudia M. Gold, MD, author of “Getting to Know You: Lessons in Early Relational Health from Infants and Caregivers.”

Gold was invited to give her talk by Erikson Institute adjunct faculty member Linda Horwitz, MSEd, IECHMH-C, an expert in early intervention and infant and early childhood mental health (IECHMH).

“Dr. Gold reached out to me as she has a strong connection to the Chicago area, Erikson, and the infant mental health community here,” Horwitz said. “Her hope was to offer a book chat related to her newest work and a discussion on Early Relational Health. We were honored to support this effort.”

About 30 infant mental health professionals, including several Erikson alums and faculty members, gathered for the hybrid event that was co-sponsored by Erikson and the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital. During her talk, Gold shared compelling stories of parents and their newborns finding ways to connect through trial and error.

Mismatches help build trust

A key takeaway was that far from being a failure, a “mismatch” (where an infant’s behavioral cue for what they need at that moment is not accurately interpreted by the caregiver) is necessary for healthy infant development. The shared process of learning together, and the caregiver’s repair of the brief relational rupture, strengthens the baby’s sense of self, builds the caregiver’s confidence, and overall deepens the child/caregiver bond.

It is this type of developmental insight that moves the IECHMH field forward, and experts like Gold make complex concepts relatable through example after example of parent/child interactions. These stories also highlight the role that IECHMH specialists play in knowing when to allow uncertainty to guide growth. A phrase repeated often during the gathering was “the power of not knowing,” where professionals consciously hold back their tendency to problem-solve and instead allow the parent and child to build resilience and trust together.

Erikson’s master’s programs in Child Development and Social Work, as well as our certificate programs, prepare professionals with deep understanding of infant and early mental health. We also impact the field with our community service programs that support the healthy development of babies and young children.