‘Los momentos magicos’: a practical model for child mental health professionals to volunteer by supporting caregivers in institutions in developing countries

‘Los momentos magicos’ refers to small interactions between the caregiver and the child that when repeated multiple times can have a lasting positive effect. This hopeful perspective is important for the caregivers of the children in institutions in the developing countries, as many of these children carry the scars of early neglect and abuse. Through her experiences in visits to orphanages in Central America and India, the author has developed a model for mental health professionals in the developed countries to volunteer their consultation services to the caregivers of children in care in the developing countries, in the context of a long-term relationship with episodic visits and regular Skype and video contact. This paper presents a narrative of the process of developing this model over a 10-year period. Key to the model is the factors of a long-term relationship and the role of the consultant who maintains a focus on the caregivers’ concerns.