Child Life + Parent Consultations

 

Child life specialists are trained  professionals with expertise in helping children and their families overcome life's most challenging events, particularly those related to healthcare and hospitalization. They provide developmentally-appropriate preparation and play-based support for medical procedures and diagnoses.  Children managing an illness, and children coping with the illness of a parent or loved one, have unique stressors and typically benefit from an additional layer of support.  Sarah uses a play-based approach for younger children, to support mastery, family connectedness, developmentally-appropriate understanding, communication and emotional expression.   Sarah may use additional expressive art modalities with older children, teens and families.  For families navigating end-of-life terrain, Sarah is able to provide legacy-building opportunities and projects that may become treasured momentos following the loss of a loved one. 

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When it comes to illness within a family, several questions arise.  How do we tell the children? What do we tell them?  How much information is appropriate? Sarah provides consultations and guidance to parents over the phone to address these concerns.  She will share developmentally appropriate language, resources, as well as developmental, behavioral and emotional responses to illness, disability and loss.  She also helps families navigate school re-entry for children with serious medical conditions.

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When to contact Sarah:

- new diagnosis in the family

- change in prognosis

- end-of-life and bereavement

- difficulty coping with illness, hospital environment, medical procedures

- compliance issues

- school re-entry following leave due to treatment

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Depending on physical limitations, Sarah is able to provide home visits.  

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