Child Life Services

Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS) are educated and clinically trained on the developmental impact of illness and injury. Because children process information from the world around them much differently
than adults, they have distinct needs for managing the effects of stress and trauma. CCLS help infants, children, teens, and families cope with the stress and uncertainty of acute and chronic illness, injury,
trauma, disability, loss, and bereavement. They are experts in child development and medical terminology. Child Life Specialists provide evidence-based, developmentally, and psychologically
appropriate interventions including therapeutic play, preparation, and education for healthcare experiences to reduce fear, anxiety, and pain. Specialists empower children and strengthen their ability to cope with individual experiences and situations.

Child Life Services in Private Practice

Annie is a Certified Child Life Specialist with over 22 years of experience working with infants, children, teens, and families. As a CCLS, she supports the entire family system through child life interventions
that aim to minimize the immediate and long-term effects of stress, anxiety, and psychosocial trauma related to significant life experiences. While Child Life Specialists are historically found in hospitals, the field has expanded to include hospice programs, dental offices, schools, and Private Practices. Annie aims to help your family develop a personalized treatment plan with a family-centered approach in the
comfort of your own home.

To explore more about the Child Life Profession please visit:

The Child Life Profession
American Academy of Pediatrics Statement on Child Life
Standards and Guidelines for Child Life Practice in the Community & Non Traditional Setting

Supportive Services for Children and Families:

Living with an acute or chronic illness or injury

Who are experiencing loss & grief

That have a caregiver/parent/sibling with an illness or health condition

With a new medical diagnosis of a family member

With upcoming medical/dental procedures, tests, surgeries, doctor visits, etc.

Coping with end of life

Those who have been hospitalized or have a family member in the hospital

Supportive Services Include
but are not Limited to:

Therapeutic play interventions to promote positive processing

Medical play/teaching/education

Procedural/Surgical Preparation

Pre-Hospitalization Preparation

Legacy building

Memory making

Sibling support

Parental education/coaching regarding healthcare experiences including diagnosis, loss, child development

Assistance to cope with school re-entry following diagnosis

Teaching coping skills

Infant Massage instruction

Additional Services

Teddy Bear Clinics

Workshops for children in which Annie will come to your organization, school, club, etc., and speak with children about routine dr. visits, clear misconceptions that often accompany hospital visits, allow children to process past medical experiences, all while facilitating play with real and pretend medical supplies to promote a sense of mastery. Annie will validate emotions and teach healthy coping strategies, so children are more prepared for their next healthcare experience.

Child Life Consult for Professionals and Parents

Medical experiences can be overwhelming for children, but also for their parents and those who are caring for them. Annie will provide information and education on appropriate language, preparation, and distraction, which will help you guide children and teens to learning healthy coping strategies, decrease fears and strengthen coping skills, which will lead to positive healthcare experience.

Child Life in Schools

As a child life specialist, Annie recognizes that normalization is a huge part of a child’s development. School is part of a child’s “normal” life. However, following a new diagnosis, traumatic event, recent illness, family death, injury or hospitalization kids can feel anxious about returning to school. Their friends may have questions too, which may cause even more anxiety or uncertainty. As a child life specialist, she can support the child and their class through this process. Each classroom visit would be tailored to the specific needs of the child and class. She will use developmentally appropriate and child friendly language to allow for better understanding of medical terminology, allow children to explore medical materials to increase understanding, and offer suggestions of how the class can support their classmate.

Infant Massage

Annie is a Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI). She first obtained certification in
2002 and after a year of working with families, she retained additional training in special needs infant
massage. Annie has worked with families with babies in the NICU to full-term infants. Caregivers will
learn how to massage their babies and the many benefits massage naturally encompasses.

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Ready To Discuss
How We Can Help?

Get in touch today for a consultation and let’s discuss how we can help your child and family.