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 and Certified Grief Counselor with expertise spanning over 23 years, during which she has worked with infants, children, teens, and families. Her dual certification highlights her comprehensive understanding of child development, coping mechanisms, and the intricacies of grief. While Child Life Specialists have historically been associated with hospitals, Annie recognizes the broader need for her services in diverse contexts. She has embraced this expansion by working with hospice programs, and schools, and creating a private practice, thereby reaching families within their communities. She aims to minimize the immediate and long-term effects of stress, anxiety, and psychosocial trauma related to significant life experiences. Her goal is to provide age-appropriate guidance and coping strategies that help children and teens better understand and process their emotions. She collaborates with families to develop personalized treatment plans that align with their goals and circumstances. Annie offers the convenience of remote consultations, enabling families to engage in discussions and interventions from the comfort of their own homes. Annie’s dedication to providing child life services and grief support to the community showcases her passion for making a positive impact in the lives of families during challenging times.

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

Grief Support

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, daycare, etc., and prepare children for 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 teach healthy coping strategies, so children are more prepared for their next healthcare experience.

Community Engagement

Community engagement sessions are a crucial aspect of Annie’s work as a Certified Child Life Specialist and Grief Counselor. These sessions can cover topics such as grief and coping strategies, child development, medical diagnosis, and communication techniques for families and professionals. Educational workshops and trainings are appropriate for schools, medical practices, hospices, and community organizations.

Child Life in Schools

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, Annie 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.

Ready To Discuss
How We Can Help?