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.