Medical Coping For Mind-Body Wellness

Chronic Illness Therapy

FOR CHILDREN, TEENS, and PARENTS

Is Someone You Know Struggling To Cope With A Chronic Illness?

Are you trying to figure out the best way to support your chronically ill child?

Do all of your efforts to help lead to conflict and misunderstanding?

Are they having difficulty following their doctor’s orders and staying on track with their medications or insulin?

Maybe your child or teen is dealing with diabetes, GI issues, epilepsy, or another chronic condition. As stressful as it is for them, it may be equally stressful for you as the parent. Although you want to help them manage their pain and stick to a treatment routine, you also don’t want to micromanage them or be a helicopter parent. It might be hard to strike a balance because of how worried you are about them.

Because Of Their Illness, Your Child Could Feel Left Out And Embarrassed

Chronic illness is tough at any age, but it’s especially tough for kids and teens. Your child may feel very alone among their peers since most kids can’t relate to them. While everyone else is off having fun, they’re probably worrying about how they’ll manage their next flareup and whether or not they’ll be judged for it.

Over time, this could lead to shame and embarrassment. Your child might neglect their own needs in public (e.g., refusing to follow a special diet or take their medication) rather than risk being seen as weird or different. Their anxiety could cause adherence issues and prevent them from sticking to a treatment regimen.

Deep down, your child probably wishes that they could just live a normal life or know what it’s like to be a healthy kid. Although therapy cannot get rid of their chronic illness, it can help them learn how to thrive in spite of it. As a pediatric psychologist, I specialize in helping kids (and parents of kids) with medical conditions. And as a mother of a child with a chronic illness, I am confident that I can relate to your struggles on a deeply personal level.

Contact

Kids With Chronic Conditions Often Face Shame, Isolation, And Misunderstanding

Smiling latinx boy playing card game on bed with his mother

Anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues are very common in kids who struggle with chronic illness. They have to face challenges that most of their peers can’t even fathom. What’s more, they also struggle with isolation, shame, and misunderstanding far more than their peers.

After all, many children who are healthy have limited exposure to certain medical issues. So when they encounter someone with a medical condition (such as a child in a wheelchair or someone with an insulin pump) they may stare, act rude, or ask ignorant questions. This often leads to feelings of insecurity, embarrassment, and shame for kids who are chronically ill.

Even in the teen years, things don’t exactly get easier. Most teens with chronic illnesses feel left out socially. They see everyone’s “highlight reels” all over social media and feel like they’re the odd ones out. Discussing vulnerabilities isn’t normalized, so many teens feel like they have no outlet for their emotions.

This is why it’s so important for kids with medical conditions to get the proper support. Therapy is a chance for them to realize they’re not alone and figure out ways to thrive in spite of their illness.

Therapy Can Help You And Your Child Work Together To Manage Their Chronic Illness

Let’s face it: if you’re the parent of someone with a chronic illness, you probably don’t want to talk to just any therapist. Not everyone will get it. But as a pediatric psychologist and the parent of a child with a chronic condition, I know what it’s like to suffer from caregiver burnout, lose sleep worrying about your child, and experience “mom guilt” over what you could’ve done differently. I am confident that I can empathize with what you’re going through.

Chronic illness therapy can help you and your child figure out their new normal, develop a gameplan for treating symptoms, and improve your relationship in the process. My approach is highly individualized and varies from client to client. Although I work with kids most of the time, sometimes I work with the parents individually. It all depends on you and your child’s situation.

How I Help Kids Navigate Chronic Illness

When I’m working with kids, the main focus of therapy is often the connection between their mental health and their chronic illness. I’ll help them understand how anxiety and depression can worsen health outcomes and vice versa. Additionally, we’ll look at how they are coping and adjusting, how comfortable they feel sharing their struggles with others, and how their diagnosis has affected their plans and hopes for the future.

I use a lot of CBT skills in chronic illness counseling. Because of its focus on correcting negative thoughts and beliefs, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is especially useful for kids who have trouble staying on track with their medical regimen.

For instance, a child who needs insulin might think “My friends will think I’m weird if they see me take my insulin, so I’ll take it later.” In this way, their difficulty adhering to a regimen is likely tied to worries about what other people think of them. CBT can help kids identify their worries and replace negative thoughts with more balanced thinking, allowing them to feel better about themselves and their condition.

How I Help Parents Support Their Children And Increase Their Self-Compassion

Parenting a child with a chronic condition is like a full-time job—I know from experience. Although I’ll help you come up with new ways to support your child, I also want to help you manage stress and burnout. Together, we’ll explore new avenues for self-care and self-compassion.

Oftentimes, this means working through feelings of guilt and regret. When you’re parenting a child with a chronic illness, it’s easy to blame yourself for your child’s struggles. You might ask yourself: What if I had just brought them to get evaluated sooner? What if I made the wrong dietary or lifestyle choices for them? These thoughts are normal. Therapy can help you be kind to yourself and understand that you’re doing the best you can.

Between my therapeutic expertise and my own experience raising a child with a chronic illness, I believe I have what it takes to help you. Therapy can help your child realize they can live a full, meaningful life despite their chronic illness and empower you to support them along the way. Most importantly, it can help both of you deepen your loving connection and work together more effectively.

Get In Touch

Hello, I’m Dr. Anna, a pediatric and clinical psychologist with expertise in pediatric health, specializing in chronic illness counseling for medical coping & wellness.

I have over a decade of experience supporting youth with chronic illnesses and medical conditions. My training and work experiences include the nation’s top children’s hospitals, academic medical centers, a large integrated healthcare system, a level 1 trauma center, an inpatient burn unit, an inpatient stem cell transplant unit, and a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

I've provided support to youth and families as a part of many interdisciplinary medical teams including Pediatric Neurology, Gastroenterology, Diabetes/Endocrinology, Hematology/Oncology, Nephrology, Cystic Fibrosis, Pulmonology, and Sleep Medicine. I’ve also supported youth with genetic and cleft lip/palate & craniofacial conditions as well as youth who have experienced a traumatic brain injury or undergone a transplant (kidney, liver, heart, lung, and stem cell).

Diabetes
Epilepsy / Seizure Disorder
Headache / Migraine
Cancer
Cystic Fibrosis

I have expertise and specialized training in supporting individuals diagnosed with medical conditions including:

Kidney Disease
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Celiac Disease
Crohn’s Disease
Ulcerative Colitis

Chronic Constipation
Encopresis
Craniofacial Conditions
Solid Organ Transplant
Muscular Dystrophy

You May Have Some Questions About Chronic Illness Counseling…

If my child’s struggles are medical, then why do they need therapy?

The mind and body are intimately connected. There is no health without mental health. If your child is struggling with anxiety or depression, daily routines can feel impossible. Merely taking medication can seem overwhelming. As a pediatric psychologist, I am specially trained to support kids with medical conditions and help their parents in the process. Therapy cannot get rid of your child’s chronic illness, but it can help them adhere to a treatment plan, adjust to a new diagnosis, and address any underlying anxiety and depression.

My child seems to be coping fine, but I’m not. Do you help parents, too?

Yes, I do! A huge part of a pediatric psychologist’s training involves working alongside parents. I can help you regulate your stress, improve your mood, and communicate better with your child or teen. I know how hard it is being in your shoes. I believe that I can provide the comfort and understanding you’re longing for.

Can you help my child with accommodations at school?

I would be more than happy to. If your child has a mental health condition on top of their chronic illness, I can provide an additional support letter to add accommodations to their IEP or Section 504 plan. This way, they can get through the school day without as many worries on their mind.

Your Child Can Thrive In Spite Of Their Condition

If you’re looking for a therapist specializing in chronic illness counseling for kids and teens, I encourage you to connect with me. To get started, you can fill out the contact form or call 408-883-9477.