The child who is diagnosed with a serious and chronic medical illness is at greater risk for developing emotional problems. Younger children struggle to understand why the sickness occurred and may assume it is a punishment for being "bad." He or she may become angry with parents and doctors for not being able to go to school and play like their peers. A teenager with a long-term illness may feel pulled in opposite directions. On the one hand, he or she must take care of the physical problem, requiring dependence on parents and doctors. On the other hand, the desire for independence and “normality” can contribute to depression and poor treatment adherence.
With over 15 years in the medical setting, I provide a specialized therapeutic treatment program for children ages 3-21 who are diagnosed with acute or chronic medical conditions. This includes both individual sessions as well as family and couples therapy.