COPING WITH COURAGE
CHILD LIFE SPECIALISTS
Child Life Specialists are psychosocial professionals that provide support to children, youth, and families experiencing grief/loss, illness, trauma and other life-altering events. This may also include ambiguous loss situations, such as families experiencing divorce, separation or family relocation. Through creative therapeutic interventions and developmentally-appropriate language, Certified Child Life Specialists build relationships with youth that allow for emotional expression, skill development, and foster resiliency.
As professionals, we know that children and families are experiencing unprecedented stress levels in the current pandemic climate. As a result of this and other psychosocial factors, our clients may feel overwhelmed, affecting their natural ability to cope, heal, and build resilience. At this pivotal time in children's mental health, we recognize the need to support families now more than ever.
*Child Life sessions are developmentally considerate, trauma-informed and respective of inclusion and diversity.
WHO WE HELP
Certified Child Life Specialists are experts in providing developmentally-appropriate interventions to support children and youth experiencing:
Illness/Hospitalization
Anxiety
Depression
Eating Disorders
Body Image Concerns
Parental Illness
Upcoming Medical Procedures
Grief, Loss and Bereavement
Sibling Support
CHILD LIFE SERVICES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
Skills Development and Skills Coaching
Emotion Literacy
Parent Coaching/Education
Therapeutic Play
Medical Education:
Diagnosis teaching
Medical play
Procedural preparation
Preparation for Transitions such as:
School Re-entry
Divorce
Relocation
New Sibling or Family Member
Grief/Loss
Legacy Building
Community and Peer Development Education
Please note: Child Life Specialist session fees may be eligible for insurance coverage under plans that cover the services of Registered Psychotherapists. Natalie John-Carson Therapy is not responsible for determining whether or not you are eligible. Please contact your insurance provider prior to your appointment to find out the specific details of your insurance coverage. If this is a barrier to us providing you services, please contact us to discuss this further.
CHILD LIFE SPECIALISTS
AKILA DADA
Akila is an Ontario Certified Teacher and Certified Child Life Specialist. She currently works at The Hospital for Sick Kids as a Child Life Specialist supporting children and families as they experience some of life's most challenging events. Akila worked with the pediatric eating disorder population in an acute healthcare setting for nearly 10 years. She recently completed her Master’s in Paediatric Psychosocial Care and Child Life from McMaster University. Akila works closely with SMILE Canada - Support Services, an organization dedicated to supporting children with different abilities. She is currently a member of their healthcare advisory team. Akila is also the co-author of a children’s book called “A Bedtime Prayer for Peace”. She hopes to continue to create resources that represent diversity and are inclusive for all children.
ERINN PINARD
Erinn is a certified Child Life Specialist and Child and Youth Counsellor, having both received a BA in Child and Youth Care and a Masters of Science degree in Child Life and Pediatric Psychosocial Care. Erinn has worked with children and youth experiencing mental health concerns for over a decade, in both community and hospital settings, including an acute mental health unit, an adolescent medicine unit, and an eating disorder outpatient program. Erinn has led multiple workshops focused on improving emotional literacy and teaching children how to tolerate their distress. Erinn is passionate about providing family-centered care and is proud to be both a community and hospital practitioner. She is eager to lessen the gap in the community where children and youth need additional support.
CARRIE GAUTHIER
Carrie is a Registered Nurse with over 15 years of experience working in an acute hospital setting helping youth and their families struggling with eating disorders and other comorbidities. Carrie helps introduce Family Based Therapy (FBT) along with Dialectical Behaviour Skills (DBT) to newly diagnosed patients and patients with chronic illness. Carrie uses her medical knowledge to help families and youth understand the disease, complications, medications, and other medical concerns that may arise during re-feeding and along the road to recovery. Carrie believes that Family Based Therapy and early intervention is the youth's best chance at recovery and strives to help parents manage meal support, meal planning, and meltdowns at home.