Chronic Illness Support for Children & Teens
Supporting Your Child Through the Emotional Journey of Chronic Illness
When a child or teen lives with chronic illness, the emotional impact can be as significant as the physical symptoms. Medical appointments, treatment regimens, physical limitations, and uncertainty about the future create unique stressors that can affect mental health, family dynamics, and social development. As both a therapist and mother of three San Francisco teenagers, I understand how crucial emotional support is for young people navigating health challenges.
Chronic illness therapy provides a safe space for children and teens to process feelings about their health condition, develop coping skills for medical procedures and symptom management, and maintain a sense of normalcy and identity beyond their diagnosis. Through specialized therapeutic techniques, we can help your child build resilience while acknowledging the very real challenges they face.
Ready to support your child's emotional wellbeing alongside their physical health? Book a free 15-minute consultation to discuss how we can work together on this important journey.
Common Emotional Challenges of Chronic Illness
Children and teens with chronic health conditions often experience:
Grief and loss: Mourning limitations, missed experiences, or changes in future plans
Identity concerns: Figuring out who they are beyond their illness
Anxiety: Worry about symptoms, treatments, or disease progression
Depression: Sadness, hopelessness, or withdrawal related to ongoing health challenges
Social isolation: Difficulty maintaining peer relationships due to absences or differences
Family stress: Navigating changing family dynamics and parental worry
Medical trauma: Distress related to medical procedures or hospitalizations
Body image concerns: Adjustment to physical changes from illness or treatment
These emotional responses may be particularly intense during diagnosis, treatment changes, life transitions, or developmental milestones.
My Approach to Chronic Illness Therapy
My therapeutic approach for children and teens with chronic illness combines several evidence-based methods:
Cognitive behavioral techniques: Managing illness-related anxiety, pain perceptions, and negative thoughts
Narrative therapy: Helping young people see themselves as separate from their illness
Mindfulness and relaxation skills: Reducing physical tension and managing pain
Family systems work: Supporting healthy family communication about illness
Play and expressive therapies: Processing medical experiences through creative approaches
Skills training: Building effective communication with healthcare providers
As both a therapist and mother, I bring professional expertise and a nurturing presence to our work together. I understand the practical challenges San Francisco families face when balancing medical care with school, activities, and family life.
Signs Your Child May Benefit from Chronic Illness Support
Consider reaching out if your child:
Shows increased emotional distress following diagnosis or treatment changes
Expresses feelings of isolation or being different from peers
Demonstrates anxiety before medical appointments or procedures
Shows signs of depression or withdrawal
Resists treatment adherence or medical cooperation
Has difficulty discussing their illness or asking questions
Experiences significant family conflict around illness management
Supporting Parents of Children with Chronic Illness
Parents of children with health conditions face unique challenges. Through our work together, I'll help you:
Process your own emotions about your child's diagnosis
Balance attention between your child with illness and siblings
Develop effective communication about medical issues
Navigate educational accommodations and advocacy
Maintain your own wellbeing while caregiving
Create appropriate independence for your child despite medical needs
For parents seeking additional guidance, I also offer specialized parent coaching sessions focused on supporting children with chronic health conditions.
Begin the Journey to Emotional Wellbeing
Living with chronic illness presents challenges, but with the right support, children and teens can develop extraordinary resilience, self-awareness, and coping abilities. As both a therapist and mother of three teenagers here in San Francisco, I bring professional knowledge and compassionate understanding to our therapeutic relationship.
Contact me today for a free 15-minute consultation to discuss how we can work together to support your child's emotional wellbeing alongside their physical health journey.
