Parents + Caregivers of Children with Chronic and/or Serious Illnesses

Caring for a child with a chronic, serious and/or life-limiting illness can be an immensely challenging and emotional experience. As a therapist specializing in grief and loss, I provide dedicated support to parents and caregivers facing these experiences. My goal is to offer a compassionate space where you can express your emotions freely and to allow yourself to be held when you can’t find the strength (after “keeping it together” for everyone else).

Understanding the Challenges

Parents and caregivers of children with serious illnesses face unique and complex challenges:

  • Emotional Strain: Constant worry, fear, emotional exhaustion are all common. Not having access to your usual coping strategies due to being in the hospital frequently can impact emotional well-being.

  • Physical Demands: Providing care often involves intensive physical effort and around-the-clock attention. Certain illnesses that cause children to become more physically dependent on their caregiver can cause significant physical strain due to increased lifting and movement.

  • Financial Stress: Medical expenses, the need for specialized care, traveling for clinical trials, driving to and from appointments, and taking time away from work can lead to significant financial burdens.

  • Family Dynamics: The stress of illness can greatly impact family functioning, relationship dynamics and family patterns. Dynamics with a partner, other children and your community may change.

  • Grief and Uncertainty: Coping with the uncertainty around your child’s disease course and what their future holds adds an additional layer of grief. Anticipating the grief that you will feel about an event that has not yet happened is painful and can either lead you down a spiral or allow you to recognize what is most important.

Therapy Services Offered

My support is tailored to your specific needs - after working in pediatric hospitals for many years, I recognize the difficulty in taking time away for yourself while navigating medical rounds, medical providers coming in/out of your room, and many anticipated/unanticipated appointments, while also trying to be a parent/caregiver.

  • Individual Counseling: I provide individual counseling that allows you to explore your emotions and thoughts in a non-judgmental space. We can focus on the ripple effects of your child’s illness on other aspects of your life, difficult conversations you’ve had with family members, etc.

  • Concrete Tools: Stress and fear are normal emotions to feel when you have a child with a serious illness. Deep breathing isn’t going to get rid of that. We can discuss concrete tools (like mindfulness techniques, cognitive reframing, etc) to help you feel 0.01% less terrible when things feel overwhelming.

  • Grief and Bereavement Counseling: There are times when you may need additional support around your grief, whether it’s in anticipation of something that has not happened, or if your child has died due to a serious illness. Saying your child’s name, honoring their memory and rituals can contribute to your continued connection with them.

  • Community Resources: After working in pediatric hospitals for numerous years, I have experience with some resources available in WA state as it relates to group therapy support and community building.

Conditions Treated

I provide therapy services for families of children with a variety of serious illnesses, including but not limited to:

  • Cancer: Leukemia (AML, ALL), brain tumors (DIPG, DMG, ATRT), solid tumors (sarcoma, osteosarcoma, neuroblastoma)

  • Genetic and Metabolic Conditions: Cystic Fibrosis, Gaucher Disease, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)

  • Neurological Conditions: Krabbe Disease, Mitochondrial Disease, Cerebral Palsy

  • Cardiovascular Conditions: PDA, Congenital Heart Defects

  • Disorders of Prematurity: BPD, HIE, Trisomy 13, Trisomy 18

  • Immune System Conditions: SCID