Therapy

"There is a lot that clinicians can do to mitigate the experience of having a chronic medical condition, and it all starts with talking opening and honestly with your child at a level that is appropriate for their age." (Source: Child Mind Institute)

Find a therapist for your child with the American Psychological Association's Psychologist Locator.​

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Support Groups
Your specialist/medical provider may have a local support group your child can join (e.g., Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Support Groups). You can also check foundations devoted to chronic illness or your child's specific illness (e.g., the Center for Chronic Illness's Support Groups) . Finally, you can pay for cool virtual classes focused on children's emotional health and resilience (e.g., taproots). 

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Other Resources

We've listed websites and books below that may appeal to different ages. Many of these overlap with our resources for parents' mental health, so be sure to check out the Finding Other Parents page also.

• UCSF's Wellness Center for Youth with Chronic Conditions (website)

• Headspace: Meditation for Kids (website)

• My Tummy Really Hurts: A Kid's Crohn's & Chronic Illness Story | A Guide To Helping Kids Understand How To Measure Pain (book)

• Be the Boss of Your Stress (Be The Boss Of Your Body®) (book)

• What Doesn't Kill You (book)

• The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness (book)

• The 3 Minute Gratitude Journal for Kids: A Journal to Teach Children to Practice Gratitude and Mindfulness (book)

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