Helping Your Child Cope With a Medical Condition

Your child’s chronic illness can be difficult, frustrating and frightening. Here are a few suggestions that can help.

What You Can Do

• Clarify your child’s restrictions, triggers and dangers with the medical team.

  • Explain them again to your child in language the child can understand.

• Empathize with your child’s struggles.

  • “It IS tough taking these medications every day!” Then gently remind your child that taking medications will keep him or her healthier.

  • “I don’t BLAME you for being mad or angry that you can’t eat the pizza! I would be, too! As hard as this, at least you have your own special treat to take to the pizza party.”

• Develop illness action plans for trusted adults to follow, such as grandparents, babysitters and school staff.

• Reward your child for daily cooperation with health and medical management tasks or for taking age-appropriate responsibilities.

• Make sure to TAKE A PARENTS’ BREAK. In order to give your child help, you must make sure to give yourself time as well.

• Give your child outlets to correctly express feelings, and encourage that expression. For example:

  • Carve out a special time each day to talk with your child.

  • Provide your child with a journal to record feelings.

  • Develop a “feelings corner” at home for hitting a punching bag, ripping newspapers or yelling into a pillow.

When You Should Seek Professional Help

There may be many appropriate times to seek help, including after your child receives a new medical diagnosis; if you as parents feel overwhelmed, tired or in conflict; or if you observe the following behaviors in your child:

• A change in mood and behavior

• School problems

• Sleep disturbances

• Intensified sibling conflict

• A lack of cooperation with medical management

• Increasing social withdrawal

What You Can Expect from a Visit with Pediatric Behavioral Health

• An in-depth exploration of your child’s illness and its medical and emotional impact on all family members

• Solutions for managing and coping with the illness, such as ways to improve medication adherence

• To learn specific techniques, such as biofeedback, relaxation techniques and cognitive behavioral techniques

• To learn healthy ways for your child to appropriately express strong emotions about his or her illness/condition

• Follow-up behavioral health sessions, if needed, for individuals and family as well as play therapy.

• School consultations 

Call 303.398.1260 to make an appointment with one of our experienced psychologists, social workers or art therapists in our Division of Pediatric Behavioral Health.