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Illness in Children and Teens

Coping with Childhood and Adolescent Chronic and Acute Illnesses

Illness can impact children, adults, and families in a number of ways, both individually and in terms of family dynamics. While an illness may be physical in nature, the emotional impact can sometimes be even more painful and long-lasting than the physical aspects.

Acute conditions are those that are short in nature, such as head trauma, infections, and physical injury, whereas others may be chronic such as diabetes, cystic fibrosis, or cancer. When illnesses are chronic, they require ongoing care, and treatment needs may change over the course of illness.

Family Psychosocial Illness and Oncology Support

When a child or other family member is sick, family dynamics can be significantly impacted. Attention and resources go towards caring for the one who is ill, which can put a strain on family relationships (siblings may feel ignored, finances may be tighter, marital tensions may arise). Therapy to support the family as they cope with illness, can help by…

  • Giving you a safe space to discuss concerns and worries, related to fear of illness, grief, or loss
  • Discuss ways to enhance family dynamics
  • Plan medication management, adherence, and coping with side effects such as impacts of chemotherapy, fatigue, or hair loss
  • Create opportunities for hope, meaning, love, and connection

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Addictions ADHD Adjustment Disorder Agoraphobia Alexithymia Anger Management Anger Management - Court Ordered Anorexia Nervosa Anticipatory Grief Anxiety Disorders Asexuality and Aromanticism Assertiveness Attachment Disorders Attachment in Adults Atypical Sexuality Autism Spectrum Disorder Bipolar Disorder Body Dysmorphic Disorder Borderline Personality Disorder Bulimia Nervosa Bullying and Cyberbullying Burnout Christian Counselling Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Chronic Pain Management Communication Skills Compulsive Lying Conduct Disorder Dependent Personality Disorder Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder Depression Dermatophagia Dissociative Fugue Dyspareunia Eating Disorders Emotion Dysregulation Emotionally-based Sexual Difficulties Enuresis or Bedwetting Erectile Dysfunction Excoriation Disorder Fertility Issues Gambling Gender Identity Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Grief & Loss Health Anxiety Healthy Boundaries Hoarding Illness in Adults Illness in Children and Teens Impostor Syndrome Insomnia and Parasomnia Intellectual Disabilities Interpersonal Relationships Leadership Learning Disorders LGBTQ+ Support Life Transitions Managerial Courage Mood Disorders Moral Injury Motivation Narcissistic Abuse Survivors Narcissistic Personality Disorder Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder OCD Oppositional Defiant Disorder Panic Attacks Parenting Skills Perfectionism Performance Anxiety Personal Growth Personality Disorders Phobias Postpartum Anxiety Postpartum Depression Pre-Marital Counselling Pregnancy and Motherhood Premature and Delayed Ejaculation Problem-Solving Skills Procrastination Psychosis Psychosocial Oncology PTSD Racism and Discrimination Re-Kindle Love Refugee and Immigration Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Selective Mutism Self-Esteem Self-Sabotage Separation or Divorce Sexual Addiction Sexual Concerns Sleep Disorders Social Anxiety Stress Management Surviving Abuse Time Management and Organization Tinnitus Tourette Syndrome Transgender Vaginismus Video Game Addiction Work Concerns