Counseling for Medical Encounters
Helping kids use play to feel safe and more in control of their stories.
Some medical appointments cause great distress in your child.
These scenarios may resonate with you:
Your child screams and cries prior to and during the appointment with a doctor or medical personnel.
Your child has had a poor experience at the ER, Urgent Care, or a new doctor.
Your child has experienced a traumatic injury and has to undergo a lengthy recovery.
Your child has been assigned a diagnosis with limited treatment options.
Your child has had major and/or multiple surgeries and procedures.
Your child has symptoms as a result of long COVID-19.
Your child has had witnesses his or her sibling or family member enduring any of the above situations.
No matter how you found me, I am so glad you are here. Read on to see if my counseling services might help your family.
You might feel as if there is not an alternative response for medical appointments.
Mental health is a type of medical encounter; however, it is structured differently from other typical medical appointments.
In some instances, patients are not treated with compassion, patience, and/or understanding in a doctor’s office, hospital, or medical facility. Sometimes, patients have to endure surgeries or other significant medical procedures with little input or alternative. Sometimes, due to the nature of the medical emergency, there is no time or space to allow for explanation and early preparation for the patient.
Allow me to help you and your child advocate for themselves and develop more of a sense of control over the process and experience.
How does play therapy help my child with medical appointments and related scenarios?
Play therapy allows children to have a safe space to express and explore all the different options of responding to their medical procedures.
Child-centered play therapy allows children to be in more control of their situation, body, and feelings. Gestalt play therapy helps children to integrate their feelings in their bodies. (Read more about my play therapy approach.)
Through play therapy, children are provided the skills to process any emotions associated with their medical experience and cope with future medical encounters.
A note on faith and culture:
Two aspects that I also bring into the therapeutic space is my identity as an Asian American and Christian.
Although I am Christian, I will not overtly discuss faith in our sessions unless you and your child request to include it. If your child chooses to explore other beliefs in session, I am open to that as well.
As a first generation Asian American, I understand that culturally, doctors and medical personnel are often viewed with a level of respect even when they might not treat patients well. I believe there can be a balance between being culturally understanding while advocating for our own mental wellness.