Counselling Children with Chronic Medical Conditions [Paperback]

This book explores the child's understanding of their body and illness. How to communicate with children, prepare them for treatment and tackle problems relating to the child's care are covered in depth.List of Figures.

Foreword (Dr. Gillian Baird).

Preface to the series.

1. Introduction.

2. Adapting to Illness.

3. The Child's Experience.

4. The Social World of the Child.

5. The Aims and Process of Helping.

6. Engaging the Child.

7. Exploring the Child's Experiences and Understanding.

8. Giving Information.

9. Specific Strategies for Helping.

10. Communicating About Death and Dying.

11. Final remarks.

Appendix A. A Relaxation Exercise.

Appendix B,. Books for Children.

Appendix C. Organizations and agencies - UK.

Appendix D. Organizations and agencies - North America.

References.

Index.

Melinda Edwards is Principal Clinical Psychologist at the Bloomfield Child and Adolescent Clinic, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
Hilton Davis is Professor of Child Health Psychology at the United Medical and Dental Schools at Guy's Hospital, London, UK.'You can never understand what it feels like to be me. I'm never going to be normal now, am I? Why Me? Why did it have to happen to me?'

These worlds emphasize the important fact that all healthcare workers who come into contact with chronically ill children have the opportunity, through communicating effectively, to help and support both child and family, to make children feel better about themselves, and to improve the quality of their lives. Counseling techniques can help empower children to develop their own probls¢