child life Services & Therapeutic Play
What is a Certified Child Life Specialist?
Children today encounter a wide variety of stressful and potentially traumatic events that may overwhelm their natural ability to cope, heal and develop. Difficult or unexpected experiences, such as; separation, divorce, a new school, being bullied, a new baby, chronic illness, hospitalization, the death of a loved one, the aftermath of violent acts or natural disasters or even just seemingly small transitions can be difficult for family members to cope with.
Child life specialists are trained professionals with expertise in helping children and their families overcome life’s most challenging events, decreasing anxiety, while teaching long-term positive coping strategies for their enhanced future. Armed with a strong background in child development and family systems child life specialists promote effective coping through play, preparation, education, self-expression activities and a variety of trauma release techniques. They provide emotional and psychosocial support for families and encourage optimal development of children facing a broad range of challenging experiences or behaviors.
Child life services are considered an “essential psychosocial care” for children and their families in all pediatric healthcare hospitals across Canada and have been expanding into the community more and more to provide specialized pediatric psychosocial healthcare support.
Our Approach
Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS) play a vital role in addressing the coping and developmental needs of children and families. They prioritize emotional safety, especially in times of stress, providing children of all ages with the tools and guidance to navigate life’s challenges.
By empowering children to tap into their full potential, CCLS help them build resilience, reduce the immediate and long-term effects of stress, anxiety, and psychosocial trauma, and "stress-proof" their brains, mind-body connection, and spirits for future adversity.
At their core, Certified Child Life Specialists empower children, families, and communities, promoting health, wellness, and success—both now and in the future.
Helping Children Build Superpowers
Building strong brains and calm bodies in children—so they can thrive through challenges and step into their full potential to create success, from the inside out!