The Importance of Supporting Social-Emotional Development in Chronic/Severe Medical Conditions

Overview

Children who experience severe or chronic medical conditions have unique needs. The illness or condition often impacts the families and has huge implications for the types of relationships that may develop. Often these conditions disrupt the ability to connect in a healthy way and activate the attachment system. The diagnosis represents a trauma which becomes enmeshed with the identity of the child and the structure of the family. If ongoing treatment is needed, the developmental trajectory may be altered, often resulting in mental health problems which further impact quality of life and compounds the medical problems. It is therefore important to understand how trauma and attachment work in the context of a child and family affected by a severe or chronic medical condition. This understanding then paves the way for actively improving the relationships involved and promoting healthy social-emotional development, thereby improving not just mental health but also physical health. This workshop lays the foundations for this way of understanding and how physical and mental health problems intersect for these children and their families.