Child Life and Pediatric Integrative Therapies Program

Services provided by the Child Life and Pediatric Integrative Therapies Program

The Child Life and Pediatric Integrative Therapies Program at Mass General Brigham for Children helps children and adolescents navigate the mental, emotional, and social effects of illness, medical treatment, and hospitalization. As part of the care team, our board-certified child life specialists foster positive coping skills and empower children throughout their healthcare experience.

Part of Mass General Brigham for Children

Preparation and Education

Our child life specialists provide preparation and education for potentially painful procedures, new or unfamiliar diagnoses, and the nature of the hospital environment. Our team works with patients and families to create a coping plan for procedures using techniques like play, guided imagery, and deep breathing. Child life specialists collaborate with the medical team to provide developmentally appropriate diagnosis education to children to promote understanding.

Developmental Support

With expertise in child development, child life specialists use play to support typical development. Child life specialists can help support the development of intellectual, motor, emotional and social skills. Engaging in these activities can support children in reaching developmental milestones.

Normalization and Play

The hospital can be a scary place for children, with many new sights and sounds. Our child life team works to create a child-friendly environment through welcoming spaces, such as activity rooms, and opportunities to engage in medical and therapeutic play, creative expression, and peer socialization.

Enhancing Coping and Emotional Regulation

Child life specialists work with children and families to increase coping and normalization of the environment. These skills include techniques such as mindfulness, guided imagery, relaxation, and distraction techniques. This is particularly valuable during medical procedures and lengthy admissions.

Family Involvement and Bonding

Through art, music, and play, our child life team can help promote emotional expression and support children in processing their medical experience. With a passion for advocacy and compassion, child life specialists support families through big challenges. Child life specialists offer legacy-building opportunities during moments of change and loss, as well.

Art Therapy and Music Therapy

Our music and art therapists utilize therapeutic interventions to promote wellness. Music therapy can help support a child’s experience through active music making, gentle live music for relaxation, music-supported meditation, or creating recordings to share with loved ones. Art therapy can be tailored to a child's interests to raise self-esteem and self-awareness. With the help of a board-certified music therapist and art therapist, patients can explore how music and art might best support them during a challenging hospital admission.

It is important to note that child life and pediatric integrative therapies should complement, not replace, conventional medical treatments. Collaborative efforts ensure a well-rounded and supportive approach to pediatric healthcare.

Special Programming

The child life department collaborates with programming throughout inpatient and outpatient pediatric areas. With a goal to foster emotional well-being, our current special programming may include:

Acupuncture and Acupressure

Acupuncture uses fine, sterile needles applied to specific areas of the body to stimulate energy flow, while acupressure involves applying gentle pressure to these same points with the hands. The acupuncturist will work with you and your care team.

Art Therapy Group

Art Therapy Group is designed to provide pediatric patients with an overall sense of community and reduce feelings of isolation through engagement with the visual arts and in supportive conversation. This space is intended for the opportunity of emotional release using painting, coloring, drawing, sculpting, and building, along with applied psychological theory by a board-certified art therapist.

Child Life Volunteers

Child Life volunteers support and provide play opportunities for our inpatient population.

Club STAR

Club STAR is a bereavement peer support group for children and teens (kindergarten-senior year of high school) grieving the death of a parent or sibling. The group meet monthly in person or via Zoom. Dinner and parking are provided for in person groups. Club STAR is organized by child life specialists from Mass General Brigham for Children. For more information or to register, please contact Hillary D’Amato, MSW, CCLS at 617-643-9276.

Hearts & Noses Hospital Clown Troupe

Hearts & Noses Hospital Clowns are specially trained to engage, empower and give choices to children and adults in a medical environment. Clowns receive extensive professional training in the delicate art of engaging children in the hospital, creating an environment that supports play and puts the child in control of the interaction.

Healing Little Heroes

A non-profit organization created by a current Harvard Medical School student, to bring superheroes like Captain America and Spider-Man to the bedside of pediatric patients.

Hero Circle - Martial Arts Program

Heroes Circle teaches martial arts meditation, movement and breathing techniques designed to empower children to take control of the pain and stress of their illness. Children 3 years and older with any pediatric illness, and their siblings, may be eligible for the program.

Hole In the Wall Gang Camp - Hospital Outreach Program (HOP)

HOP brings the magic of The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp for Seriously Ill Children, founded by Paul Newman in 1988, to patients in the hospital by providing camp activities at the bedside. HOP specialists visit many areas of the hospital to engage children in games, arts and crafts, and fun!

Massage Therapy

Massage Therapy can help to relieve stress, increase relaxation, and lead to a feeling of greater well-being. It can alleviate some of the physical symptoms and side effects of the disease and its treatment, and often relieves pain resulting from excess muscle tension.

Pet Therapy

Pet Therapy provides patients with the opportunity to receive a visit from a furry, friendly and specially trained dog and a handler who is also a trained volunteer.

Thank you to all of our community partners, donors, and organizations that bring joy to the children and families at Mass General Brigham for Children.

Additional special programming may be available within specific units. Special programming opportunities are subject to change and may not be available upon request. Speak with your child life specialist for more information.