We understand that hospitalization can be a stressful experience for both children and their families. Adjusting to a new or chronic illness, preparing for procedures or surgery or helping siblings and relatives cope is difficult for families. Feelings of depression and/or anxiety are common and can negatively affect a family's ability to cope. We work with children and their families to help them cope with this stress.

What We Do

We provide parent consultation and short-term therapy for children in the hospital and/or family members to minimize stress, promote healthy coping and return them to their prior state of emotional wellbeing. We also work with the medical team to provide education about the relationship between physical illness and psychological distress.

• Adjustment to a new or chronic medical illness
• Preparation for medical procedures or surgery
• Coping with anxiety and/or depression related to medical illness
• Evaluation of children who have experienced a traumatic event
• Behavioral techniques to help children follow their medical treatment plan
• Medication evaluations and treatment
• Parent guidance and assistance in coping with a child's illness
• Evaluation of children with eating disorders and their families
• Evaluation of siblings who may be experiencing difficulty
• Referrals for outpatient psychological and psychiatric services, if necessary
• Setting up transfers to more intensive levels of psychiatric care, if necessary

Requests for an inpatient psychiatric consultation may be generated by any member of a Children's medical or surgical team, including housestaff, nursing and social services, as well as parents or guardians. They must, however, be approved by the child's attending physician.

If you are interested in a psychiatric consultation, please contact a member of your child's medical team or call 617-355-8606 for more information.