Supporting children who have a loved one with a disability or chronic illness
Family dynamics are often deeply affected when a loved one has a long term condition
As a parent, you want to do everything in your power to support your child, especially when they're facing emotional challenges. If your child is struggling due to a sibling or parent living with a chronic condition, you may feel overwhelmed trying to help them cope with complex feelings of fear, sadness, guilt, or confusion.
Kendre Berger, LCSW, offers compassionate and specialized therapy designed to help children understand their emotions, build resilience, and navigate the challenges of living in a family where chronic is present. Family dynamics are often deeply affected when a parent or sibling has a chronic illness, and it can sometimes leave children feeling isolated, overwhelmed, or responsible for the well-being of others. Kendre uses a combination of evidence-based therapeutic approaches to address the unique emotional struggles that arise when a family member has a chronic illness. Some of the key treatment models she employs include:
Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP): A relational therapy that focuses on strengthening the bond between parent and child, helping children process distressing emotions and trauma while improving communication and emotional support within the family.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT): Specifically designed for children who have experienced trauma, this therapy helps children process and heal from the emotional impact of living with a caregiver’s chronic condition, reducing trauma symptoms and promoting emotional recovery. A highly effective approach that helps children identify and challenge negative thought patterns, particularly those related to fear, guilt, and anxiety surrounding chronic illness, and replace them with healthier, more adaptive thoughts.
Sand Tray Therapy: A creative, non-verbal approach that allows children to express their emotions and process complex experiences through play. Children use miniature figures and objects in a sand tray to create scenes that help them express feelings and fears they may have difficulty putting into words.
The treatment goals of therapy with Kendre are designed to support your child’s emotional development and overall well-being. Kendre focuses on:
Symptom Management: Helping children develop strategies for regulating emotions like anxiety, anger, or sadness.
Improving Emotional Intelligence: Teaching children to recognize, understand, and manage their emotions more effectively.
Reducing Avoidance & Minimization: Encouraging children to confront difficult emotions rather than suppress them, helping them process their feelings in a healthy way.
Enhancing Individual & Family Coping Skills: Strengthening emotional resilience and providing tools for both children and families to better navigate the challenges of chronic illness.
Creating Shared Understanding: Fostering open communication and empathy between family members, so everyone can better understand each other's experiences and emotional needs.
Supporting & Strengthening Relationships: Building stronger emotional connections within the family through improved communication and mutual support.
Kendre offers a safe space for children to process their feelings, improve their emotional health, and strengthen their relationship with both their family members and themselves. As a parent, you don’t have to navigate this difficult path alone— support is available to guide and support your child every step of the way, so your family can emerge stronger and more connected.