Helping Children When a Family Member is Diagnosed with a Life-Threatening Illness

Helping Children When a Family Member is Diagnosed with a Life-Threatening Illness

Presented by Dr. Patricia DeBruhl, LPC, DBH & Courtney Smith

This workshop will provide participants with a basic understanding of how a child diagnosed with a life-threatening illness is affected. In addition, we will talk about how having a parent diagnosed with a life-threatening illness affects the children in the family. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about an educational and supportive program for children with a family member with cancer. In addition, participants will be introduced to art and play therapy tools that can be used to help explain how the body functions, and art therapy tools to help children talk about their worries and fears related to illness. 

FIVE LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

1. Through the lens of play therapy, participants will develop a greater understanding of how a child’s life-threatening illness affects their psycho-social development
   
2. From the play therapy perspective, participants will develop a greater understanding of how a parent’s life-threatening illness affects the family
   
3. Participants will learn an Introduction to CLIMB: A supportive, educational program to address parent and child distress when a family member is diagnosed with cancer
   
4. Medical play therapy, including cancer psycho-education will be explored
   
5. Participants will also gain insight into Play therapy and the grieving child
   

Level of training: Foundational

2 CEUs toward the Techniques/Methods Content Requirement

About our presenters: Dr. Patricia DeBruhl has a passion for working with oncology patients and families on projects and programs shown to improve quality of life. For the past decade, she has served Banner Health in various roles, with the sole intent to help make surviving cancer less frightening and more achievable. As a licensed professional counselor, Dr. DeBruhl works with the Banner Thunderbird Medical Center’s cancer care team to provide counseling support for patients hospitalized during cancer treatment. She also developed and oversees the outpatient oncology counseling program, a service designed to continue to support the patient after discharge. 

Courtney Smith is a Child Life Specialist at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center.

AZAPT Members $35

NonMembers $45

Check in at the door begins at 6:00 p.m.

AZAPT is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to offer continuing education specific to Play Therapy. Our provider number is 97-035. AZAPT maintains responsibility for the program.