Child Life and Music Therapy

on PaediatricsWindsor Regional Hospital

Jen Burton Liang, BFA, DipAT, OATR, CCLSCertified Child Life Specialist, Registered Art Therapist

Windsor Regional Hospital

What is a Child Life Specialist?

• Child Life Specialists aim to minimize and reduce the stress and anxiety experienced by a child and their family as a result of medical interventions, as well as maximize their ability to cope

• Child Life Specialists are non-medical members of the healthcare team, trained at a Bachelor’s level.

What is a Child Life Specialist?

• Most Child Life Specialists have additional graduate level training in addition to their Bachelors and all have completed a 480 hour supervised internship under a Certified Child Life Specialist.

• In order to use the credentials “CCLS” or Certified Child Life Specialist, we must also pass a certifying exam offered through the Child Life Council.

Child Life as Best Practice• Child Life Specialists help

hospitalized children by providing preparation prior to procedures, coping and distraction strategies, developmental play, support to families, advocacy, and opportunities for self expression.

• Play, art and music are various outlets for patients to explore and express their feelings surrounding hospitalization and diagnosis.

Child Life as Best Practice• As non-medical professionals,

CCLS bring a unique voice to the multidisciplinary team on Paediatrics. We are able to advocate for a child and family’s needs, and provide valuable perspectives on how to assist a child in coping within the hospital environment.

• The provision of child life services is a quality benchmark of an integrated child health delivery system and an indicator of excellence in paediatric care.

Child Life on Paediatrics at WRH• Child Life Specialists work in a

variety of settings: hospitals, outpatient clinics, dental offices, hospices, funeral homes, rehab centres, sexual assault clinics and private practice…anywhere a child may be medically involved.

• WRH began a Child Life program in September 2005 when Paediatrics moved over from Hotel Dieu Grace Hospital.

Child Life on Paediatrics at WRH• WRH employs two full time

and one part time CCLS covering Inpatient and Outpatient Paediatrics. We can also be paged to assist in other areas in the hospital such as ER, DI, Lab, ICU, etc.

• Child Life Specialists also orientate and supervise high school co-op students, volunteers, child life interns and music therapy students.

Music Therapy on Paediatrics• Paediatrics has enjoyed a long relationship with

University of Windsor’s Music Therapy program. We typically receive music therapy students each semester. Over the years we have also been lucky enough to have several music therapy interns.

For 2011 we received a one year grant from Transition to Betterness to pay for a Music Therapist on staff, 12 hours a week.

Music Therapy on Paediatrics• Music Therapy can assist patients on Paediatrics by

meeting the following goals:

Reducing and/or alleviating painRelaxation Increasing self esteemDistraction SocializationNormalization Legacy buildingFun Skill development/MasterySelf expression physical and/or occupational therapy

Music Therapy on Paediatrics• The use of technology by our current Music Therapist is

exciting!

Ipods/Ipads – downloading apps where kids can create their own music (Garage Band, Baby Scratch) and making custom playlists for various purposes including relaxation. Hospital has WIFI so immediate access to online resources.

Recording kids playing music and then burning CDs – all in the same session. Kids that come for a clinic play music and leave with a disc.

Case examples of typical Paediatric Music Therapy sessions

• 5 year old oncology patient who loves to play the drums. Music Therapist utilizes our Xbox360 Rock Band drum set to allow patient to play as loud as she would like. She has a blast and looks forward to coming back!

• Music Therapist uses computer program and keyboard to allow 12 year old patient to work on increasing strength thus complimenting physical therapy goals.

• Music Therapist works with parents of a palliative infant to create a legacy song. Copies are recorded and burned on CD for the family.

Case examples of typical Paediatric Music Therapy sessions

• Music Therapist accompanies a child into a treatment room for an IV start. Through singing familiar and relaxing songs, the child feels more at ease and is distracted as well.

• Music Therapist plays soothing lullabies for an infant who stops crying and begins feeding from a bottle. During music session, baby has one of his most successful feeds since hospital admission.

Case examples of typical Paediatric Music Therapy sessions

• Busy waiting room in Outpatient Paediatrics. Many children are waiting for surgery, some of who may be anxious, others are feeling hungry, still others may be missing the routine of school. Music Therapist uses guitar and singing to engage kids and families thus providing relaxation, distraction, normalization and fun!

• Music Therapist works with an adolescent with an eating disorder to facilitate increasing self esteem and self expression.

Thank you!

jennifer_burton-liang@wrh.on.ca