When a Child is Sick: Helping Young Patients Cope in a Hospital Setting

Abstract

The purpose of this project was to develop a method to build coping skills and lessen anxiety for school-aged children suffering from a medical illness requiring an extended hospital stay. Relevant literature was reviewed in order to support creation of the method. The literature review included articles and research including anxiety in general and in a pediatric medical setting, coping in general and in pediatric medical settings, various aspects relating to a hospital stay, other creative and alternative therapies, and dance/movement therapy. The method was intended to use three phases (breath work, choice and control, and ritual ending) to expand coping abilities for a more expansive coping repertoire and work on the expansion of an emotion understanding. I additionally used the research and literature to reflect on the creation of the method, the implications of the method, and the results of the method.M.A., Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling -- Drexel University, 201