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Music therapists at CHKD walking down the hallway with a patient strumming a guitar.

Integrative Care at CHKD

Our integrative care team works with patients and families to help children feel more comfortable and more in control of their hospital stay.

Kids Need More than Medicine to Get Well

At CHKD, we understand that being sick or hospitalized can be difficult for children. Along with the physical discomfort of illness, children may feel frightened, confused, or overwhelmed.

Our integrative care team helps children and families feel more comfortable and in control throughout their hospital stay.

Child life specialists and recreation, music, and art therapists use education, therapeutic and developmental play, and creative therapies to help children navigate the hospital experience. Through age-appropriate activities and support, they help children understand illnesses and medical procedures, cope with unfamiliar experiences, and find positive ways to manage stress and anxiety.

Play and creative expression also give children opportunities to explore their feelings and experiences in ways that feel natural to them. Through these therapies, children can express themselves, build coping skills, and gain a greater sense of control.

Services We Provide

  • Family support to help adjust to the hospital.

  • Creative expression through art, music, and recreational activities.

  • Medical play to become more familiar with the medical equipment and procedures, and encourage expression of feelings.

  • Sibling visits to help brothers and sisters understand why their sibling is in the hospital.

  • Coordination of special celebrations such as birthdays and holidays.

  • Activities to help bridge the gap between home and the hospital.

  • Psychological preparation and tours to help patients and siblings understand and cope with healthcare experiences.

  • Emotional support and coping techniques, such as guided imagery, deep breathing, and diversion.

  • Activity room and bedside programming to promote normalization to the hospital experience, peer interaction, and independence.

Close up of young girl in the lobby of CHKD with a text overlay that reads: pre-surgery tour with our blocks logo.

What to Expect on Surgery Day

This short video will give you and your child an idea of what to expect on surgery day by showing you around the hospital and introducing you to some of the people you might meet.

Watch the Video
Healthy Bear Surgery Coloring Book Cover

Healthy Bear Has Surgery

Families can print our 16-page coloring book at home and learn more about their upcoming surgery while having fun, so break out the crayons!

Download and Print

Contact an Integrative Care Team Member

For general inquiries, please call (757) 668-7327.

View Our Staff Directory

How can I make a donation to Child Life?

There are several ways to give, whether through monetary donations, gift cards, or purchasing from our Child Life wish list!

Learn how you can donate to CHKD’s Child Life program

Child Life Internship Opportunities and More

CHKD child life specialist playing in the playroom with a patient.

Child Life Practicum

Prepare for a Child Life Internship

Explore a career in child life through our summer practicum, offering observation and hands-on experiences to help prepare for a clinical internship.

Learn More
CHKD child life specialist high-fiving a patient in the 8th floor playroom.

Child Life Internship

The Child Life Internship at CHKD is a competitive program for those aiming to become certified Child Life Specialists. Interns participate in real-world child life work under supervision.

Learn More
Children's Pavilion art therapy room

Recreation Therapy Internship

Gain hands‑on experience in therapeutic recreation within an acute inpatient psychiatric setting at our Children’s Pavilion. This 560‑hour internship offers interdisciplinary collaboration with Child Life, Art, and Music Therapy teams.

Learn More
Child Life Specialist Tricia Taylor with a patient in the 8th floor playroom.

Join Our Kids as Partners Advisory Council

CHKD's Kids as Partners Advisory Council (KAPAC) provides a vital link between CHKD and the community, offering a safe venue for patient’s and siblings to provide hospital feedback and input while continuing our commitment to provide family-centered care.

Learn More