Developing a trusting therapeutic relationship is the cornerstone of clinical psychologists’ work with children and adolescents having chronic diseases. Through exploring their hopes, fears and values, and understanding the problems they want to solve and the emotional knots to untie, clinical psychologists provide personalized interventions according to their social and medical circumstances. They help patients cope with multiple challenges, including acceptance to diagnosis, adherence to treatment regimen, and adjusting life to chronic illness.

To provide holistic care, clinical psychologists often participate in joint clinics of complex conditions, such as cleft lip and palate, and disorders of sexual differentiation. Pre-and post-procedural assessment is also part of their work. For example, for each living donor kidney transplant, a pre-transplant assessment is conducted to evaluate the psychological readiness of the living organ donor and the recipient. For brain tumor patients, assessment on their neurocognitive functioning will be conducted before and after radiotherapy to monitor possible changes.

Parents and other family members often experience stress from caretaking. Support is offered for caregivers by making room to express their feelings, promoting self-nurturing behaviors, and facilitating their communication with healthcare professionals.

▲Picture drawn during the consultation session.