Shani Thornton, Certified Child Life Specialist: How to Talk to Kids About Trauma, Loss and Illness

Should you talk to a child, teen, or even a young adult about chronic illness? Are you allowed to use the words illness, sick, dying, and death when talking to kids? How young is too young to tell the absolute truth about these life difficult topics?
If you’re ready to stop guessing and want to hear definitive answers to each of these questions and more, then this episode is for you! It may feel scary to talk to younger generations about trauma, illness, and loss as even adults struggle with these topics. But there is no one better to help you navigate these difficult circumstances than someone who has advanced training in helping kids and families cope with big challenges, enter a Certified Child Life Specialist.

Certified Child Life Specialist, Shani Thornton is a beacon of light for families who are facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Through therapeutic play, creative arts, education, and emotional support, she helps infants, children, teens, and young adults process health issues, trauma, and loss. She equips families with coping plans to best support their needs.
Shani Thornton has her master's in child life and has been a certified child life specialist since 2007. It was a pleasure to have this informative conversation with Shani because we discuss an aspect of life in which a lot of people are left guessing including myself. Let Shani Thornton take the guesswork out of helping kids and yourself cope with big life challenges.
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Shani's Website: https://childlifemommy.com/