Coping With Your Child's Chronic Illness by Alesia T. Barrett Singer, M.A.

A "survival kit" for parents, grandparents, health professionals, and caregivers.

This how-to book helps readers with: coping with a diagnosis of chronic illness; dealing with anger, shock, denial, depression; educating yourself; becoming an advocate for your child’s physical/emotional health; becoming an advocate for yourself; communicating with your child; coping with stress; preventing burn out; and having a healthy relationship with your chronically ill child.

A practical guide for concerned parents who need support, effective ideas, and resources for dealing with their child's chronic illness, this invaluable book provides hope and help: Find a variety of resources for your child and family. Communicate with your child's physician. Educate yourself about your child's illness. Become and advocate for your child and family. Communicate with your child about his/her illness. Tailor your conversations with your child. Develop strategies to help your child cope at school. Identify key transition periods in your child's life. Recognize depression in your child. Recognize and accept coping methods. Have time for yourself, spouse, and other children. Avoid parent burn-out and depression.

About the Author: Alesia T. Barrett Singer, M.A. was a doctoral student in clinical psychology at the University of California at Berkeley when she wrote this book and is now a Psychologist in Oakland, California. She received her B.A. in psychology from Yale University and her M.A. in psychology from the University of California at Berkeley. During the past decade, she has focused much of her studies and research on the special challenges and experiences of chronically ill children. She has worked with many different populations, including deaf children, children with autism, children with learning disabilities, and children with pervasive developmental disorders. Her current research focuses on unique experiences of siblings in families and she maintains interest in assessment and intervention with special needs populations.

• How to meet special challenges and experiences of chronically ill children.
• Some topics covered: coping with a diagnosis of chronic illness; dealing with anger, shock, denial, depression, etc.; educating yourself; becoming an advocate for your child’s physical/emotional health; becoming an advocate for yourself; communicating with your child; coping with stress; preventing burn out; and having a healthy relationship with your chronically ill child.

QUOTES From Health Professionals

"I found the book to be comprehensive in its approach, sensitive to the needs of parents and children alike, and spiced with humor (which helps keep the topic in perspective). This is the only book that clearly, in a straight-forward manner, assists parents in being what they were created to be – their child’s natural advocate. Often in a health care system, strained by the mere numbers of its members, parents are looked upon as ‘junior partners’ in tView on your websitehe area of their child’s care. Not so in the book Coping With Your Child’s Chronic Illness."   ~ Lynnie Morgan, Founder/Director of Mitochondrial Disorders Foundation of Americ in Concord, CA

"…An easily read first step for parents who are embarking on the difficult voyage of caring for a child with chronic illness. A must read for troubled parents. The author’s ‘over the backyard fence’ approach to an often overlooked problem provides an effective guide for helping parents and families cope with chronic illness."  ~ Praim S. Singh, M.S.W., Executive Director, Rehabilitation Institute of Southern California

"The author has provided invaluable information in a concise and easily understood format for parents of chronically ill children and/or professionals, who work with this population. Her wide-ranging knowledge of health and psychology, family relationships, and children’s development is conveyed to the reader in a warm and compassionate voice, with plenty of practical advice and referrals for further reading. Her book could be distributed in clinics, doctors’ offices, support groups, or other intervention programs. An excellent addition to the literature for parents and professionals alike!"  ~ Mindy S. Rosenberg, Ph.D., Private Practice, Sausalito, CA. Clinical/Community Psychologist; Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of California at Berkeley

"It was truly a pleasure to read Coping With Your Child’s Chronic Illness. This is a wonderfully succinct summary of the issues that are critical for parents to deal with if they wish to be effective parents after their child has been diagnosed with a chronic illness. My 22 years of pediatric practice have shown me that this is a very difficult and delicate subject, and the tone of the book, which is very ‘communal,’ will give parents an understanding that they are not alone in their feelings and problems."  ~ Mark S. Reuben, M.D., F.A.A.P., Reading Pediatrics, Wyomissing, PA