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Child life and expressive therapy

Child life specialists at Dell Children’s provide emotional and therapeutic support for your child while they are receiving care.

Toddler playing with blocks.

Child life and expressive therapy at Dell Children's

Certified child life specialists at Dell Children’s are experienced in helping children and families cope with stress and other challenges while they are receiving care in the hospital or in our clinics. Our team meets with your child and family and works with you to determine the right plan for support. And we work with doctors and care teams caring for patients in all pediatric specialties, including the NICU, ER, surgery, radiology, mental health, neurology, cardiology, blood and cancer, and more. When your child is feeling anxious about tests or procedures, our specialists can provide positive distractions to help calm your child. And if your child is staying in the hospital, we offer therapeutic, emotional, educational and social support. Our goal is to help make being at the hospital a more positive experience for children and families.

Child life and expressive therapy locations

Benefits of having a child life specialist

Certified child life specialists at Dell Children’s work closely with your child and your family. Together, we create a care plan that helps your child cope with being in the hospital. Your child life specialist helps your child feel comfortable while they are receiving care – focusing on their mental and emotional health needs. For questions or to request more information, please call 512-324-0146. Child life specialists provide support, including:
  • Education about conditions and procedures
  • Distraction and relaxation
  • Therapeutic play
  • Art therapy
  • Music therapy
  • Expressive group therapy
  • Animal-assisted therapy
  • Educational support
  • Connection to additional resources

Additional information and resources

Child life internship

Dell Children's Medical Center's Child Life Internship Program is designed to support career training for those who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree in child life, child development, or a related field and are looking to advance in the child life profession. 

Find out more and apply

Child life practicum

Dell Children's Medical Center's Child Life Practicum Program is designed for individuals interested in pursuing a career as a certified child life specialist. It is an opportunity to learn more about the child life profession and to observe and participate in child life services. The child life practicum is focused on developing core skills in order to prepare students for a child life internship. 

Find out more and apply

Special events

Are you looking for an opportunity to support children and families at Dell Children’s? Activities provided by groups in the community help reduce feelings of stress and provide a positive distraction from a routine day in the hospital. There are many opportunities for community groups to volunteer to host a special event with the child life team throughout the year. Please contact the special events coordinator to learn how your group can become involved. Email dcmcevents@ascension.org or call 512-324-0146

Donations

You can help children in the hospital by making a monetary donation or a donation of new toys, games and other supplies. Please call 512-324-0146 for donation questions and guidelines. Donations may be mailed to Dell Children’s Medical Center, Attn: Child Life, 4900 Mueller Blvd., Austin, TX 78723.