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TESTIMONIALS
“As someone who battles a rare disease, child life specialists have been a large part of my journey over the past 6 years. Every single time I have been admitted into the hospital, there was always a child life specialist there who ensured I felt safe, protected and positive. The work that Kellie and April are doing through Coastal Coping is absolutely incredible. It is essential that child life services become available outside of the hospital room, and they are doing an amazing job making it happen. It is with honor that I recommend their services to anyone who may need it!”
Jonna C. (Pediatric Patient)
"We found ourselves in a situation we had not imagined/ prepared for. My nearly four year old son was heading to the emergency room sick with his dad while I was in labor and in the hospital getting ready to deliver. Our son woke up not being able to walk and his blood work showed levels similar to those of someone with leukemia. He was admitted to the hospital and was monitored and evaluated by different doctors over the weekend while we waited for a bone marrow biopsy. Being overwhelmed in the hospital with different potential diagnosis for my 4 year old and having a new baby led me to reach out to Coastal Coping. After talking with them I felt so much more prepared to help my son understand what was going on in a developmentally appropriate way and had tools to explain what might occur which helped ease some of the stress of all of us. I am so thankful and lucky that things have taken a better turn for us with his health and am so thankful for the support we received and tools to help our son during that difficult time. We even received some ideas of how to help ease the transition for when our son was able to come home from the hospital and also experience being a big brother for the first time! Thank you for the support and developmentally appropriate guidance during a difficult time!"
Danielle T. (Parent)
I was ecstatic to learn that Kellie and April created a private practice to provide child life services, education and training to children, families, healthcare professionals, and child life students. Whether they were supporting me while I was a child life volunteer or during my time as their practicum student, I knew I could always turn to Kellie and April for advice on how to succeed in the child life profession. It was amazing to observe them support children and families in the hospital setting and it was evident they knew what was best for our pediatric patients and their families. I could always look to Kellie and April to provide me with constructive feedback on my resume, cover letter, or internship application essays. Even years after completing my 200-hour practicum with them, I can still reach out and ask for guidance on navigating the child life world. I was recently looking for a job as a child life specialist and I have received great tips and advice on how to handle job interviews and potential job offers. I’m excited to share that, thanks to their guidance, I have just accepted my first job as a Child Life Specialist! April and Kellie are compassionate, creative, and understanding and I would recommend their services to any children, families, professionals, or students!
Tara D. (Former Child Life Student, Now CCLS!)
“Coastal Coping is incredible. I know first-hand how much of a positive impact Child Life Specialists can make in a hospital setting, but to have those resources available to me outside of the hospital is absolutely priceless.”
Allie C. (Pediatric Patient)
“What April and Kellie have done with Coastal Coping is amazing. For a mom with two children who are battling chronic illness, I can say that child life services have been tremendous in helping us get through our darkest of days. Being able to now attain these services OUTSIDE of the hospital setting is life-altering. To help prepare a young child for an upcoming procedure, to offer medical play and assistance, and to have a genuine caring member of our team to help you through after getting out of the hospital, is really a game-changer. I often feel helpless as a mom watching my kids struggle with their illness, but with the help of Coastal Coping, I can finally do something to help my kids as they battle!"
Tara C. (Parent)
The child life internship I completed under the guidance of April and Kellie was a worthwhile experience that fully equipped me for my professional career. The guidance and supervision I had was extremely beneficial. I completed 600 clinical hours and was encouraged to reach my fullest potential each day. During those 600 hours, they walked me through each new patient experience and always took time at the end of each day to go over the new things I had learned. April was my primary supervisor and was easy to relate to and never let her role or experience outshine her ability to relate. She always had a positive attitude and made each day of my internship memorable. April took pride in my growth and I attribute my success in the child life field to her. As an intern, I was encouraged to build a professional portfolio that would help me stand out in the child life field. Without a Master’s degree, I was able to land my first full-time Child Life Specialist position straight out of internship and eventually was able to land my dream job as a Certified Child Life Specialist at Boston Children’s Hospital. April & Kellie believed in me from the start and helped me grow into the professional I am today. April is a mentor I will never forget, she is someone whom I still admire to this day.
Tiffany S (Former Child Life Student, Now CCLS!)
"Watching them help explain to my child how a feeding tube works and how it will get inserted using a special doll was a huge help. It allowed my 11 year old to understand what was happening and to be part of her medical care. My daughter was even able to perform medical procedures on this special doll, and it was extremely helpful in the process. Not sure what I would have done without their help!”
TC (Parent)
"I highly recommend Costal Coping and April for any child life student searching for application review or interview preparation. April had great insights and helped me feel confident in my interviews to secure an internship. I felt really confident knowing I was getting feedback from a former internship coordinator, she knows what internship sites look for in candidates and I knew I was getting advice from someone that had reviewed applications and interviewed internship candidates before. After working with April, I received multiple interviews and have secured an internship."