In this episode of The Extra Lucky Podcast, Taryn and Jess speak with Carissa Menard from Hearts Connected, a mental health company specializing in virtual child life services. Carissa shares her personal journey with child life services, having experienced leukemia as a child. The conversation explores the various ways child life services support families through medical and non-medical challenges, the importance of addressing grief and loss, and the unique needs of siblings in medically complex families. The discussion emphasizes the significance of honest communication with children and the need for emotional validation. In this conversation, Carissa Menard discusses the importance of empathy in child life services, the role of siblings during medical challenges, and how parents can navigate feelings of guilt when one child requires more attention. She also shares insights about her organization, Hearts Connected, which aims to provide continuity of care for families and raise awareness about the role of Child Life Specialists.

You can learn more about Hearts Connected on Instagram @heartsconnectedllc or on their website.

The Extra Lucky Podcast is produced by Andie Amit of Sprouting Productions.