The Importance of Psychological Support for Hospitalized Children

By Élodie Grégoire-Larose, Psychologist at Shriners Hospitals for Children Canada

When I meet a child who is about to be hospitalized, my attention naturally focuses on the medical care required for their recovery. However, I know that beyond physical treatments, it is just as essential to care for a child's psychological well-being. My goal is for every child to feel heard, understood and supported, because I am confident that this helps them feel better prepared to navigate their care journey.

Psychological support is not merely complementary to medical care - it is essential. Helping a child overcome their fears, find strategies to manage pain and reduce the uncertainty they feel about their hospitalization allows them to fully engage in their recovery.

Psychological Health: A Pillar of Pediatric Care

Hospitalization can disrupt a child's daily life. My role is to support them through their emotions, help them reduce their anxiety, and put words into what they are experiencing. Feeling understood and supported allows children to better adapt to the different stages of their treatment.

Every child reacts differently, but certain emotions are common: fear (of pain, treatment, the unknown or not being able to return to their previous life), sadness (particularly related to being away from home), anger at the limitations imposed by the illness, or even a feeling of injustice or discouragement. These reactions are normal, and I make sure that the child has the tools they need to navigate through them.

Hospitalization affects not only the child - parents and siblings also go through difficult times. Parents may feel helpless, guilty or extremely tired. Siblings may feel left out, jealous of the attention given to their brother or sister, or anxious about this new reality.

How I Support Families

At Shriners Hospitals for Children Canada, I ensure that every family receives support tailored to their emotional needs. This may include meetings with me or other psychologists, follow-ups with a social worker or support from the child life team, which helps children understand and adjust to their hospital experience through play, storytelling and creative activities.

My goal is to provide a safe space where families can express their emotions, ask questions and find support at every stage of the care journey. Children are highly sensitive to their parents' emotions. By supporting parents, I help families become more emotionally available and create a reassuring environment for their child. This fosters the child's engagement in their own care, builds trust and supports overall well-being.

An Interdisciplinary Team Approach

Psychological support is part of an approach to care that supports overall health and well-being. I collaborate with physicians, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, special educators, dietitians and social workers to ensure that every aspect of a child's well-being is addressed.

Depending on the child's age and needs, I use various approaches: psychoeducation, verbal expression, play, or drawing and relaxation strategies. These activities help children understand what they are going through, feel less alone and find a sense of calm.

For example, before surgery, some children experience significant anxiety. To help them, I explain the procedure, introduce them to members of the medical team, and sometimes offer a tour of the facilities. With the child life team, children can even play "doctor" or "surgeon" to regain a sense of control. These approaches reduce fear and make hospitalization a bit more gentle for children and for their parents, who then feel reassured as well.

Caring for the psychological health of young patients is therefore an essential part of my work and of the wrap-around care we provide at Shriners Hospitals for Children Canada.