Child Life through the Lens of Family Stress Theory and Family Systems Theory

Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS) are an integral part of the healthcare team, who address children and families' psychosocial needs and help children and families cope throughout their healthcare experiences. The history of child life, description of the interventions provided by Certified Child Life Specialists, and educational preparation needed for child life certification will be discussed. Certified Child Life Specialists use family science theories in their interventions with patients and families. Two of the family science theories that influence assessments and interventions are family stress theory (Boss, 1988; Hill, 1949; McCubbin & Patterson, 1983) and family systems theory (Smith & Hamon, 2022). Certified Child Life Specialists utilize these theories to provide support to families and create resources for positive coping and adjustment to their hospital experience. These theories will be discussed, and case studies will be examined to illustrate how Certified Child Life Specialists integrate these theories into their practice.