Ceilidh Eaton Russell is a certified child life specialist and a children’s grief therapist with a PhD in Family Relations and Human Development from the University of Guelph. She is a Lecturer in Child Life and Pediatric Psychosocial Care at McMaster University, Child Life Lead for Canadian Virtual Hospice, and has a clinical practice with AWC Grief Support. Since 2001, Ceilidh’s research, teaching, and clinical work have focused on communication, relationships, and support for children and families living with a child’s or parent’s serious illness, dying, death, and grief, with an emphasis on communication and relationships. She has authored handbooks for adults supporting children who are grieving or having trouble communicating, as well as a series of therapeutic activity books for children living with serious illness, dying, and grief.
In this week's core session of Grand Rounds, she will introduce a practical framework for exploring children’s questions about life, illness and treatment, death, and grief that may arise across a wide range of pediatric contexts. Informed by research with over 700 anonymous questions from grieving children at “Ask the doctor” sessions, communication is reoriented from providing the “right answer” to responding clearly and honestly to support children’s understanding, trust, and connection.
…Read more
Less…