A child's chronic medical or emotional illness often poses unique challenges to parents and school personnel.  The focus of this workshop is to foster a greater understanding of the emotional impact of chronic illness on family and school life.  We will demonstrate how parents’ and teachers' awareness and understanding of their own emotional reactions to their child can be used as to generate helpful responses which can then have a positive impact on developing self-esteem, resilience, and a healthy identity.  We will also address many issues regarding how schools can support families, and how can families work together with schools to foster and optimize their child’s experience in school.

Laurie Levi, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Merion who treats children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families struggling with medical and emotional difficulties. She often works with people with serious situations (i.e. suicide attempt, cutting, etc.) in addition to more typical problems. She is also committed to helping parents grow from the experience of having their child in treatment, through individual or family work, or parent consultation, as is appropriate.

Frances G. Martin, Ph.D., is a psychologist and psychoanalyst with over 25 years experience working with children and families in Philadelphia and the northern suburbs. In recent years she has devoted significant effort to working with parents of children with chronic illness, new parents, and grieving parents. She is Co-Director of Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Training and of the Parent Child Center at PCOP (Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia). In addition she is a member of the Board of Directors of the Carson Valley School and the Green Tree School.