awilmotNov 10, 20214 minPutting it all together: the 24th HEART BLOG articleBecause the trip took us in many directions, this article is meant to organize the resources spread out over two years of articles.
awilmotNov 9, 20211 minHeart Parents Class 301: reflecting on your own storyNow is a good time to reflect on your own experience given all that you have learned from these articles.
awilmotNov 8, 20214 minMixing fears with play on Halloween: how we do the same with scary feelings for children with CHDHalloween is a fun time for many children and families.
awilmotNov 8, 20212 minUsing medical ID on iPhone: critical information at a glance for yourself and emergency respondersThe digital form of a "medic alert bracelet" has now become the phone.
awilmotNov 8, 20214 minNot forgetting the sibling experience: feelings in siblings impacted by CHDAustin E. Wilmot, M.S.W., L.C.S.W. Siblings, whether younger or older, have their own experience of having a brother or sister with CHD....
awilmotNov 7, 20213 minA dying child: helping a child approaching deathAustin E. Wilmot, M.S.W., L.C.S.W. Children are not supposed to die, but unfortunately children do die. It can be one of the most painful...
awilmotNov 7, 20213 minSome thoughts on saying "special" and "heart warrior" in the CHD community: real and false identityAustin E. Wilmot, M.S.W., L.C.S.W. What does it mean to regard someone or something as "special"? This article is concerned with the...
awilmotNov 7, 20211 minKnowing where to find care: CHD specialists both domestic and abroadThis article highlights where to find information specific to CHD care both domestically and internationally.
awilmotNov 5, 20213 minWhat sucks for a child with CHD: being open to grief and acknowledging lossesAustin E. Wilmot, M.S.W., L.C.S.W. For many parents, it is easier to celebrate the wins and achievements than to acknowledge and face...
awilmotAug 6, 20214 minYour child's cardiology records: a system for order, containment and peace of mindHaving a system to organize all this information sets the stage for more efficient navigation of your child's medical history, less stress..
awilmotJul 31, 20211 minEveryday things that illustrate heart function: making heart function interactive at homeAustin E. Wilmot, M.S.W., L.C.S.W. Not everyone has a model of a heart laying around. And, even if you have one, it might not be the best...
awilmotJul 31, 20211 minThinking of the heart as a house: creative concepts for children to understand their "heart house"Austin E. Wilmot, M.S.W., L.C.S.W. Using everyday common things or concepts to help illustrate heart function might be just the kind of...
awilmotJul 31, 20212 minAnimated videos for children with CHD: easing anxiety and building child-appropriate understandingAustin E. Wilmot, M.S.W., L.C.S.W. Children with CHD are faced with a particular challenge--the challenge to understand the meanings of...
awilmotFeb 15, 20213 minThe 911 emergency in the psyche of a 12-year-old boy: Understanding OCD in children with CHDFor a child with CHD, unaddressed heart worries can manifest into obsessive compulsive mental and physical activity.
awilmotFeb 14, 20213 minHidden meanings of actions and reactions of children in therapy: the psychotherapy seriesIn this brief article, I wish to outline 20 common ways that children act and react within the relationship with a child therapist.
awilmotFeb 14, 20215 minQuestions to ask (yourself) when looking for a therapist for your child: the psychotherapy seriesThis article provides a therapist-side view of how the therapy situation can stir emotions for all involved...
awilmotAug 5, 202022 minThe traumatized child with CHD: understanding the traumatized child’s broadcast and how we respondVirtually every child with CHD has experienced trauma.
awilmotJun 9, 20204 minCOVID-19 & children: how drawings can be helpful in accessing a child’s inner lifeChildren have an active fantasy life that plays a pivotal role in their emotion regulation.
awilmotJun 8, 202019 minThe emotional meaning behind physical symptomsPhysical symptoms are frequently thought of only as physical problems, when it is, often, an issue of emotional and psychological origin.
awilmotFeb 16, 20209 minThe dangers of forgetting the “Heart Worrier” inside your “Heart Warrior”What is meant by “heart warrior”? Is there something deeper to understand about its invocation or that of its apparent long-lost sibling...