How Childhood Child Life Encounters Influence Child Life Career Trajectories

Abstract

Child life interventions, typically in the forms of psychological preparation and procedural support, can reduce a child’s fear, anxiety, and stress caused by hospitalization. There is currently no literature on the career trajectories of CCLSs or the long-term impacts of receiving child life services. The purpose of this exploratory study was to learn more about the career trajectories of child life specialists who previously received CCLS support. Thematic analysis resulted in five themes: career trajectories as a child life specialist: influences on the decision to pursue a career as a CCLS; the impact of child life on participants’ experiences as hospitalized children; participants’ efforts to research the field of child life; how child life differs from other professions; and how participants applied their child life childhood experiences to their own work with patients and families. Implications will be addressed.