Supporting Children of Chronically Ill Parents/Caregivers

In both my Masters of Social and Community Work (Applied) and my Masters of Narrative Therapy and Community Work, I focused my research projects on the impacts of having a chronically ill parent on children. Through both of these projects I have learned that there are indeed notable impacts on children who grow up with a chronically ill parent or caregiver, including increased risk of developing depression, anxiety and somatisation of such experiences. That said, there are also myriad stories of resilience, care and love that often go overlooked. It is my mission to hold space for families who have a chronically ill caregiver, with a special focus on the children in these families/whānau. I have learned through the innovation project in my Masters of Narrative Therapy, that there are many untold stories and strengths of children who are growing up or have grown up with a chronically ill caregiver. I take a firm, non-parent-blaming approach in my work with children and whānau. Focusing on the narrative principle of externalising problems, I place the chronic illness as the focal point for blame, rather than any person afflicted by the illness.

When we look at the problem as the thing impacting the parent and family, rather than the parent, themselves, we create a great deal of space to move around and find pathways for understanding. This is all in an attempt to allow children to better understand the circumstances of their parent’s chronic illness, as well as allowing room for parents to learn about the impact the chronic illness has on their child, while removing any feelings of shame or blame that a parent may feel. We can co-create space for family members to have feelings toward the illness and not the person carrying it. By having open and honest conversations about the impact of the illness on the child, we can work toward reducing the impacts that it can have on the child as they develop into adults.

If you are curious about this ongoing work, please be in touch and I will gladly share my research.