Child Life Wild Life

Latest Episodes:

The Wild Life of Advocating Confidently with Jessica Wadium Feb 21, 2022

Show notes

Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, sits down with friend, Jessica Wadium, CCLS, about her experience advocating for herself and the profession in the midst of pushback.
Experiencing pushback against providing child life services can be a very difficult experience for any professional. Overcoming pushback is usually discussed with the focus on having a "happy ending" - the nurse that didn't want you in the room is now your work BFF and you sing Kumbaya together.
However, Jessica views overcoming pushback differently. To her, overcoming pushback is about the process of doing what is within your circle of control, while also focusing on self-care, to promote the well-being of yourself and the services you provide. How others respond is outside your circle of control, and therefore Jessica urges us to discuss overcoming pushback as a process and not an outcome.
For support or to get in contact with Jessica, you can reach out to her directly at jessica.wadium@gmail.com

Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa

The Wild Life of a Clinical Mental Health Counselor with Sam Lewin Feb 14, 2022

Show notes

Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with husband, Sam Lewin, MA, LLPC,
about his experience working as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor. Sam works with children, adolescents, families, couples, and groups regarding their depression, addictions, anxieties, relationships, and more. His main therapeutic modalities include psychodynamic therapy, solution-focused therapy, existential therapy, and EMDR.
Jessica and Sam speak heavily on the importance of understanding development and psychology and how that's affected each of their work in the helping profession.
Sam is Jessica's biggest cheerleader. Jessica spends some time quizzing him on all things "child life" and surprisingly (and not so surprisingly) Sam does extremely well!
This episode is jam-packed with giggles, knowledge, and wisdom. There may have even been a few tears shed. You'll have to listen to find out!
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa

The Wild Life of Internships and Graduate Cohorts with Rylee Martin Feb 07, 2022

Show notes

Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and past mentee, Rylee Martin, about what it was like navigating the internship process with a cohort behind her for support.
Rylee was one of Jessica's students at the 2020 Coffee and Confidence Student Retreat in Indianapolis.
By the end of the retreat, Jessica felt so strongly that Rylee knew her stuff - developmental theory, how to elaborate and showcase her skills in an interview, and definitely had a knock-out application. But when Rylee didn't get her internship the first round, it was a shock. Rylee kept a positive attitude and knew that there was something more in store for her. She just had to be patient. Her story is unique and Rylee gives great advice to future intern applicants for what to do vs. what to skip when applying for internships.
You can follow Rylee at @rylee_anne11 or plants_n_kindness (for any plant lovers) on Instagram.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa

The Wild Life of Long-Term Care with Morgan Merritt Jan 31, 2022

Show notes

Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, sits down with friend, Morgan Merritt, CCLS, about what her experience has been like in long-term care. Morgan is passionate about medically fragile children and is an advocate for accessibility in the disabled community. She is so creative in the interventions she chooses with her patients and through all the revamps she has done for the program.

Morgan is a storyteller, comedian, and teacher all in one. You will listen to every word she says, laugh, and come away with so much knowledge and wisdom.

You can follow Morgan at @play.cope.love on Instagram.

Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa

The Wild Life of Past Mentees with Kaitlyn Baron Jan 24, 2022

Show notes

Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and past mentee, Kaitlyn Baron, CCLS about the importance of finding yourself a mentor. Having someone in your corner that you can rely on and who is your own personal cheerleader and sounding board is invaluable.
When Jessica met Kaitlyn, Jessica was immediately drawn to Kaitlyn's experiences as a student/professional. Kaitlyn graduated with her bachelor's in psychology and a master's in social work in 2019. She was working as a licensed children's mental health therapist until COVID and decided to become a child life specialist instead.
She became frustrated with her role as a therapist when she realized the fee for service style jobs, needing to work nights/weekends in order to accommodate children's schedules (therapists unfortunately work when everyone else doesn't), and the limitations she had with her license being state licenses only, limiting her ability to move.
You can follow Kaitlyn at @kaitlynbaron882 on Instagram.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa

The Wild Life of Child Life in Schools with Courtney Rosborough Jan 24, 2022

Show notes

Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend, Courtney Rosborough, CCLS, about her experience working in a school setting as an Emotional Behavioral Specialist (EBS). Courtney is passionate about using her child life lens in a school setting, where her main focus is supporting the social and emotional well-being of her students.
Throughout this conversation, Jessica and Courtney exchange stories about working in a school setting and how the skills of a hospital child life specialist so easily transfer to a school setting.
This is a unique episode where Jessica actually is asked a few questions from her guest in order to make this even more conversational (due to the fact that Jessica is currently working in the schools as a CCLS) and brings her perspective into the episode.
You can follow Courtney at @childlifeclassroomconnection on Instagram.
To read Courtney's ACLP bulletin article, click below: https://www.childlife.org/membership/aclp-bulletin/fall-2019-table-of-contents/back-to-school-child-life-interventions-in-the-education-system
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa

The Wild Life of Advocacy Centers with Sarah Buckland Jan 24, 2022

Show notes

Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend, Sarah Buckland, CCLS, about her experience working in an Advocacy Center as a child life specialist. After hearing about advocacy centers during a course in college, though only just a glimpse of all she does now, Sarah was immediately drawn to work with this population of children.
As child life specialists, we are so aware of trauma's effect on development, coping, and whole person health. Our main focus in school is hospital trauma: life limiting illnesses, procedures, emergent care, and more. But Sarah works with a different kind of trauma. The children she supports appear healthy- they can run and play and most often are not physically hindered, but they have been injured and most likely by someone they trust. It is a different kind of trauma. And most definitely a space where child life needs to be more heavily utilized.
Sarah's journey to child life is unique- and actually started later in life and with a clown nose. You'll have to listen to find out all the wisdom that Sarah has to share for both child life specialists and students alike.
For more information or to get in contact with Sarah, you can reach out to her directly at sbuckland2007@gmail.com
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa

The Wild Life of Being a Mom and a Student with Meaghan Myrick Jan 24, 2022

Show notes

Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, sits down with friend, Meaghan Myrick (now CCLS), about being a mom and a student while trying to become certified. While everyone experiences different challenges in their pursuit of child life, parents pursuing child life experience some very unique challenges along the way. There were times throughout Meaghan's journey where she found herself questioning how she could actually manage to do this (school, work, volunteering, practicum, internship) and still keep things "normal" for her family.

Something Meaghan quickly realized on this journey was that things were never going to be "normal" ever again, and that was okay! There were sacrifices that had to be made; dinner didn't always get cooked and sometimes her child may have eaten chicken nuggets for the third night in a row. There were days that she may have been late for carpool line--but it is 100% possible to pursue child life as a parent AND as a student.

So, while there are challenges that come along the way with being a parent and pursuing child life, the rewards exceeded the challenges for Meaghan. She often found that being a parent influenced so much of her practice as a student pursuing child life (volunteering, practicum, internship) and will only make her a more well-rounded CCLS as she moves into her career.

You can follow Meaghan at @untraditionallychildlife on Instagram.

Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa

The Child Life Wild Life Season 2 Podcast Trailer Jan 17, 2022

Show notes

Welcome back to The Child Life Wild Life Podcast with your host, Jessica Lewin, CCLS, The Child Life Mentor.
Season 2 will officially drop Monday, January 24, 2022 - where there will be four new episodes for you to listen to immediately.
After launch day, every new podcast episode will be released once per week on Mondays to get you started for the week!
To be the first to know when an episode is released, don't forget to subscribe!
Follow along on Instagram at @thechildlifementor.

The Wild Life of Community Hospital Facility Dog Handlers with Stefani Williams Sep 27, 2021

Show notes

Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend, Stefani Williams, CCLS, about creating, coordinating, and rockin' a facility dog program at her women's and children's hospital. Stefani began this journey just 2 years into being a Certified Child Life Specialist and was given her canine friend, Asteroid, to assist her with providing psychosocial care to children and families throughout their hospital experience in 2019.
Throughout these last couple years, Stefani has been wowed by Asteroid's ability to handle a variety of experiences with patients and families. Stefani talks about the parts of this job that aren't all glitz and glam like Instagram has you thinking, including the literal dirty details. She also touches a little bit on imposter syndrome and how that played a role, especially during the beginning of her journey when she was navigating if she was still, truly, a CCLS or just the "dog lady" at the hospital.
Stefani is full of wonderful, real life stories about the different patients and families she and Asteroid have impacted over the last couple years.

You can follow Stefani and Asteroid at @hh_caninesforcoping on Instagram.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa

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