In April 2024, child life specialists Dagney Willey Adamson and Marne Perrin launched their private practice, Coping Copilots, in Rochester, aimed at assisting children in navigating stressful life changes and challenges. Their initiative responds to the increasing need for therapeutic support among young individuals facing emotional and psychological hurdles.
Bridging Gaps in Child Support Services
Willey Adamson and Perrin, both certified child life specialists, are trained in child development and adept at helping children cope with stress and trauma. Traditionally, their expertise has been utilized in hospital settings, where they guide pediatric patients through frightening experiences like surgeries or chemotherapy. However, as Willey Adamson noted, their skills extend beyond healthcare. “Our scope and our skill set and our competencies are not necessarily health care-specific,” she explained.
Recognizing the broader needs of the community, the duo decided to expand their services outside the hospital environment. Inspired by Laura Sufka, who established a successful child life practice in the Twin Cities, Willey Adamson and Perrin envisioned a model that could provide essential support to families in various contexts.
Creative Approaches to Coping
At Coping Copilots, the specialists work with children of all ages, addressing both medical and non-medical issues. They focus on demystifying fears surrounding situations like dental appointments, developing healthy coping mechanisms for school-related anxiety, and assisting with significant life changes, such as welcoming a new sibling or transitioning to a different school.
Their approach incorporates structured play, art creation, and letter writing, all designed to facilitate open conversations and emotional expression. For example, Willey Adamson recounted assisting a child grappling with the impending loss of a grandparent due to an incurable brain tumor. Through their sessions, they explored themes of grief and anticipatory loss, emphasizing understanding rather than trying to eliminate the child’s pain. “We’re building resiliency,” Willey Adamson said. “We’re not trying to fix the hard things… but we’re hopefully reducing that footprint by creating elements of control and understanding and choice and play.”
Willey Adamson and Perrin also collaborate with other therapeutic services. They provide support that can enhance the effectiveness of traditional therapy. For instance, Perrin uses play techniques to help a client process daily worries, equipping the child with the ability to engage more deeply during subsequent therapy sessions. “That day-to-day stuff that they’re processing in the moment has made him have that ability that when he goes into his therapy appointments, he can really go deeper for that underlying therapeutic need,” Willey Adamson noted.
Through their new practice, Willey Adamson and Perrin aim to address care gaps for children, particularly those in rural areas surrounding Rochester. Their work underscores the vital role of child life specialists in fostering resilience and emotional well-being in younger populations.
