Rachael Coakley, Associate Director of Psychological Services and Director of Clinical Innovation and Outreach in Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesia at Boston Children’s Hospital, and Director at The Comfort Ability, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Around the world, children living with chronic pain often face the same reality: very few resources and very few answers.
As a pediatric psychologist at Boston Children’s, I see how chronic pain shapes a child’s daily life. That’s what inspired my colleagues and me to create The Comfort Ability Program, which helps kids, teens, and their parents or caregivers learn practical skills to better manage chronic pain symptoms, such as:
- Headaches
- Abdominal pain
- Fatigue
- Muscle and joint pain
- And more
Grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy, our workshops teach children strategies to manage symptoms and return to their lives, while offering parents and caregivers tools to better support their child and themselves.
What began in Boston is now a global effort. Comfort Ability workshops are offered across the U.S., Canada, and Australia, and we recently partnered with clinicians in Colombia to bring this care to families in their communities. And our mission doesn’t stop there – with plans to expand to Europe and beyond, we’re committed to expanding access for even more children and families.
Chronic pediatric pain is a worldwide challenge. By sharing knowledge, building skills, and supporting children wherever they live, we can begin to close that gap.
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