Mom but also certified Child Life specialist. Verena is a trained professional with expertise in helping children and their families overcome life’s most challenging events, particularly those related to healthcare and hospitalization.

In her own words:

In my brief introduction it is mentioned that I am a psychologist, Child Life Specialist and mother. In fact it all started in this order. I finished my studies in psychology at the UAB and moved to Switzerland, where I was fortunate enough to be initiated into psychological accompaniment for child oncology patients. It was an exciting experience where I learned a lot and had the privilege of meeting many people among families and medical staff. During my meetings with the families I always felt that the interventions I offered, responded totally to the needs of the parents, but that sometimes they did not allow me to connect 100% with the children… there was something missing.

Child Life Specialist

Life took me to live for a while (10 years) in other countries, one of them being Guatemala. While volunteering in pediatric oncology, I met a pediatrician who decided to change his profession and work as a Child Life Specialist. It was the first time I heard about this concept and I knew that it was what I had been looking for in order to work more adequately with children. After getting my certification in the United States, I settled in Switzerland, where I currently live, and work as a Child Life Specialist at the Hôpital de l’Enfance in Lausanne.

My daily work is based on accompanying the children and their families to help them manage emotionally their time in the hospital and to create a calm environment for the patients to understand what will happen to them on the day of their operation.

¡Sigue a Verena!