How to help children express their feelings about cancer

My interview with author Tiffany Berg Coughran. Episode #3 Hope, Strength & Courage Podcast

“With a child, just being present and sharing that moment with them without any distractions, can make them feel so important, and their feelings are important ” Tiffany Berg Coughran

Summary: Today’s episode features my interview with author Tiffany Berg Coughran, certified chaplain and professional consultant as she shares with us how to help children express their feelings about cancer.

What I love most about this interview with Tiffany is our discussion about additional ways to help children and adults express their feelings before, during and after treatments. It was a great follow up from my last two interviews with Dr. Bernie. Dr Bernie had brought up the idea that we can analyze children’s thoughts and feeling through colouring, then Tiffany has given us the actual tools: colouring pages and examples of children and families she has worked with.

During this episode, Tiffany shared with me how she came to write the children’s book “ If Cancer was a fish, I’d throw it back” after her husband died of cancer. She gave a wonderful explanation of what chaplaincy is how she supports families, as well as the coloring pages she created to help children express their own feeling about their cancer diagnosis or their family member’s diagnosis. I personally learned some wonderful tools I can use with my own children and family members. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did.

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Best Advice from Tiffany Berg Coughran

  • When we go through things that that test our mortality, our faith, our relationships, our strength of character and will, those things have spiritual impact
  • We can becoming whole by forgiving ourselves and other people.
  • Talking about our feelings is so healing. Just feeling heard, we felt better.
  • We don’t have to have all the answers because just feeling listened to is powerful.

Links and Resources mentioned in this episode:

  •  For free download for kids and the different books and trainings
  • Colouring Page Examples from Interview

Read full transcript

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