Building a movement for brave kids - one procedure at a time
Bridging Medical and Behavioral Worlds to Transform Pediatric Care
Does this sound familiar? Your child melts down at just the mention pf the doctor's office, blood draws become traumatic, dental appointments feel impossible; you dread medical visits for weeks!
OR
(Professionals): Your team struggles with anxious patients, appointments run overtime due to meltdowns. You wish you had better strategies for neurodivergent children.
THERE IS A BETTER WAY!
I've been on both sides of the needle: - The provider trying to complete the procedure and the parent watching their child struggle. That dual perspective led me to create Poke Pals—and to publish research establishing evidence-based frameworks for trauma-informed pediatric care
Current Research Initiatives
We're developing partnerships with academic medical centers to evaluate capillary microcollection (fingerstick blood draws) as a trauma-informed alternative to traditional venipuncture for routine pediatric laboratory testing.
This research extends our behavioral work by examining whether combining evidence-based preparation techniques with minimally invasive collection methods produces superior clinical and experiential outcomes for children—particularly those who are neurodivergent or medically anxious.
Why This Matters
Common pediatric tests—including CBC, metabolic panels, thyroid studies, A1C, and lipid panels—can often be performed accurately using capillary samples from a quick fingerstick. Despite supporting clinical evidence, this approach remains underutilized. Our goal is to generate the research foundation for trauma-informed collection protocols that reduce unnecessary distress while maintaining clinical quality.
Research Partnerships
Interested in collaborating on pediatric quality improvement research? Contact us to discuss potential partnerships
FOR FAMILIES
FOR FAMILIES Is your child anxious about medical appointments? We offer virtual parent coaching to help your child approach procedures with confidence instead of fear. One-on-one support . Custom preparation plans Evidence-based strategies. From anywhere via video
FOR PROFESSIONALS
Do you work with neurodivergent and/or anxious patients who struggle during visits or procedures? Training and consultation grounded in published research and 25 years of hands-on experience. Team workshops, case consultation, implementation support
VIRTUAL OR IN PERSON
Making medical care trauma-informed and child-centered
