Your child doesn't have to dread the any appointment

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From Franchesca Kelly, PBT (ASCP) | RBT (BACB) — a pediatric phlebotomist and Registered Behavior Technician who has spent nearly a decade preparing children for exactly these moments.

Poke Pals was created to address a common challenge in pediatric care:
many children experience significant fear and distress around blood draws and medical appointments.

Parent coaching focuses on preparation, regulation, and meaningful involvement, helping children approach them with greater predictability and confidence — and helping caregivers feel prepared and supported.

• Your child melts down before appointments — sometimes days in advance
• Blood draws, dental cleanings, or injections end in tears, physical restraint, or a failed procedure
• You find yourself dreading the appointment almost as much as they do
• Your child had one bad experience, and now every medical visit carries that weight
• Healthcare providers tell you your child is "difficult" — when what you know is that they're scared
• Your neurodivergent child struggles with the sensory demands of clinical environments — the lights, the sounds, the strangers, the waiting
• You don't know how to explain what's coming in a way they can actually hold onto
• 
  

You're not alone. And there is a better way to prepare.

Not perfectly. Not painlessly. But differently — with your child calmer, more prepared, and walking out feeling like they did something hard and made it through.

That's what preparation coaching makes possible.

Poke Pals uses a framework built from real clinical experience and behavioral science — not theory alone, but what actually works when a child is scared and the procedure still has to happen.

The three pillars:

Calm — We reduce surprise before the day arrives. Anticipatory anxiety is often the biggest barrier. When children know what's coming, their nervous systems can begin to settle.

Explain — We use developmentally appropriate language children can actually process and hold onto — not medical jargon, not vague reassurance, but real, specific, honest preparation that builds trust.

Involve — We give children a role. Choice, agency, and coping strategies they practiced at home don't disappear when they walk through the clinic door. They transfer.

These principles work across procedure types — blood draws, dental visits, vaccinations, MRI and CT imaging, ear and eye exams, and any other medical encounter your child dreads.

• Understand what to expect before they arrive — for any procedure, not just one
• Use coping strategies they've actually practiced, not ones they're hearing for the first time in the chair
• Participate with choice and a sense of control
• Leave appointments feeling capable — not defeated, not traumatized, not dreading the next one
• Build a foundation of trust in healthcare that carries forward for years

Understanding your child Sensory triggers, learning style, communication needs, and what has (and hasn't) worked before

Procedure-specific preparation Whether it's a blood draw, a dental exam, a vaccination, an MRI, or a sensory-heavy specialist visit — we build a plan for that appointment

Custom preparation tools Visual storyboards, social stories, procedural scripts, and coping plans tailored to your child's age, needs, and communication style

Behavioral strategies Graduated exposure, reinforcement, regulation techniques, and distraction approaches that are grounded in evidence and adapted to your family

Communication with your medical team How to advocate for accommodations, communicate your child's needs before the appointment, and create a collaborative relationship with their providers

Long-term confidence Skills that don't expire after one visit — a preparation approach your child carries into every future healthcare encounter

All sessions are delivered via secure video call — from wherever you are.

$150 · One 60-minute session Best for: An upcoming procedure you need to prepare for now

When the appointment is close and you need focused, practical help immediately — this session gives you a customized preparation plan, targeted coping strategies, and the confidence to walk in ready.

Includes:

• One 60-minute virtual coaching session
• Custom preparation plan for your child's specific procedure
• Visual support and storyboard recommendations
• Coping strategies toolkit
• Follow-up summary and email support

$495 · Four sessions over 4–8 weeks Best for: Ongoing anxiety, multiple upcoming appointments, or a child who has had repeated difficult experiences

For families who need more than one-time preparation. Over four sessions, we build a durable preparation approach your child can use across procedure types and settings — not just the next appointment, but all the ones that follow.

Includes:

• Four 45-minute virtual coaching sessions
• Custom digital storyboards for your child's specific procedures
• Personalized reinforcement and coping plan
• Guided practice between sessions
• Progress tracking and real-time adjustments
• Session summaries and a growing resource library

$900 · Eight sessions Best for: Complex medical histories, repeated procedural trauma, severe anxiety, or neurodivergent children with significant support needs

The most comprehensive preparation experience Poke Pals offers. Eight sessions of high-touch, individualized support — paced to your child, adjusted as they progress, and built for the families whose needs don't fit a standard package.

Details discussed during your discovery call.

Not sure which package fits? That's exactly what the discovery call is for — no pressure, just clarity.

1 · Book a free discovery call (15 minutes) We talk through your child's needs, any upcoming procedures, and whether coaching is the right fit. No commitment required — just an honest conversation.

2 · Choose your package You'll receive intake forms and scheduling details right away.

3 · Complete the intake Tell me about your child — their sensory profile, communication style, what's worked before, what hasn't, and what's coming up. The more I know going in, the faster we move.

4 · Attend your coaching sessions Via secure video call, from wherever you are. We build strategies, create tools, and practice skills together — all tailored to your child.

5 · Practice between sessions Take the strategies home. Try them. Report back. This is individualized support, not a script — we adjust as we go.

6 · Watch the difference Calmer arrivals. Better cooperation. A child who leaves the appointment feeling like they did something hard and made it through. And the next time? It's a little easier than the last.

Parent coaching through Poke Pals™ is educational support — not therapy, not medical treatment, and not a substitute for clinical care.

I do not diagnose conditions or provide psychotherapy. Coaching is designed to complement the work of your child's healthcare team, therapist, or BCBA — not replace it.

For urgent medical or mental health needs, please contact your provider or emergency services.

It doesn't matter whether it's a blood draw next week or a dental visit your child has been refusing for months. Preparation is where this changes — and it starts with one conversation.

Parent coaching is educational support, not therapy or medical treatment.
I do not diagnose conditions or provide clinical therapy. Coaching complements care from your child’s healthcare providers.

For urgent medical or mental health needs, please contact your provider or emergency services.

Looking for support at the clinic or organizational level? Visit For Organizations to learn more.