Pulmonology Clinic Behavioral Health Services

Behavioral health in the Pulmonology Clinic supports children who suffer with psychological and social stressors due to a chronic lung illness.

The behavioral health clinician studies and tracks your child’s developmental and psychosocial progress. He or she will suggest interventions, treatments, and resources for mental health issues of concern.

The behavioral health expert is part of the pulmonary team at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. The team treats children with chronic illness and lung disease.

Behavioral Health Care for Children with Lung Problems

Referrals for behavioral health care most often comes from the treating pulmonologist or other member of your child's care team.

The care team may refer your child to a behavioral health expert for many reasons, including:

• Trouble accepting the diagnosis and sticking to treatment plans.
• Delayed development.
• Issues with school attendance and changes.
• Problems building positive peer relations.
• Trouble coping with frequent hospital stays.
• Discontent with physical appearance.
• Anxiety, depression, or other behavioral concerns that impact daily life.

Support and Therapy for Children with Lung Disease

Behavioral health services include:

• Psychoeducation on disease management.
• Plans for adding treatments into busy daily schedules.
• Cognitive behavior therapy to learn how to reduce and manage anxious and depressed feelings.
• Training to help improve coping skills and manage the stress of living with a chronic illness.
• Talk therapy to promote healthy self-esteem and self-awareness and improve mood and well-being.
• Assessment of prescribed treatment plan and interventions to improve adherence when needed.
• Coping with grief and loss.
• Advocacy training to make sure kids get their needs met at school and work.

We can include behavioral health sessions into your child's follow-up visits or schedule them on their own.

Sessions take about 45 minutes, in most cases.