Paediatric Health Psychology

This course focuses on the psychological, developmental and behavioural needs of children and adolescents, and their families in healthcare settings. Topics will examine the impact of a range of paediatric conditions on a child’s developmental course and family wellbeing, including, for example, both acute and chronic medical conditions, disability, and accidental/ non-accidental injuries from the neonatal period to adolescence. These include, for example, preterm birth, brain injury, regulatory disorders (e.g., sleep, eating), intellectual and motor problems, autism, pain, grief and trauma, and how to support children and whanau in a hospital setting. Important contribution psychologists make at the intersection of mental and physical health will be discussed alongside some practical considerations for working in health settings.