How to Keep Medical Procedures From Traumatizing Your Child

"First, elicit your child's feelings about the upcoming procedure. This is a time for listening, not correcting. You're hoping to learn the specifics and nuances of your child's feelings. For example, they won't just be scared, they'll be scared of something in particular-the strange doctors, the painful shots, their being separated from you, the problem their body is having, etc. The more details you know, the better you can speak to the specifics of your child's feelings."

"It can be helpful to ask what the child imagines will happen during the procedure, as well as what the child imagines is wrong with their body. The goal here isn't to correct these fantasies with facts-you'll do this later, after you've attended to your child's emotions. At this point, you only want to understand the feelings underlying the fantasies."

Elicit and validate the child's emotions before discussing facts about an upcoming medical procedure. Listen to specific fears and ask what the child imagines will happen and what they believe is wrong with their body. Avoid correcting fantasies immediately; focus on understanding feelings underlying those fantasies. Name the child's emotions to help them observe and manage feelings, and provide limited, accurate information so the child is not overwhelmed. Review the procedure afterward to help the child form accurate, healthy narratives about their body and reduce the risk of lasting trauma.

Read at Psychology Today