First Person: Cori Liptak, PhD
Pediatric Psychosocial Services
Edited by Dawn Stapleton
Cori Liptak, PhD, discusses her multifaceted role as a child psychologist and some of the "tools of the trade" that help her deliver care and support for her patients.
Cori Liptak, PhD, discovered her interest in pediatric psychology following a summer internship at Columbus Children's Hospital in Ohio. Her path eventually led to Dana-Farber, where in 2002 she began a two-year fellowship in pediatric neuro-oncology. Liptak loved working with the patients and families and became a full-time staff member. Now one of the senior psychologists in the Division of Pediatric Psychosocial Services, she sees patients with many diseases, though she specializes in pediatric neuro-oncology and survivorship issues. Her role is diverse and the days sometimes unpredictable – just the way she likes them. Liptak views her work with families as a privilege, establishing relationships with patients and allowing them direct involvement with the medical team.
The multidisciplinary division, made up of psychologists, social workers, resource specialists, and school liaison personnel, provides a wide range of services and support to pediatric cancer patients and their families. This includes play therapy, behavioral therapy, such as techniques to manage pain and anxiety, parent guidance, school consultations, and communication with the medical teams at Dana-Farber and Children's Hospital Boston. The 27-person team is integral to the care people receive.
The emotional support offered through the division is available to all immediate family members. It often includes parent guidance, helping parents maintain a routine at home, assessing how siblings are adjusting to the illness within the family, and helping parents manage the transitions between various hospital and clinic settings. Support extends beyond the immediate family and includes the patient's school team and classmates. Here, Liptak talks about the process a family goes through when a child is diagnosed with cancer and the role of the psychosocial clinician.
