I am thrilled to introduce an ambitious and inspiring Child Life Specialist, Genevieve Lowry. She breaks the mold in the typical setting that a specialist is found in and uses her skills to reach a larger population. I hope that she inspires you as much as she has done for me, to think outside of the child life box.
“ I believe children tell us what they need to know we just have to be listening” It is this belief that has propelled a career that has spanned almost 25 years as a child life specialist.
Genevieve Lowry M.Ed, CEIM, CCLS, Reiki Master
With a strong background in child development, therapeutic play and years of experience Genevieve Lowry works to support, facilitate, and teach positive coping strategies to children and families facing extraordinary circumstances. The combination of a master’s degree in Education from Fordham University and her undergraduate from Wheelock College, a nationally recognized college specializing in early childhood development, Genevieve has sought out a path in Child Life that is as traditional as it is unique.
As a Certified Child Life Specialist she worked at the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of NY for 18 years working in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Although she loved this job and the challenges she faced supporting children and families with life threatening illnesses, she searched for ways to provide child life services to children in the community. This led to the creation of her private practice and consulting business Practical Parenting Solutions for families facing extraordinary circumstances working with children and families in a variety of environments, circumstances, and needs. Genevieve believes that by bringing awareness of the role of child life specialists will increase the demand for more child life professionals working in settings where children need play, preparation, and opportunities for expressive arts. This philosophy has led to the development of school programs; “Germbusters” and “Visiting the Doctor.” As well as she has had the opportunity to work with many non-profit organizations from Family Day events for the Arthritis Foundation to consulting on the Steps For Living website for the Hemophilia foundation. She has provided training to The New York Foundling Crisis Center and Mother Child Program as well as consulted with PBS parents.
Genevieve is an adjunct professor and has been an advisor at Bank Street College of Education in NY, NY. It is this passion for sharing her commitment to Child Life that led to the development of an online learning platform, The Convenient Classroom for child life specialists and creative arts therapists to continue professional development. Her online classes often focus on innovative ways child life specialists are using their skills in new settings populations and environments. She is also the co-creator of the only online certification test preparation course. In addition, she is an accomplished lecturer, and published author of the book Following Imagination: Activities that move, create, and play with guided imagery.
Always seeking new ways to support children and families, Genevieve has earned certifications and training in guided imagery, Infant Massage and is a Reiki Master. Genevieve has practiced Reiki for over 15 years working with, teaching, and offering Reiki to children and families as well as healthcare professionals. Through her training at the Holistic Healing Center at Beth Israel Hospital in NYC, Genevieve has created curriculum that teaches the fundamentals of relaxation, guided imagery, and Reiki to children and families. Recently she has begun to offer group and individual classes to parents and caregivers on infant massage focusing on children with special health care needs.
For fun Genevieve created the video blog www.diychildlife.wordpress.com. She shares videos on how to make hospital teaching materials and dolls or coping tools mostly from household and recyclable items. She has volunteered with Operation Smile, the county jail drug rehab providing parenting to incarcerated women and is Member at Large for Child Life of Greater NY. She received the Wheelock College Leadership award in 2000 and in 2013 was recognized at the college’s 125th anniversary as alumni fulfilling Wheelock’s philosophy and mission.
To celebrate Child Life Month and to continue her mission to spread the word about Child Life, she if offering Free Parenting Webinars:
March 4, 2015 Promoting Positive Experiences at the Doctor or Dentist (you can watch the recording of this presentation on the website www.practicalparentingsolutions.com
March 11, 2015 Reiki: Energizing you and your Family
March 18, 2015 Talking to Children about Loss
March 25, 2015 Move Create and Play with Guided Imagery
All webinars start 1-2:00 pm eastern standard time
To Register got to http://www.practicalparentingsolutions.com/events/
Follow Genevieve on Twitter and check out her child life websites:
Choose one or more ways to enter to win!
1. Like the post and leave a comment below
2. Re-Tweet on Twitter and tag @ChildLifeMommy and @GenevieveLowry
3. On Facebook “Like” Child Life Mommy‘s page and leave a comment
4. on Instagram repost the picture and tag @ChildLifeMommy
Good Luck! The winner will be notified on 3/11/15
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