Session 1: Stress Identification and Management

Abstract

Session 1 of the Children’s Health and Illness Recovery Program (CHIRP) addresses the impact of illness- and non–illness-related stressors on teens with chronic illness and coping strategies needed to reduce stress. This chapter provides the clinician with techniques for guiding the teen in developing methods for identifying stressors and assessing the impact they may have on their symptoms and functioning. The importance of sleep and developing healthy sleep hygiene practices are introduced, along with instructions for the teen in completing a Sleep Log to assess their own sleep patterns and practices. Graduated physical activity is also assessed and encouraged. These data will be collected over the course of several sessions in order to facilitate more effective coping, stress management, and sleep hygiene practices.