Introduction and Prep Session

This chapter provides an explanation as to how having a chronic illness can start a cascading effect that results in the teen becoming more inactive and less involved in important life events experienced by healthy teens, and how this can actually worsen some of their symptoms and lead to more disability. The CHIRP interventions are introduced as a program specifically designed to provide teens, and their parents, with skills that can disrupt this process and allow the teen to more actively participate in life. A “Weekly Activity and Exercise Action Plan” Worksheet is provided to begin the process of gradually becoming more active at a level that is sensitive to the teen’s medical and health issues.