Private child life support

from the comfort of your home

At Colorful Hearts, we understand that every family and child is unique, and that's why we offer personalized support to help your family overcome medical challenges. We believe that every parent has the ability to support their child when given the right tools, guidance, and caring professionals by your side.


Our Chicago based team of experienced and compassionate Child Life Specialists work closely with you and your family to create tailored plans that address your specific needs and goals. We recognize that challenges can come in various forms, from a new diagnosis, loss of a loved one or routine vaccination fears and we are here to support you every step of the way.

Schedule a free 15 minute consultation

Katie and Steph met while working together in the Emergency Department in 2019 and quickly discovered their shared passion for helping children overcome medical trauma. Their day-to-day work involved providing age-appropriate preparation, advocating for best practices, and collaborating within the multi-disciplinary team. As time went on, they couldn't ignore the increasing number of children and parents seeking ongoing support outside the hospital setting.


Whether it was children grappling with needle phobia and in need of additional assistance during routine vaccinations, caregivers seeking guidance to support their other child at home during a sibling's hospitalization, or families requiring child life support following a new diagnosis or injury, Katie and Steph recognized a significant gap that demanded attention. Their discussions continued intermittently over the years until they finally took the leap and decided to establish Colorful Hearts.


The primary mission of Colorful Hearts is to ensure that families always have access to child life support, regardless of the hospital's availability of services. Katie and Steph aim to fill the void and offer families the opportunity to receive the assistance they deserve. Families will no longer be left searching for resources and grappling with the challenges of navigating medical experiences alone. Colorful Hearts will serve as a guiding light, a comforting presence and a dependable resource during a family’s most difficult moments.

  • Caregivers

    Coaching and education given through individual sessions to set you up with the language, tools and resources to help you feel confident in supporting and advocating for your child.

  • Kids

    One-to-one sessions to address coping through routine medical experiences, new diagnosis, loss of a loved one or pet, education related to new illness, injury or treatment.

  • Teens

    One-to-one sessions to address coping through routine medical experiences, new diagnosis, loss of a loved one or pet, education related to new illness, injury or treatment. Group Sessions will be available in the future to connect teens with other teens dealing with similar challenges.

  • Child Life Students

    We offer a variety of services to support aspiring child life students, including resume/application reviews and mock interviews.

  • Medical Professionals

    Refer Patients

    Become Pediatric Friendly

    Consult a child life specialist

Testimonials

“As a pediatric nurse practitioner, you would think that I have a good idea of how to appropriately prepare someone for procedures. The answer turns out to be that I know the basics, but when it comes to my own family, I absolutely could not do it properly!

Stephanie helped me prepare my nephew before surgery. Not only did she help prepare him, she helped ease our own anxieties as a family. My nephew conquered the day like a champion, and this concerned aunt could not be more thankful for the services provided before we even stepped foot into the hospital! Stephanie gave us recommendations for books to read, so he knew what to expect in the hospital environment, helped my family know which age appropriate words to use, and how much information to provide to him that he would understand (as a school aged child). It’s incredible how much kids are able to handle; they just need the right tools to process their world! Beyond thankful for all the child life specialists in my life.”

- Jenna G., NP

“Katie gave us comprehensive information that allowed us to be prepared for my son’s eye surgery. The information was age-appropriate for my son and easy for him to understand the process. The information not only helped my son, but also helped put me at ease and allowed me to be in a good headspace before his surgery.”

- Mindi (parent)