Yoga Meditation Therapist Contingent Days

Children's Hospital of Michigan is an international leader in pediatric and adolescent medicine. Surgical services include general, thoracic, reconstructive and cardiovascular. Imaging technology designed specifically for children provides advanced diagnostic services including Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and MRI. The Children's Hospital of Michigan Emergency Department is a verified Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center and dedicated pediatric burn center. Experts in pediatric critical care, rehabilitation, and neonatal and perinatal medicine provide care for thousands of children every year at Children's Hospital of Michigan, Children's Hospital of Michigan - Troy and six ambulatory sites.

Summary Description

The Yoga/Meditation Therapist is recognized as a body movement professional and is responsible for planning and implementing therapeutic interventions for patients using formal programming. The Yoga/Meditation Therapist offers the psychotherapeutic use of movement to further the social, emotional, cognitive and physical integration of an individual. Interventions including deep breathing, guided imagery, developmental movement exercises, meditation and rhythmic activity work are designed specifically to assist patients and families in coping with the stress and trauma often associated with a hospitalization. The Yoga/Meditation Therapist provides ongoing assessment of child and family interventions, sharing learned observations with the healthcare team to promote the child's emotional well-being.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Exhibits guiding behaviors that reflect CHM's values and support our mission and vision.

• Employs knowledge of growth and development (typically developing children and children with differing abilities) to guide interactions across the spectrum (neonatal, infant, toddler, pre-school, school-age, adolescent). Recognizes the impact of the health care experience/environment on each age group.

• Manages consult requests placed by the interdisciplinary healthcare team. Provides formal assessment and documentation as part of the CHM Policy and Procedure and Child Life Standard of Care.

• Works closely with various teams including Child Life, Psychology, Rehab Services to develop and implement a child-specific treatment plan.

• Communicates with interdisciplinary staff to communicate relevant patient family information. Offers consultation regarding developmental status and individual needs to promote adaptation to treatment.

• Plans and implements interventions designed to help address the individual needs of the child. Utilizes yoga/meditation therapy techniques and observations gained through verbal and non-verbal cues to interpret the child's perception of diagnosis and treatment. Notes any significant behaviors and adapts programming accordingly.

• Provides yoga/meditation therapy to ameliorate depression, assist patients and families with emotional regulation, offer an outlet for self-expression, pain management, promote socialization, and body awareness. Intervention examples include deep breathing and guided imagery, developmental movement exercises, meditation, and rhythmic activity to help work through issues related to trauma and to address other psychosocial issues inherent to a patient's hospitalization.

• Implements yoga/meditation therapy techniques for parent/guardian and sibling support.

• Coordinates efforts with leadership to include yoga/meditation therapy directives as part of hospital-driven health and wellness initiatives.

• Works with members of Child Life to maintain necessary supplies.
• Maintains a clean and safe work environment.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

1. Registered Yoga Instructor; Professional Yoga Therapy Certification preferred.

2. A minimum of three to six months of experience with pediatric patients.

Skills Required

1. Demonstrated proficiency in verbal and written communication. This includes: assessment, evaluation and provision of accurate and timely handoff of child and family information with members of the healthcare team.

2. Exposure to Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and/or adaptive meditation techniques.

3. Analytical ability to observe behaviors and direct appropriate yoga/meditation therapy programming and interventions in support of the individual child/family.

4. Capability to position patients in the course of duties.

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