We recently connected with Alyssa Pettingill and have shared our conversation below.

Alyssa, appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

If you ask my friends or family, they’ll tell you I’m a planner through and through. I haven’t always been crystal-clear about my long-term professional goals (at least not until recently), but I’ve always been Type A—organized, meticulous, ambitious, and quick to take initiative. So when I decided to start a business, even I was surprised that I took the leap without weeks or months of planning, research, or self-reflection.

What it came down to was passion. I was fortunate to discover the Child Life profession in college, and I fell in love with the work. For those unfamiliar, Child Life Specialists help children and teens build coping skills to navigate emotionally stressful events. Most of us work in large pediatric hospital settings, supporting children through medical challenges such as acute or chronic illness, injury, or surgery. I spent about six years in the hospital environment before I reached a point where I needed to consider my next career move. At the time, I was living in New York during COVID times but was planning my return to San Diego. I knew Child Life positions were limited there, so I began exploring other career paths that might interest me.

Ultimately, I realized that starting my own business would not only allow me to continue growing as a Child Life Specialist but would also enable me to expand access to emotional and developmental support for children and teens. It was a risk driven by a deep belief in the work and its impact.

After about two challenging, humbling, and incredibly busy years, the business began to truly thrive in early 2024. Taking that leap was one of the most rewarding risks I’ve ever taken.

Alyssa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

There are so many different professions within the healthcare field but one that largely remains unrecognized is the Child Life profession. I, too, didn’t have a clue what Child Life was until I was a junior in college. At this point in my life, I already knew that I wanted a career working with children but I struggled to find one that didn’t limit my ability to work with multiple age groups. When my mom brought the Child Life field to my attention, I did my research and quickly realized that I may have found the perfect career path. I was drawn to the ability to work within a fast paced environment, have the opportunity to work with different age groups, and be in a field where I would constantly learn.

After completing a short internship at Rady Children’s Hospital in 2012, I started tackling the many requirements needed to become a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS). As a CCLS, my job is to help children and teens develop effective coping skills in order to navigate medical challenges and difficult life events; some examples include coping with a serious injury, a chronic illness, or processing the death of a loved one. Many years later, I’m still very passionate about my work and have transitioned from working in the hospital to the community setting. In July 2022, I launched my own Child Life private practice, known as EmpoweringKidz LLC.

From having worked in the pediatric hospital setting for several years, I have learned that families greatly benefit from having emotional support throughout their medical journey. Questions and concerns often arise after a family leaves the hospital setting and without early intervention and support, these families end up struggling. Some parents put off tough conversations around treatment with their sick children, children develop misconceptions about how they became sick, and other issues follow suit. These trying circumstances ultimately inspired me to start EmpoweringKidz.

EmpoweringKidz extends Child Life services beyond the hospital walls, making them accessible to any family navigating stressful changes or transitions. This includes situations such as parental divorce, military deployment, new diagnoses, grief, or any major disruption in a child’s life. When I’m involved early, I can prepare children for what’s ahead or help them process what has already happened in developmentally appropriate ways.

What sets my work apart is that I provide in-home, play-based services. By meeting a child in their “safe space” (typically their home) and incorporating therapeutic play, children feel more in control, increasing their comfort level in opening up about difficult topics. I also work closely with parents and caregivers, supporting them in their parenting journey.

Child Life Specialists are also distinct from other mental health providers because of our deep understanding of the pediatric healthcare experience. I know what a typical surgery visit looks like, what procedures accompany certain diagnoses, and how to empower children to advocate for themselves. After a few sessions with me, your child’s anxiety should decrease and their resiliency will shine.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

The ability to be inventive and patient is absolutely essential for success in the Child Life field. Our work is highly individualized, and our interventions shift constantly based on a child’s interests, developmental stage, and learning style. One day, I might be using a fun brain-shaped Jell-O mold to teach a child with Autism about how their brain works; the next day, another child might be completely disgusted by the texture and want nothing to do with it.

Because no two children respond the same way, this work requires you to continuously adapt and be creative in how you teach, connect, and help a child feel comfortable expressing themselves. Patience is equally important, because it may take several sessions—and multiple approaches—before a child begins to open up. Over time, I’ve learned that “progress” and “success” look different for every client. There is no one-size-fits-all intervention, which is why being both inventive and patient is imperative.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I feel very fortunate to have grown up in a loving, supportive household. My parents always encouraged me to pursue whatever I set my mind to and never doubted my ability to succeed. Unfortunately, I can’t say that I had that same experience with everyone I encountered along my professional journey—especially those I hoped might guide or mentor me.

When I first started my business, I reached out to several people in my field for insight. I wanted to make sure I was approaching things the right way and to get feedback on my marketing and networking efforts, because there really isn’t a clear blueprint for starting a Child Life private practice. I wasn’t looking for handouts, just guidance. Instead, I was met with some negativity and assumptions that I wanted something for free. A few colleagues questioned my ability to open a private practice, one or two simply ghosted me, and others asked me to pay hundreds of dollars just to have a conversation.

Fortunately, I didn’t let any of this discourage me in those early days. I kept researching, learning from friends in different professions, and connecting with small business owners in my community who were genuinely willing to grab coffee and talk business. Starting out can feel incredibly isolating and it’s easy to fall into that “imposter syndrome” mindset at times. So, I’m extremely grateful for the business owners who offered insight, validated my experience, and encouraged me to keep going. Their support played a meaningful role in helping me build the resilience I needed to grow EmpoweringKidz.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.empoweringkidz.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/empoweringkidzSD
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/empoweringkidzLLC
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/empoweringkidz-llc/?viewAsMember=true