We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shani Thornton a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Shani thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We love heartwarming stories – do you have a heartwarming story from your career to share?

I had the privilege of working with a school-age boy whose brain cancer had sadly progressed to a terminal stage. I provided in-home child life sessions—not just for him, but also for his sibling and the entire family. As his condition worsened, I knew how important it was to help them create lasting memories they could hold onto forever.

One moment that stands out was a simple yet powerful family activity. I brought out the game Don’t Break The Ice, but with a twist—each block came with a thought-provoking question. As they played together—just a family of four, laughing and connecting—they answered prompts like, “What are you grateful for?”, “What’s a wish you have?” “Describe your dream house.”

I intentionally recorded that session, knowing it would become a treasured memory in their grief journey. Kids often just want their parents’ attention and time to play, and this moment—something so ordinary for many—became extraordinary. Some of his answers were profoundly beautiful and reflected his awareness of what he was facing:
“I’m grateful for my family.”
“I wish cancer didn’t exist.”
And with a spark of childhood joy, “My dream house would include a Pokémon room.”

While navigating their own heartbreak, his parents were also trying to stay strong for their other child—who was watching their brother slowly slip away. Balancing anticipatory grief while supporting both children took an incredible amount of strength, love, and presence.

Less than a week later, he became bedridden. In those final days, the family wanted to create a keepsake—something tangible to hold onto. They asked if we could make a plaster mold of all their hands holding each other.

We made it happen.

They laid side by side, hands intertwined, as I carefully poured the impression mold over them. The room filled with laughter, gentle teasing, and smiles—despite the heartbreaking reality surrounding them. It wasn’t just about the plaster; it was about capturing love, connection, and togetherness in a moment where so much felt out of their control.

It was an absolute honor to be part of that experience—offering them space to feel validated, supported, and to create meaningful memories even in the midst of unimaginable loss. This remains a core memory in my career, one I carry with me always. I continue to honor that sweet boy and hold his legacy close to my heart.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) with over 20 years of experience, and the heart behind Child Life Mommy, my private practice dedicated to supporting children and families coping with illness, trauma, loss, and life’s difficult transitions. My journey into this field was personal long before it became professional—I grew up with a parent who had a rare chronic illness. From a young age, I witnessed firsthand how illness impacts the entire family, not just the person diagnosed. That experience shaped me and sparked a deep passion for helping others navigate similar challenges.

As a CCLS in private practice, I provide therapeutic support through in-home and virtual child life sessions, meeting families where they feel safest and most comfortable. I specialize in turning overwhelming medical experiences, grief, and trauma into opportunities for understanding, coping, and healing—whether that’s through play-based interventions, medical education, emotional expression, or legacy-building activities.

In addition to direct services, I offer workshops for parents and professionals, helping them gain tools to support children through tough situations. I also provide consulting and clinical supervision for child life specialists looking to grow in their careers or transition into community-based work.

What sets me apart is my commitment to bringing child life services outside the hospital walls. Many families don’t realize that support like this exists beyond medical settings—and I’m passionate about making sure they know they don’t have to face these challenges alone. I partner with nonprofits, advocate for community-based child life services, and tailor my approach to each family’s unique needs—because no two journeys are the same.

I’m most proud of the impact I’ve been able to make by creating a space where families feel seen, supported, and empowered during some of the hardest moments in their lives. Whether it’s helping a child understand a parent’s diagnosis, guiding siblings through anticipatory grief, or offering parents tools to support their kids emotionally—I’m honored to walk alongside them.

For anyone learning about me or Child Life Mommy for the first time, I want you to know that my work is rooted in empathy, education, and advocacy. My goal is simple: to help children and families find light, resilience, and connection even in the darkest of times.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

One of the biggest tests of resilience in my journey came when I decided to relaunch my private practice in Northern California, a year after relocating from New York. I had been pouring my energy into networking—meeting with local organizations, nonprofits, and community leaders to educate them about the role of child life services beyond hospital walls. My goal was to build meaningful partnerships and establish a referral network, especially to support children coping with illness, trauma, and loss.

Just as momentum was picking up—I had secured a partnership with a nonprofit and was in the process of finalizing grant funding to support kids whose mothers were battling breast cancer—the pandemic hit. Practically overnight, the world shut down. Funding disappeared, organizations paused services, and families were left isolated and in crisis. Like so many others, I was faced with a choice: pause my practice or pivot.

I chose to pivot—hard.

I quickly transitioned my services to a virtual format, offering online workshops to preschools, churches, community groups, and organizations in need of resources to support families impacted by COVID-19. Parents were suddenly navigating grief, fear, job loss, illness, and the impossible task of explaining a global pandemic to their children—all without a roadmap. I stepped in to provide parent coaching, therapeutic activities, developmentally appropriate education on COVID, and coping strategies to help families manage the emotional toll.

While it wasn’t the path I originally envisioned, those virtual workshops became a lifeline—not just for the families I served, but for my practice as well. As the world slowly began to reopen, the connections I had built during that time helped spread awareness of my work. Referrals grew, collaborations deepened, and I began to establish a strong presence in the community.

Looking back, I’m proud of how I navigated that uncertainty. The experience reinforced my belief in the importance of flexibility, creativity, and staying grounded in my mission—supporting families through life’s most difficult moments, no matter the circumstances. It was a defining chapter that continues to shape how I meet challenges, both personally and professionally.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Trust has been the cornerstone of building my reputation within the community. When I relaunched my private practice, I knew that offering a unique service like child life support outside of the hospital setting would require more than just explaining what I do—it would require people believing in the impact of that work.

I focused on building genuine relationships—meeting with local organizations, nonprofits, healthcare providers, schools, and community leaders. I took the time to educate them about the role of a Certified Child Life Specialist and how my services could fill critical gaps for families coping with illness, trauma, and loss. It wasn’t just about pitching a service; it was about listening, collaborating, and showing up consistently.

As those relationships grew, so did a referral network rooted in trust. Once I began providing services, families experienced firsthand the value of having child life support in their homes or virtually—and that’s when word of mouth spread like wildfire. There’s no stronger endorsement than a family or professional sharing how they felt seen, supported, and empowered during a difficult time.

I believe what truly set me apart was staying authentic, being reliable, and always centering the needs of the families I serve. Trust isn’t built overnight—but by showing up with compassion, professionalism, and a collaborative spirit, I was able to create a reputation that continues to open doors and foster connections in the community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://childlifemommy.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/childlifemommy/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/childlifemommy
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shani-thornton/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@childlifemommy?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc