Comfort Ability Program at Yale

Where was it Developed?

The Comfort Ability Program was developed at Boston Children’s Hospital by Dr. Rachael Coakley in 2011 and is an international program with workshops delivered in the US, Canada, and Australia.

What’s the Goal?

Kids and parents are in separate groups for the workshop.

Kid/Teen group: The workshop for kids and teens provides a safe and comfortable space to connect with others who can really understand what it’s like to have ongoing pain. Together, they learn about pain science, learn about psychology tools to control the pain, and use mind-body skills to boost comfort. Kids also explore how to manage pain-related stress like isolation from friends, school problems, lack of sleep, missing out on activities, and how to cope with feeling anxious or sad. At the end of the workshop, kids develop their own Comfort Ability plan to guide their coping and long-term recovery.

Parent/Caregiver group: The parent/caregiver workshop focuses on parenting skills that help to boost a child’s sense of comfort and well-being. Parents learn about pain science and about cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), as well. Parents explore new ways to respond to their child’s pain, focus on how to improve day-to-day activities at home and school, and create a specific plan that will help to boost comfort for their child. Parents also have time to connect with other parents in supportive ways.

Kids and teens ages 10 to 17 with chronic pain, such as persistent headache or migraine, abdominal pain, nerve pain, joint pain, disease related pain, post-surgical pain, or any other kind of persistent pain. Family must commit to both the youth and parent sessions. You do not have to be a current patient at Yale Child Study Center or Yale New Haven Health System. Families will receive Comfort Ability Program booklets, as well as a Comfort Kit filled with items to continue practicing new skills learned during the workshop at home.

Workshops occur bimonthly in person at the Yale Child Study Center, 350 George Street in New Haven, Connecticut. Full-day attendance (on the same day) is required for both parents and youth for program completion. Parent and youth sessions will occur at the same time in the same building, in different rooms. Sessions are full-day, from 10:00AM to 5:00PM.

There is a one-time $300 out-of-pocket cost for the Comfort Ability Workshop, which covers the full single full-day program. There are limited scholarship slots available pending eligibility.

Visit the main Comfort Ability Program website for additional resources, such as guided mindfulness and relaxation skills, Online Health Chats, Newsletter, and much more!