connect with someone who gets it.
psychotherapy for parents of children with food allergies
Hi, I’m Ricki romm.
When you discovered your child’s food allergies, your child’s doctor probably explained the new practical demands of your job. They probably did not explain the complicated emotions you would experience. The fear accompanying an endless list of what ifs. The grief over missing out. The guilt, wondering if you’re doing enough or if you’re the cause. The discomfort asking for special accommodations. The endless vigilance.
In addition to being a psychotherapist, I am also a mom to kids with severe food allergies. I am here to help you make space for all of the conflicting things you’re feeling and to build confidence in your ability to navigate sometimes rocky terrain.
My Approach
You may be used to putting on a brave face for your kids, but in therapy you don’t have to. Our work together might involve better understanding where your feelings come from and how your past experiences shape your ideas about parenting a child with food allergies now. We can get practical and brainstorm solutions to some of the challenges that arise in your daily life, while also exploring the impact on you and your family.
Second-guessing your decisions about keeping your child safe
Feeling guilty when there are no perfect solutions
Wondering when to advocate and when to accommodate
Wishing more people understood the added complexity you navigate each day
Struggling with what ifs that steal your peace of mind
Conflict between parents
Some of the themes I see frequently include:
Mourning missed experiences
Hurt when friends and family don’t respond as you wish
Processing and recovering emotionally from a reaction or emergency
I don’t give medical advice and I don’t have a cure for allergies. But therapy can help you feel more comfortable dealing with uncomfortable circumstances. When you have a chance to share, understand, and accept your feelings about your child’s allergies, it becomes easier to make decisions that work for your whole family. You can be both careful and confident.
BACKGROUND
Licensure
New York Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Education
Couples Therapy Training and Education Program, William Alanson White Institute
Master of Social Work, Wurzweiler School of Social Work
Bachelor of Arts, English Literature and Creative Writing, Brandeis University
Additional Training
Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotion (SPACE) [Yale Child Study Center]
Skill Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR) [JBFCS]
Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) [Albert Ellis Institute]
Associations
Womens Mental Health Consortium