612 - 412 - 4067 laura@laurasufka.care Appointments
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About Laura
About Laura
Laura Sufka, MA, CCLS is a Certified Child Life Specialist and Founder of Children’s Coping Connection, LLC. She received her undergraduate degrees in Human Services and Child Psychology and her Masters degree in Education from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. As a Certified Child Life specialist, Laura works with children, teens, and families that have experienced acute or chronic illness, trauma, disability, loss, bereavement, and other challenging life events. Laura’s extensive experience in the field spans over 22 years including inpatient and outpatient work at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, and M Health’s Masonic Children’s Hospital, Fairiview. Her dedication to the field of Child Life led to co-founding the Minnesota Child Life Coalition, teaching as an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Child Development, authoring for Play In Hospitals: Real Life Perspectives, and speaking internationally.
In Laura’s spare time she can be found baking delicious treats,
exploring the great outdoors and creating memories with her
supportive husband and three adventurous kids.
Services ( In-home, In-office and Telehealth)
Services ( In-home, In-office and Telehealth)
As a Child Development expert, Laura is passionate about play in the lives of children, teens, and their families and sees it as an essential therapeutic part of her work within the community she serves. Her areas of interest are:
Support Advocacy for Children/Teens Experiencing Challenging Life Events
Coping/Processing of Traumatic events
Grief/Loss/Bereavement
1:1 Parent Support and Collaboration
Support for a Child or Teen with an Acute or Chronic Illness
Sibling Support/Sibling Support Groups
Medical/Dental Phobia or Anxiety
Children/Teens of Adults Experiencing Illness
School Re-Entry/Education
What will care look like?
What will care look like?
Laura uses evidence-based developmentally appropriate interventions to address coping and understanding,
while minimizing stress using modalities such as:
Therapeutic Play/Writing
Medical Play/Exploration
Expressive Art/Music
Loose Parts/Nature Play
Bibliotherapy
Movement Opportunities (Basketball/Boxing/Nature Walks)
Why does treatment work with Laura?
Why does treatment work with Laura?
Laura has a natural ability to build rapport with children, teens, and families she is meeting for the first time. She is mindful in creating a safe space for them to gain her trust in order to identify, learn, process, and develop healthy coping strategies before, during or after challenging circumstances. Laura approaches each situation with respect and empathy and celebrates all levels of progress gained towards empowerment and mastery of a future goal.
How to get started!
Set up a FREE phone consultation. This will be a time for us to gather information and assess your needs. The next session will be direct interventions with your child in-office, at your home, or Telehealth. Sessions can be conducted individually with children or with the whole family.
As a self-pay, fee-for-service provider, I am unable to accept medical insurance payments at this time.
*Please note that I am not licensed to provide a mental health diagnosis.
Children's Coping Connection, LLC
Serving the western suburbs of the Twin Cities, Minnesota since 2021
PO Box 516 Waconia, MN 55387
AAP Child Life Policy Statement and ACLP Community based Child Life Statement
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