Ashleigh Schopen

Background

About Ashleigh Schopen

Ashleigh Schopen MS, CCLS, FT has been providing psychosocial support to children and families since 2008. She has a Master of Science degree specializing in Child Life studies and has extensive clinical experience at various children’s hospitals in Springfield, Massachusetts, New York City, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The majority of her clinical experience has been at the number 1 children's hospital in the Mid-Atlantic as a clinical expert in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Ashleigh is especially passionate about her work in PICU and has developed an expertise in working with families experiencing trauma and bereavement. As a result of this work, she is now a Fellow in Thanatology (death, dying and bereavement). Having identified a great need of psychosocial support for children outside of the hospital setting, she now provides in-home and virtual support for children and their families as they navigate medical encounters, loss, transition, trauma, and bereavement. She has a lengthy history of supporting families through a great range of experiences and navigates each unique situation with clinical expertise and compassion. ​ Ashleigh is a fierce advocate for families, which can be seen through her patient care, community work, and professional presentations. In 2020, she was selected as a top ten nominee for the Delta (Airlines) Child Life Specialist of the Year award and was featured in an article published in Parents Magazine and Parents Latina providing guidance to parents on the topic of death and supporting bereaved children. She is an active member of her community, enjoys volunteering, and educating others about the field of child life. Most recently, Ashleigh co-presented at the Al Qassimi Women's and Children's Hospital International Pediatric Conference held in Dubai and continues to present whenever possible. She also presented “Getting Comfortable with the Uncomfortable: Supporting Grieving Children” at the Crossroads for Hope Conference on Cancer. Currently, Ashleigh is pursuing her Death Doula Certificate.