Creative Healing for Youth in Pain
CHYP is a one-of-a-kind 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides educational resources, peer connections, and exposure to creative healing experiences using a biopsychosocial model and a fully online platform to bridge the gap between common healthcare barriers such as cost, geographic location, and long wait times for doctor appointments.
CHYP is a one-of-a-kind 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides educational resources, peer connections, and exposure to creative healing experiences using a fully online platform to bridge the gap between common healthcare barriers such as cost, geographic location, and long wait times for doctor appointments.
CHYP was founded in 2005 by Lonnie Zeltzer, M.D., an internationally recognized pain clinician, immediate past director of the UCLA Pediatric Pain and Palliative Care Program, and an Emerita Distinguished Research Professor of Pediatrics, Anesthesiology, Psychiatry, and Biobehavioral Sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. After many years in practice, Dr. Zeltzer’s research and experience led her to develop innovative programs that complement clinical interventions, providing relief and hope for the thousands of youth affected by chronic pain.
Utilizing the Biopsychosocial model, backed by science and based on research, CHYP’s methods help to create a mind-body connection that harnesses the power of neuroplasticity without interfering with traditional medical interventions.
Programs & Activities
Youth Programs
• Youth CHYPchats: A monthly online community for youth managing chronic pain
• Creative Healing Workshops: On-demand workshops aim to rewire the nervous system’s pain routes, redirecting the brain’s circuits away from persistent pain loops toward pathways of creativity and healing. Available via YouTube
• Youth Summer Camp: a two-week summer camp designed specifically for youth living with chronic pain, and offers a safe and supportive environment where creativity knows no boundaries.
• Navigating Pain: on-demand, module-based, email-based program that emphasizes the power of education to support youth living with chronic pain. Six modules have been crafted to provide a knowledge base and offer a holistic approach to managing and understanding chronic pain.
Parent/Caregiver Programs
• Parent CHYPchat: monthly support for caregivers of youth with chronic pain
• Educational Webinars: free monthly webinars via Zoom with esteemed medical professionals to provide parents and caregivers with the knowledge they desire to support their youth living with chronic pain.
• Creating Bonds: an 8-week support group for parents of youth with chronic pain