Helen Magdalinos, is a Certified Child Life specialist (CCLS) working in a pediatric hospital in Montreal, Quebec, Canada for the past 20 years. Helen continues to support children, teenagers and their families facing a range of diagnosis, conditions, and treatments on a in-patient medical/surgical unit. As a CCLS her goal is to ensure that children and teenagers are properly prepared and supported for medical encounters according to their age and development, identify coping strategies and use therapeutic activities to create safe and trusting relationships. 

She earned a DEC in Early Childhood Education from Vanier College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Studies from Concordia University, she completed her clinical training in child life at the Montreal Children’s Hospital in Montreal and became certified in 2004. She later went on to complete a Graduate Certificate in Family Life & Human Relations from McGill University. 

In addition to helping children, teenagers and families cope with their medical encounters, Helen has extensive experience in clinical supervision. Helen believes that in order to provide the best care to families, Child life professionals, also need to support each other in their continued quest to enhance their skills, support growth and development, and ensure best practices in their settings.