Knowing Too Much: The Impact of Vicarious Trauma on Parenthood for Child Life Professionals - LIGHTNING PASS 2025

Jessica Hotchkiss, PhD, LPC/LPCC, CCLS, NCC, GC-C, is a Certified Child Life Specialist and Child Life Supervisor at Phoenix Children’s Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. Jessica is also a licensed counselor and a certified grief counselor in private practice, and teaches courses in both counseling and child life. Her specialty areas include chronic/terminal illness, perinatal mental health, grief and loss, and counselor preparedness when working with individuals who are bereaved or at end-of-life.

Brittany Wittenberg Camp, PhD, CCLS, CFLE is a Program Development Coordinator for the Child Life and Therapeutic Arts Program at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. In this role, Brittany is developing, implementing, and evaluating the adaptive care program throughout the Phoenix Children’s network, and providing clinical leadership to the outpatient child life team. Brittany completed her PhD, MA, and BS in Human Development and Family Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin. Brittany practiced as a child life specialist at Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas and worked in academia as an assistant professor at Missouri State University and Louisiana State University, where she helped develop and grow the child life programs at both universities. Brittany’s research interests include academic and research preparation of child life students; healthcare professionals' perception of the CCLS role; and the impact of child life services on children, their families, and healthcare providers. Brittany has published in the The Journal of Child Life: Psychosocial Theory and Practice, Journal of Interprofessional Care, Pediatric Dental Journal, Family Relations, Child Abuse and Neglect, and Journal of Child and Family Studies. In 2015, Brittany completed the inaugural ACLP Leadership Academy and has since served on various ACLP committees, including Scientific Advancement of Professional Practice, Awards, and Research and Scholarship.

Analise (AJ) Lotz is the Bereavement Program Coordinator for Children’s Hospital Colorado. She holds two bachelor’s degrees in psychology and religious studies from the University of New Mexico and is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a master’s degree in counseling and psychological services from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. AJ is a Certified Child Life Specialist with experience working at children’s hospitals in Minnesota, Utah, Arizona, and Colorado as well as for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Her work as a child life specialist inspired her to write the book Someone I Know Needs a Transplant to teach children about solid organ transplants. In addition, AJ is a professor of child life and hopes to inspire the next generation of child life specialists. Outside of work, AJ is an avid lover of the outdoors, baker, reader, and active toddler mom.