A Visit with Clinical Social Worker Kayla Doucette

A day at Connecticut Children’s varies for me. I advocate for families, support them through bereavements, help them cope with emotions, provide crisis intervention, and foster compliance to treatment, along with many other things. In the cystic fibrosis clinic, I am responsible for mental health screenings, providing resources, helping to transition patients to the adult center, screening for food insecurities, and meeting with families to just listen and hear how I can best support them.

I decided to become a social worker because I wanted to have an impact on someone’s life just like my social work and child life team had on me during my journey. They each touched my life in a special way and guided my journey to becoming a social worker. My goal in my work is to just have one positive impact on families like the team had on my family.

I feel the biggest inspiration is the joy and strength the kids show during their journeys, even in times that are difficult. Each and every child and family I have worked with has impacted me in some way. They all provided a sense of light in my life and give me the drive to continue with the work I do. Another thing that inspires me is helping families and being a little bit of light on their darkest days.

I enjoy spending time outside, either at the beach or on my kayak, reading, and binge-watching TV shows. I also enjoy volunteering at a cancer camp, Camp Rising Sun, where I was a camper myself. But most of all, I truly enjoy spending time with family and friends, especially my two nephews who always find a way to make me laugh.