Emotional Learning for Adults with Heart Defects
Ages 18 - 24 Years
Many professionals in the community are available to help young adults with heart defects with their emotional functioning. Young adults do not need to try to solve their challenges alone. Here are some ways many young adults find emotional supports:
In this section
Help through Special Education
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In the United States, young adult students with disabilities (ages 18-21) sometimes qualify for Special Education. Special Education services can teach and support emotional skills.
Special Education services that can support emotional development include:
Occupational Therapy (OT)
Speech and Language Therapy
Behavior support with a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA)
Counseling with a psychologist or social worker
The help of an aide
Social skills groups
Home services
Placement in a therapeutic classroom or school
Families or self-advocates can request a meeting with their school district if they believe a young person with an IEP should receive services for emotional skills.
Psychotherapy
Many therapists are experts in helping young adults to recognize, respond to, and regulate emotions. Therapists can be psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, or mental health counselors.
There are many different types of therapy, and young people and their families should find a therapist who is a good fit with their values and goals.
Types of therapy that can help teenagers include:
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Exposure Therapy
Family Therapy
Group Therapy
Parent Guidance (for young adults with intellectual disabilities)
Psychodynamic Therapy
Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Dialectical-Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Families can ask their medical or developmental care team to refer them to an appropriate therapist and type of therapy. Many therapists accept medical insurance.
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Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapists (OTs) have many different areas of specialty, but all are focused on helping people to participate fully in all aspects of their lives.
OTs can support emotional learning and emotional regulation by:
teaching people to recognize what they are feeling
teaching people to identify the cause of their feelings
teaching people how to calm themselves
teaching people how to cope with distress and work through challenging emotions
finding ways to reduce negative emotions in daily life
Young people can access OT through their public school system, or through outpatient clinics. Many outpatient OTs accept insurance.
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Lifelong Wellness
When emotional problems remain untreated, they tend to get worse. When a young person is struggling with emotional wellbeing, they should always consult a doctor and get help.
This content was reviewed by a psychologist at Boston Children's Hospital.
Developmental care is best when it is local. Families local to Boston can receive care from the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Program (CNP) and/or the Boston Adult Congenital Heart (BACH) program. Families from other regions can use the link below to find their local care team.
If your child is at immediate risk for self-harm or is a danger to others, immediately call 911 or the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
If your child requires an urgent mental health assessment, call or text the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line at 833-773-BHHL (833-773-2445) or visit masshelpline.com for initial guidance. Experienced mental health clinicians are available at this line 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to provide clinical guidance, and direct you to appropriate resources. This may include your local Mobile Crisis Intervention (MCI) team, who could come to your home to perform a psychiatric assessment, if appropriate. This may enable you to avoid waiting in an emergency department. The Behavioral Health Help Line clinicians can also determine the most appropriate type of care for your child, help with referrals, and guide you through the next steps in the process. This service is available for all ages regardless of insurance coverage.
If you are looking for non-urgent mental health or substance use resource referrals for your child, you can also call or text 833-773-BHHL (833-773-2445) or start a chat at masshelpline.com/chat.
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