A Relational Approach to Pediatric Support

At Rooted & Flowing, meaningful support begins with understanding the whole child, the whole family, and the systems that surround them.
This work focuses not only on what is happening in a child’s world, but also on how it is experienced emotionally, developmentally, and relationally.

About Child Life Specialists

Certified Child Life Specialists are trained professionals who support children and families through medical experiences and life transitions using developmentally appropriate, evidence-based approaches. Their work focuses on reducing anxiety, building coping skills, and helping children understand and process what they are going through—both in and out of healthcare settings.

Through preparation, therapeutic play, and emotional support, Certified Child Life Specialists help create a sense of safety and control for children navigating illness, procedures, or ongoing care.

Learn more through the Association of Child Life Professionals.

Recognized Standard of Care

Child life services are recognized as an essential component of pediatric care by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Their guidance emphasizes the importance of supporting a child’s emotional and developmental needs alongside their medical treatment.

This recognition reinforces the role of Certified Child Life Specialists in improving patient outcomes, strengthening family-centered care, and promoting long-term well-being.

Read the American Academy of Pediatrics article.

FOUNDER

Lyndsey Paulson is a Certified Child Life Specialist with over a decade of experience supporting children and families across a wide range of pediatric healthcare settings.

Her clinical background includes extensive experience supporting infants, toddlers, school-age children and adolescents through complex medical experiences in pediatric intensive care, surgery, and hematology/oncology.

She has led therapeutic programming, supported family-centered care initiatives, and held leadership roles focused on staff development and patient experience.

Her work also extends into innovation, contributing to digital health initiatives designed to improve education and engagement for children navigating medical care.

Rooted & Flowing LLC was created to extend child life support beyond the hospital, providing families with tools, guidance, and connection in everyday life.

Children and families need care that is both clinically sound and deeply human.
Support should not end when a medical visit is over. It should continue into daily life, where children process, adapt, and grow.

Rooted & Flowing bridges the gap between clinical care and lived experience, offering support that is practical, responsive, and grounded in real-world needs.

PHILOSOPHY

Three principles guide this work:

Developmentally Grounded
Understanding how children think, process, and cope at every stage.

Clinically Informed
Grounded in evidence-based practice and professional expertise.

Relationally Centered
Built on trust, connection, and emotional safety.

APPROACH

  • I had the privilege of working with Lyndsey from 2019-2024. We co-chaired the Family Advisory Board at Christus Children’s Hospital in San Antonio. I was the parent leader, and she was the hospital leader for the committee. The Family Advisory Board consisted of families, hospital administration, physicians and staff. Our primary role was to support and advocate for patients and their families. Our work included reviewing policy, procedures, and printed materials to ensure they were patient and family centered. Lyndsey and I also worked together on the Patient and Family Centered Care Committee. Physicians, hospital administration, nurses and staff were alla part of the committee. Our primary function was to collaborate with families to improve communication and processes in the hospital and clinic settings. It was a joy to work with Lyndsey. She has a deep commitment to children and their families. She is hard working and a team builder. Together we were able to improve hospitalization experiences for families in our community.

    -DD Belair, Parent, Family Advisory Board Chair, and PFCC committee member

  • Lyndsey joined Xploro as Director of Child Life & Family Support. During the time she was with us she contributed enormously to the team and to the product. Her many achievements included establishing a North American “Expert Advisory Board” (A diverse group of children who advise us on content development within Xploro), liaising with child life teams at our customer sites, advising our product development team on the suitability of content for children, and developing child-friendly “teach back” quizzes and personalized learning journeys. Lyndsey gave 110% to the role and was an absolute joy to work with. She is dependable, a team player, and a hard worker. I thoroughly recommend her for any role working with children in a healthcare setting.

    -Dom Raban, CEO at Xploro and Chair at Corporation Pop

  • Working alongside Lyndsey as our Child Life Director has been one of the highlights of my career. Her heart for children, passion for creating meaningful programs, and tireless dedication to supporting patients and families is truly something special. She doesn’t just build programs- she builds hope, comfort, and joy in some of the most challenging moments these kids and their families face. Her work is impactful, her leadership is inspiring, and her commitment is unwavering. Grateful to have shared in the incredible work she leads every day.

    -Lindsey Taulbert, Administrative Director of Peri-Op Services

  • Working with Lyndsey early in my career was truly transformative. As a new Child Life Specialist, her mentorship created a supportive environment where I was challenged to grow clinically, find my voice as an advocate for patients and families, and communicate confidently within interdisciplinary teams. Her leadership was especially evident during the global pandemic, when she tirelessly advocated for the value of Child Life while supporting and protecting her team during an incredibly difficult time in healthcare. Lyndsey has a rare ability to empower those around her to trust their skills, think creatively, and pursue meaningful improvements in patient care. Lyndsey’s mentorship continues to influence my work today, and I am deeply grateful for the lasting impact she has had on my professional journey.

    -Ali Burns, CCLS

  • Where do I start? Our daughter Skyla and our whole family loved Lyndsey. When Lyndsey walked into the room Skyla would perk right up. Lyndsey had the gift of knowing Skyla and giving her exactly what she needed in the hospital. From throwing her a birthday party and writing her a birthday song to helping her make a mailbox she could put outside her room to receive mail when she was quarantined, Lyndsey demonstrated her unique gift of getting to know children and allowing them to be who they are. We will forever be thankful for Lyndsey and her love for Skyla.

    -Shannon Forcier, Parent and Founder of Skyla Strong

  • Lyndsey brings a rare combination of clinical expertise, heartfelt empathy, and visionary leadership to the child life practice. I was able to see Lyndsey’s leadership skills shine firsthand in response to the devastating Robb Elementary School shooting, where she spearheaded the rapid coordination of a specialized child life team to support victims and the surrounding community. I was able to work alongside her and witness how she seamlessly collaborated with hospital leadership and local stakeholders to assess the critical needs, strategically designing and implementing child life interventions that were both clinically sound and deeply responsive to the community. Her leadership extended beyond logistics. She remained actively engaged in direct support, bringing compassion, expertise, and calm to an incredibly complex environment. This is just one example of Lyndsey’s dedication. I worked with her for several years as both a student and a CCLS and have felt the impact she has made on my career, the families she has served, the hospital, and the child life field.

    -Kaitlyn Schenk, CCLS

  • Lyndsey has been an extraordinary mentor whose impact on my work in the field of Child Life has been both meaningful and lasting. Her intuition and deep understanding of the profession consistently guide her in offering thoughtful, relevant support. She is incredibly reliable, always showing up with sound advice and a steady presence, especially in moments that require clarity and confidence. Lyndsey has the incredible ability to offer discernment that helps navigate complex situations with both professionalism and heart. Because of her guidance, I have grown in my ability to support patients and families with greater intention and skill. Her influence has strengthened not only my clinical practice but also my confidence as a Certified Child Life Specialist.

    -Ashley Farish, CCLS and non-profit program director

  • I have the great privilege of calling Lyndsey one of the most influential mentors in my life. Lyndsey was my preceptor during my Child Life internship. I had the opportunity to learn from her and was taught countless invaluable things about the roles of Certified Child Life Specialists. During my time learning from Lyndsey, I saw how incredibly passionate she is about advocating for patients and families both in the hospital setting and the camp setting. She also planned and implemented the most creative, therapeutic camp programming for both school-age and adolescents. I was more than prepared when I took on my first role as a CCLS and director of a children’s oncology camp. I am thankful for Lyndsey and the way she taught me to serve patients and families.

    -Ericka Turner, CCLS and previous camp director

  • Lyndsey is an incredibly strong Certified Child Life Specialist and leader. She leads with kindness and compassion. She was instrumental in adding several new psychosocial programs to our hospital. She comes up with creative solutions to challenges and advocates fiercely for those she works with and patients and families. Working with Lyndsey made me a better CCLS.

    -Allison Sharawi, CCLS and facility dog handler

  • As our family board’s administrative leader, Lyndsey was a phenomenal asset to me and our other parent members. She is not only a great listener and communicator, but Lyndsey always advocates and pushes to meet the needs of her families, patients, and the overall wellbeing of her team. Lyndsey is incredibly warm and welcoming. You could always find her office door open; she made it a point to always visit and genuinely take interest in her coworkers and peers. She left a large void when she moved across the country and is still missed greatly by those lucky enough to have been guided by her light. She has a beautiful gift of compassion and empathy for others, patience, and understanding, all while building strong, solid relationships.

    -Erika Mulsow, Parent and Family Advisory Board Member

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