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Exploring Food Allergy Dads' Experiences: Survey Results

5/4/2020

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As a family therapy-trained licensed therapist, I often find myself wondering about the systems in which we live. The family system, the community system, and beyond. Furthermore, I find it valuable to gain an understanding of how each system works, and how each member feels and navigates their role - especially within the family system. 

Last year, I shared survey results exploring how non-allergic siblings felt. Recently, I became more curious about how dads perceived their experiences as food allergy parents. So, rather than trying to assume, I decided to go straight to the source: the dads! Below are the results from this anonymous survey.*

In addition to reading through these responses, be sure to check out episode 2 of the Exploring Food Allergy Families podcast, where themes from this survey are discussed. Additionally, you won't want to miss the 2-part episode where I chat openly and honestly with an experienced food allergy dad who took this survey (episodes 6 & 7). (Exploring Food Allergy Families podcast is available via all podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio)

*2021 Update: Check out EFAF podcast episode 15 (Comparing Moms' & Dads' Experiences - Allergy Parenting Survey Review), which explores the survey results from moms who took this same survey and compares/contrasts the data from the dad survey. 

Question #1:

​Do you feel food allergy dads speak up enough about
​their experiences parenting a child with food allergies?
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​Question #2: 

As a dad, what's one of the hardest things about managing your child's food allergy?


Question #3: 

Is there an aspect of food allergy management that you feel
YOU manage better ​or more confidently than your partner/spouse does?


Question #4: 

Is there an aspect of food allergy management that you feel
​YOUR PARTNER/SPOUSE manages better or more confidently than you do?


Question #5: 

What is one food allergy management guideline or decision that you
​and your spouse/partner don’t always agree on?
(i.e. comfort level about eating at restaurants or eating may contains)


Question #6: 

What would be one tip/piece of advice you’d share with dads of a ​newly diagnosed child?


Question #7: 

Please share anything else you think would be helpful to know about being a dad to a  food allergic child. (Thank you for your time!)

COMMUNITY QUESTIONS: 
If you’re a dad reading this or listening to episode two of the podcast, did you feel these results aligned with your own experiences?

Or did these themes seem to fit with your partner’s experiences? 



Check out these additional resources: 
  • The Food Allergy Counselor Directory
  • Food Allergy Mental Health Resource page
  • The Exploring Food Allergy Families podcast
  • Food Allergy Anxiety & Therapeutic Worksheets
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New Podcast: Exploring Food Allergy Families

4/25/2020

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I'm very excited about this announcement. Not only does it relate to topics I am passionate about, but it's also a resource that I think will be enjoyable to listen to and learn from. 
Introducing.....
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So why did I create this podcast? 

Well, you'll have to listen to the brief preview episode to hear that answer!

But I'll share why I think you'll enjoy this new podcast....

Exploring Food Allergy Families
 is a podcast with real talk, relatable conversations, and practical tips focused on navigating the impacts that food allergies have on families, mental health, and emotional well-being. 
Building resilience and an empowered mindset are key pillars of this podcast. 

With episode lengths of 30 minutes or less, they're perfect to listen to while going for a run, walking the dog, or enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning (or wine at night)! 

This podcast aims to share and explore: 
  • "Bite size" chunks of knowledge on various topics, with tips you can use
  • Interviews with allergy-informed allied and mental healthcare providers 
  • Guidance on a variety of food allergy, relationship, and life stresses
  • New thought processes that help you co-exist with or flip inner worry voices 
  • Strategies to assess and address increased anxiety, emotions, and stress 
  • Perspectives on how food allergies impact family systems and relationships
  • Building an empowered mindset to help gain confidence and build resilience
  • Honest conversations with families at various stages of their allergy journey
  • Reassurance that you're not alone in your thoughts and feelings
  • Parenting guidance to help determine if you're on track with food allergy parenting goals in different stages of development
  • Fun chats, because sometimes we just need to lighten the mood and laugh
  • And SO much more, because this is just the beginning!

Also, for episodes focused on skill-building and strategies, there will be additional follow up resources available on this website for those topics, should you want to apply and practice the concepts discussed. 
So there you have it! Check out the first episode - a short preview and introduction, which explains why I decided this podcast was so important.

Then be sure to subscribe to Exploring Food Allergy Families (wherever you listen to podcasts) so you don't miss future episodes!

Trust me, you won't want to miss any episodes, especially the next one, Exploring Food Allergy Dads' Experiences, where I will share insights from the recent survey, relevant guidance/tips, and chat with one of these amazing food allergy dads!
​
​So, let's explore food allergy families together!
 
​

Podcast Episode site: https://exploringfoodallergyfamilies.buzzsprout.com/
Podcast Info: www.FoodAllergyFamilies.com (or Podcast section on this website )

- Your feedback is a gift that I truly value, so please feel free to share thoughts, topic ideas,
​or feedback on whether topics explored on the podcast have been helpful. - 

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Accessibility to Food Allergy-Knowledgeable Behavioral Health Professionals (Survey Results)

2/17/2019

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The food allergy community continues to express a need to focus more on the mental/behavioral health needs of individuals and families managing food allergies. Some may find this path relatively easy to navigate, while others share that they wished they had more support, including access to food allergy-knowledgeable clinical behavioral health professionals. 

To gain a better understanding of these needs, Tamara Hubbard, LCPC recently created a short survey to obtain basic data on the desire for food allergy behavioral health services and gaining access to them. 

Below are the results from a two-question survey titled "Access to Food Allergy-Knowledgeable Behavioral Health Professionals Connected w/Allergy Practices".

​
(This survey was circulated on social media and throughout food allergy support groups. At the time this was published, there were 116 participants who had taken the survey).



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Question #1: 
Yes = 70.7%;  Maybe = 22.4%;  No = 6.9%


Question #2: 
Yes = 73.1%;  Maybe = 19.1%;  No = 7.8%

​In addition to answering the two questions, participants were able to leave comments on this topic. Below are many of the responses:
  • Anxiety is such a huge deal when a food allergy diagnosis is first made; having group and individual sessions available would be helpful for quality of life.

  • If we had been referred to someone at initial diagnosis it would have really helped transition into food allergy life and day to day management difficulties.

  • I think it also important knowing that a counselor has experience with food allergies. We saw some regular counselors who I didn’t feel even began to understand the depths of what food allergies do to your life until she saw us for almost a year.

  • Managing multiple severe food allergies and EOE takes a large emotional toll. I believe every allergist’s office should have behavioral Health specialists knowledgeable about FA and chronic medical conditions available for the patient (children) and for their caregivers.

  • Many food allergy parents like myself deal with crushing stress and anxiety and could benefit greatly from the right services. Most allergists diagnose and then families are left to deal with the aftermath basically alone.

  • It would be so beneficial for all allergy practices to have a counselor available who truly knows allergies and is in line with their way of thinking.

  • As of now, we are living day to day with his extreme anxiety. Therefore, I believe this resource is essential for those especially with multiple anaphylactic food allergies, such as my family.

  • Currently families are helped with the medical side but not the social side and kids suffer if their parents can't figure it out on their own. It's a very lonely and stressful place for the parents as well!

  • The psycho/social impact of life with food allergies has been overlooked far too long.

  • We found the registered dietician consultant affiliated with our allergist to be so helpful and it would be amazing to have a counseling/behavioral health professional linked with our allergist office as well.

  • As kids age and those diagnosed at different stages in life, it would be essential to have these services to help navigate the “new normal” for the patient.

  • I think counselling should be offered from first diagnosis and continually offers at each check up.

  • Having a LCSW connected with allergy professionals would have helped our family immensely. I spend so much time in my own counseling sessions discussing my anxieties geared towards food allergies and explaining what food allergies really mean.

  • I also see opportunity for collaboration with permission between the dr and counselor to help parents make proper choices based on the degree of allergies they are dealing with.

  • Someone who can teach proper coping mechanisms and also be knowledgeable on family dynamics with allergy stressors would be super helpful​.

The results of this survey show that more than 70% of the respondents would like access to food allergy-knowledgeable clinical behavioral health professionals. Many also are in favor of the counseling professional and their allergist collaborating in some manner to offer services that positively impact body AND mind.  

Based on these results, it suggests that allergists have an opportunity to differentiate themselves from their peers by offering a holistic approach, which addresses the medical and psychosocial/mental health needs of their food allergic patients. 


​What You Can Do:
  • If you feel having access to or the ability for a referral to food allergy-knowledgeable clinical behavioral health/counseling professionals is important, be sure to let your allergist know. Making them aware of elevated levels of emotions that impact your ability to navigate life with food allergies is crucial to ensuring you are receiving the services you need.
    ​
  • If you're an allergy professional looking to connect with food allergy-knowledgeable clinical behavioral health/counseling professionals, please feel free to visit the Food Allergy Counselor Directory, reach out to the Food Allergy Behavioral Health Association, or connect with Tamara Hubbard, LCPC.

​---
What are your thoughts on these results,
​and the general need for food allergy mental health services? ---
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  • Home
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    • Allergy Counseling Info for Patients
    • Allergy Counseling Info for Therapy Providers
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  • Consulting Services
  • About
    • The Food Allergy Counselor, Inc.
    • Founder, Tamara Hubbard, LCPC
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions of Use
  • Contact