Healing Hearts and Minds: A Holistic Approach to Coping Well with Congenital Heart Disease

Tracy Livecchi, LCSW · Liza Morton, PhD

loka 2023 · Tantor Media Inc · Lukija: Tracy Livecchi

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Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) is the most commonly diagnosed birth abnormality in the US. With great advances in surgery and medicine, however, survival rates have improved by 75% since the 1940s. With better medical care, babies born today with CHD have a good chance of surviving, but throughout their entire lives they can face surgeries, invasive treatments, lifelong monitoring, frequent medical check-ups, and significant limitations on physical activity, in addition to poor public awareness. Much attention has rightly been focused on providing their parents and caretakers with resources and information. Little attention, however, has been paid to the psychosocial impacts on these individuals, especially as they grow, mature, and become adults living with a serious, chronic medical condition. Prevalence rates for anxiety, depression, and PTSD are significantly higher (2-3x in some cases) for people living with CHD than the general adult population. Liza Morton and Tracy Livecchi are both mental health professionals who have developed a specialty in working with clients who have chronic medical conditions, and they are both themselves living with CHD. While their powerful personal stories are woven into the narrative, the book is focused on providing evidence-based coping and self-care skills for adults living with CHD.

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Tracy Livecchi, LCSW, is a clinical social worker in private practice and is the mental health consultant to the Adult Congenital Heart Association's Peer Mentorship Program. Tracy was born with a complicated CHC which has made it necessary for her to have several surgeries and hospitalizations throughout her life.

Liza Morton, PhD, C.Psychol, is a chartered and registered counseling psychologist practicing in Scotland. She is also a part time lecturer in applied psychology at Glasgow Caledonian University. As a health advocate for over ten years, Liza sits on the management board of The Somerville Heart Foundation in the UK.