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Gigi is a preemie and special needs mom, an ICF Credentialed Professional Life Coach and Founder of Families Blossoming LLC, a unique business specializing in providing coaching-based transformative emotional support and other related services to preemie and special needs parents and relevant organizations, hospitals and agencies who serve these families. She also works with companies to increase their awareness of the emotional health challenges their employees with difficult caregiver challenges may face and help them make lasting work/life balance improvements. Gigi received her BSc (honors) in Occupational Therapy (USA), specializing in neurological conditions and holding both clinical and management roles domestically and internationally. She obtained her MSc in Health, Population and Society from The London School of Economics and Political Science (UK) and her Diploma in Personal Performance Coaching (Distinction) from The Coaching Academy (UK). She holds an ACC credential from The International Coach Federation (ICF) and is an active member of the Preemie Parent Association (PPA), National Alliance for Patient Access (formally known as the National Premature Infant Health Coalition (NPIHC), International Coach Federation (ICF) and the Metro D.C. Chapter of ICF (ICF- Metro D.C). Gigi regularly presents at conferences, seminars and workshops and is currently in the process of writing a coaching-based guidebook for the preemie/special needs community.
Financial Disclosure: Gigi R. Khonyongwa-Fernandez receives honoraria from CIAO for the presentation of her live courses and royalties for the sale of her online courses.
Non-Financial Disclosure: There are no non-financial relationships to disclose.
Combining careers in the technology and publishing fields, Ms. Discenza continues her journey to support others through PreemieWorld (www.PreemieWorld.com). Ms. Discenza, known as the Founder and former Publisher of the successful monthly Preemie Magazine, understands the need of today’s preemie parents to be able to grasp medical information in layman’s terms and to be able to create a “new normal” in the midst of the NICU chaos. She also realizes the incredible challenge for new Preemie Parents to connect with the parenting world at large, as having a preemie is vastly different than a full-term baby. This information is combined with her co-authorship of The Preemie Parent’s Survival Guide to the NICU with little man Director/Producer Nicole Conn.
Financial Disclosure: Deb Discenza receives honoraria from CIAO for the presentation of her live courses and royalties for the sale of her online courses.
Non-Financial Disclosure: Deb Discenza is a parent of children born prematurely with special needs. Deb Discenza is the co-author of the book The Preemie Parent's Survival Guide to the NICU.
This course is offered for 0.2 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate level, Professional area).
The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.
CIAO is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). CIAO complies with the ANSI/IACET Standard, which is recognized internationally as a standard of excellence in instructional practices. As a result of this accreditation, CIAO is accredited to issue the IACET CEU.
CIAO Automatically reports to CE Broker for Florida Occupational and Physical Therapists and Assistants. Florida SLPs can either use the ASHA CE Participant Form (Bubble Sheet) or self-submit through CE Broker.
"Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise."
- Hereford, TX / Nov 2022
"I really enjoyed the Duality of the presenters! I was unable to download material."
- Gautier, MS / Mar 2022
"Great!"
- deer park, NY / Mar 2020
"I enjoyed hearing the parent perspective."
- St.. Louis, MO / Mar 2020
"it was hard to hear I like having parents give their perspectives"
- Waddell, AZ / May 2019
"This is a great introductory course for parents of NICU children, not necessarily therapists. "
- Grafton, WI / Jan 2019
"I really liked this course and is one reason I bought the membership to ciao. I am mother of a (late term) preemie myself, and my perspective really helped change my practice with families."
- Philadelphia, PA / Dec 2018
"Great video!"
- San Antonio, TX / May 2018
"Deb and Gigi did a wonderful job presenting this Journey to really allow us to go though it with them. They presented with such passion and honesty giving a great perspective for myself as a Pediatric Speech Pathologist."
- Petoskey, MI / Jan 2018
"I really enjoyed the course. I really got to hear parents perspective of how they feel and what they go through from beginning before their child is born to how they feel after their premature baby is born. It was nice to see and hear how they felt throughout the entire process and what they still go through. Thank you!"
- McAllen, TX / Jan 2018
"I learned a lot from this course. It was very helpful and interesting. It has given me the confidence and insight to discuss with the parents what they can do to help their child during each phase of care for their child. The course has helped me to understand the important of being a part of the team and show genuine concern for the child holistic well being. By working with the parents and giving them the tools and strategies to work with their child relieves stress and help the parents to fulfill their natural need to help their child. This is important and empowering for the parents. Fathers should be included in therapy sessions and allowed to participate and ask questions as well as the mothers. It's important to discuss the goal for each sessions and not overload the parents with homework but one simple task. My duty as a therapist is very important and I want to do my best to empower the family to help the child succeed. This course has enabled me to do so."
- Jackson, MS / Dec 2017
"It was very interesting to hear from a parent's perspective rather than a from a medical professional. "
- Richland, MS / Dec 2017
"Amazing. These mothers are a delight to listen to and learn from. So insightful. As an NICU therapist for over 30 years, I found this to be one of the best educational; pieces about family-centered care that I have viewed."
- Windermere, FL / Aug 2017
"Great perspective. "
- Mesa, AZ / Dec 2014
