Child & Family Psychiatry
Childhood onset illness can have a profound impact on not only the child but the family. Therefore, early intervention is crucial. The earlier treatment is made available the better the potential for a good outcome and resolution of symptoms.
At Foundations for Change, we provide child, adolescent, and family psychiatric treatment for ages 2 through adulthood. Our approach is holistic, making sure to acknowledge all factors that may be contributing to the illness. With our advanced training in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the support and expertise of our staff, our office is uniquely equipped in treating all types of childhood psychiatric and mental health disorders. Some of the disorders we treat include ADHD, depression, OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), autism, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, anxiety, sexual and physical trauma, and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), as well as many others. This integrated approach combines an in-depth understanding of the medical-psychiatric relationship with a psycho-social approach to help parents decide the best possible course of treatment for their child.
To Medicate or Not To Medicate
At Foundations for Change our goal is to promote positive quality of life, happiness, great health, and great family relationships. Will medication cause this to happen? After 15 years of practice I have seen what I consider near miracles more times than I can count. Treatment can be challenging. However, with an understanding, thoughtful, listening psychiatric provider to guide you through appropriate medication combined with therapy and family and social supports, your child’s and your family’s life can and should be the very best it can be.
An anti-psychiatry movement has argued for years that children are over-medicated, that psychiatric drugs are dangerous, that diet and exercise can cure mental health problems, and even that mental illness isn’t real. Parents who live with children who have mental health issues know otherwise. Suicide threats, self-harm, and disruptive behavior can throw the lives of children and their family into ceaseless chaos. So for many families, psychiatric medications offer stunning relief from a life that has begun to feel unmanageable. Yet the decision may still be a conflicted one. Parents may worry that opponents of psychiatry are right, or that the side effects of medication will be extensive. The truth is that as long as you are working with a skilled psychiatrist or [psychiatric nurse practitioner], psychiatric medications are safe and effective.
Young, Joel L., M.D. (2017, October 06) When Your Child Needs Psychiatric Medication. Psychology Today
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