CHILD PSYCHIATRIST
What Is Adolescent Psychiatry?
Adolescent or Child Psychiatrists specialize in the diagnosis and the treatment of disorders of thinking, feeling and/or behavior, which affect youth and their families. Psychiatry offers the advantages of a medical education, the medical traditions of professional ethics, and medical responsibility for providing comprehensive care. When working with children it is imperative to meet them on their level and we strive to exhibit kindness, compassion, and love in our work. Many of the problems we deal with as adults are formed in us as children. Children are fragile, and as such, we treat every child as if they were our own.
We currently work with children who speak English, Spanish, and Gujarati.
ADD ADHD
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common psychiatry mental disorders affecting children. Many children show signs of inattention, hyperactivity, and or impulsivity. The two are often broken out into individual disorders ADD or ADHD - it is completely possible to have one without the other. Common signs are:
- Constant Motion
- Squirming
- Fidgeting
- Do Not Listen
- Trouble Playing Quietly
- Talk Excessively (sometimes babbling on)
- Interrupt or Intrude on Others
- Easily Distracted
- Have Difficulty Finishing Tasks
Three Main Types of ADHD in Children
- Hyperactive/Impulsive - Your child may be able to pay attention, however they exhibit hyperactivity and/or impulsive behavior.
- Inattentive - This may be referred to as ADD. Children may seem lethargic, withdrawn, generally... not be overly active, they are not a disruption in school or during activities.
- Combination - Children with a combination show symptoms of both categories. This is considered the most common form of ADHD.
ADD ADHD may often lead to other mental illnesses as adults. The job of a psychiatrist to not only deal with the symptoms early, but work to heal the mind and always be compassionate.
Treatment of ADHD may include:
- Social skills training
- Psychological intervention
- Helping parents have conversations with their children
- Medication monitoring
- Drug treatment when there is abuse
Our goal is to not only work with the child, but help the parent to learn more about ADD ADHD and assist them in the healing process.
Chemical Dependency
Nearly 20% of children between the ages of 12 and 18 have used used illicit drugs and nearly 7% misused prescription medications. Those numbers don’t include the 6% who had an alcohol dependency. Abusing drugs and alcohol is deadly. We are extremely passionate about helping a child achieve their full potential, because we know from watching thousands of patients grow up... the cycle can be broken. Helping a child "turn around" is one of the greatest rewards in psychiatry.
Psychotherapy & Counseling
When dealing with depression, anxiety, and anger, and even PTSD (yes, children suffer from PTSD), psychotherapy and counseling are great tools to heal the mind. Our promise to you, as a parent, is to always keep you informed and a part of the process.
CHILD PSYCHIATRY QUESTIONS
Questions you may have about Pediatric Psychiatry
Q: What should we expect at our first visit?
A: At the initial visit, you and your child will meet with a child psychiatrist or a physician trained in mental health for children. If your child is experiencing a particularly complex problem, we will review the situation in a team setting. We are a teaching clinic, which means the physicians constantly receive feedback and share ideas with each other.
Q: Are you currently accepting new patients?
A: Yes, we would love to meet with you. Extra time may be required for an appointment with a child, so we ask that you are prompt and plan on spending an extra amount of time on your first visit - if your child is more comfortable with a toy or stuffed animal, please feel free to bring it.
Q: What kind of diagnosis does a child and adolescent psychiatrist treat?
A: An Adolescent or Child Psychiatrist treats multiple behavioral, emotional and developmental diagnoses (many are listed at the bottom of this page). The most common mental health disorders we see are: Attention deficit disorders (ADD, ADHD), Anxiety disorders (Separation Anxiety Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, School Phobia, Panic Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), Autism Spectrum Disorders (Aspergers Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder NOS), Tourrettes Disorder, Mood disorders (Major Depressive Disorder, Dysthimia, Bipolar Disorders, Cyclothimia, Mood Disorder NOS), Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective disorders.
Q: Who should see a child and adolescent psychiatrist?
A: Children should live a happy and carefree life, so for any child who may be experiencing difficulty with functioning in their day to day environment should consider a psychiatrist. The first response of a psychiatrist should not be to prescribe a medication, but to fully understand the exact nature of the problem and use multiple tools in treatment.
Your child maybe facing:
Poor school performance, severe anxiety, aggressive behavior, frequent physical complaints, hyperactivity, frequent temper tantrums, inability to cope with problems, depressed mood, self harming behaviors, thoughts of hurting yourself, mood swings, or strange thoughts, beliefs or behaviors.
Q: Where are you located?
A: We have an expert Child Psychiatrist near you in Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Anaheim, Mission Viejo, and Orange CA. We also offer Telemed Psychiatry.