Learn what kids are telling us about social media and the benefits and challenges of living in a connected world.After a brief presentation from My Digital TAT2, students representing CHC’s Teen Wellness Committee and My Digital TAT2’s Youth Advisory Board hold a panel discussion about social media and life online. Read more ›
This workshop for educators presented by CHC’s Chris Harris, MEd will help you understand the similarities and differences between ADHD and anxiety so your interventions and strategies will be most effective in mitigating these students’ learning challenges in the classroom. Read more ›
Glen Elliott, PhD, MD, psychiatrist and former Medical Director at CHC, and Chris Harris, MEd, Chief Education Officer, discuss how behaviors associated with ADHD and anxiety may both occur in the same individual but also can mimic each other, leading to confusion about the best diagnosis and the best treatment approach. Read more ›
An IEP, or Individualized Education Plan must be in place for a student to receive special education services.
Chris Harris, the Director of CHC’s Esther B. Clark School, explains what an IEP is, the eligibility requirements for an IEP, and how it differs from a 504 plan. Learn about the types of goals that should be included in an IEP, accommodations, and how parents and guardians can be an advocate for their student. Read more ›
Learn the most effective practices for in-school and at-home management of ADHD. Read more ›
Suicide is the 2nd most common cause of death among 10-24 year olds. In this presentation, Vidya Krishnan, Head of Adolescent Mental Health Services at CHC, discusses the warning signs, risk factors, protective factors, and treatment options. Learn what to look for and how you as a parent can help. Read more ›
CHC’s Vivien Keil, Ph.D., and Ann Smith, Executive Director of Gifted Support Center, define what it means to be twice exceptional — that is, both gifted and challenged by a learning difference.
The presenters also discuss the mental health needs of the twice exceptional child, support strategies and treatment options. Read more ›
¿Cuáles son los desafíos, características y comportamientos típicos de un adolescente?
En esta presentación, Iria Sebastiao de CHC discute la fase adolescente y le ofrece sugerencias prácticas para manejar los retos. Read more ›
Students who are twice exceptional have unique challenges. They often experience anxiety as a result of some of those challenges. Read more ›
Your Psychiatrist Is Your Partner in This ProcessAs a psychiatrist practicing for almost a decade, I would encourage you to view your psychiatrist as your partner in this process. An initial consultation can fulfill many other useful functions besides the possible generation of a prescription. It provides an understanding of what’s going on with your child within a larger context, whether your child has a clear diagnosis or not.
The psychiatry team’s medical training leads to a deep understanding of the mind-body connection and the interactions between mental and physical health. I have been able to help families to develop a comprehensive treatment plan and a personalized road map to determine recommended benchmarks for various interventions, including but not limited to medication. It is very helpful to establish a relationship with families well before symptoms escalate, in hopes of averting a crisis and getting the child back on the right road of growth and self-discovery.
An initial consultation, while a significant investment of time and resources, can help right the developmental course and prevent a lot of twists and turns in your child’s mental health journey.
Developing a decision tree to determine whether or not to medicate your child is complicated, and is not a decision I take lightly in my role as a physician. That being said, medications are always one of the options when there is functional impairment: when social/family relationships are at stake; academic functioning or academic placement is at risk; or the internal experience of a child is adversely impacting their ability to grow and develop in an age- or ability- appropriate manner.
2. Does an appointment with a psychiatrist always result in a prescription?
Consulting with a psychiatrist does not mean that your child will end up on a medication. Consider it a conversation about your child that can empower you with choices.
3. Will medication affect my child’s brain development?
It has always to be weighed against the current risk/ distress that the child and family are under.
4. Could my child become “addicted” to the medication?
The term “addicted” means using something to get a high from it. Most (not all) psychiatric medications do not produce a high and are therefore not addictive.
Consulting with a psychiatrist for your child or teen is an opportunity to detect stressors or illnesses early, potentially limiting the pain and impact of the illness for the entire family. As psychiatrists, we are here to support and partner with you throughout your child’s journey towards mental wellness. You are not alone. Contact us today to speak with a Care Coordinator.
Vidya Krishnan, MD, CHC’s Chief Psychiatrist and Medical Director, works with kids from a variety of backgrounds across the age and developmental spectrum, starting from grade school through young adulthood. She treats a wide range of mental health conditions that cause functional impairment and believes in a comprehensive approach to the diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues.
