Children & Adolescents

As a parent, recognizing that your child faces a problem beyond your ability to solve alone can be scary.  Fortunately, child and adolescent psychiatrists with the latest medical knowledge and treatment methodologies are available to help parents restore their children's mental health, reach their potential, and be happy.  Dr. Seelman has a wealth of experience collaborating with parents and mental health professionals to achieve these outcomes.  Click here for answers to common questions about the evaluation process. 

COMMON problems TREATED

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Inattention/hyperactivity

• Oppositional behaviors

• School refusal

• Eating disorders

a combination of approaches

After completing a comprehensive evaluation, families are equipped with more information about what the treatment options are to help their child or adolescent.  These interventions may include various types of therapy, academic supports, parent coaching, and medication among others.  The goal is to get a promising plan in place and work together to help the child or adolescent be more successful and happy.

MEDICATION evaluation & management

Medication can be an important part of treating psychiatric conditions in children and adolescents.  Dr. Seelman incorporates knowledge from published research, clinical experience, and information about the individual child to determine which medications will be the most effective for a particular child.  Genetic testing may also provide additional data to help in the selection of medications. 

Medication may reduce or eliminate troubling symptoms and improve daily functioning of children and adolescents. Often a course of medication enables youngsters with mood or anxiety problems to manage their emotions and/or behaviors sufficiently so that they can actually make use of the coping strategies identified in therapy.  With practice on the medication, children and adolescents get quite good at using safe, effective coping strategies for different emotional states.  It may then be possible to taper off the medication under the supervision of a physician and in coordination with a therapist when applicable.

coordination with therapist

Therapy often plays a pivotal role in helping children, adolescents and families find lasting solutions to emotional, cognitive, and behavioral regulation problems.  A therapist can help the youngster internalize safe and effective coping strategies for everything from anxiety to intense negative emotions.  An executive functioning coach can help a child with attentional difficulties learn effective organizational strategies to improve academic performance.  Dr. Seelman works collaboratively with families to identify if and how therapy can be a part of a successful treatment plan.

If your child or adolescent is already seeing a therapist, Dr. Seelman will make every effort to communicate directly with the therapist as part of the evaluation process and thereafter as needed for the duration of treatment.