Common Questions

what is a child & adolescent psychiatrist?

As a child and adolescent psychiatrist, Dr. Seelman specializes in the psychiatric care of children from childhood through adolescence and early adulthood.  Through a collaborative approach with families and other mental health professionals she diagnoses and treats disorders of thinking, feeling and/or behavior affecting children, adolescents and their families.  A child and adolescent psychiatrist completes medical school, general psychiatry residency, and two additional additional years of sub-specialty training focused on the special needs of children, adolescents, and their families.  A child and adolescent psychiatrist offers the advantages of a medical education, the medical traditions of professional ethics, and medical responsibility for providing comprehensive care. 

what happens during the initial consultation for my child?

Dr. Seelman works with you and your child to put the puzzle pieces together and develop a treatment plan.  A comprehensive psychiatric evaluation includes the following: 1) description of current problems and symptoms; 2) details about medical and psychiatric health, illness and treatment; 3) parent and family health and psychiatric histories; 4) data about the child's development; 5) information about school and friends; 6) information about family relationships; 7) interview of the child or adolescent; 8) interview of parents/guardians; 9) if needed, laboratory studies such as blood tests, imaging studies, or special assessments (for example, psychological, educational, speech and language evaluations).  Dr. Seelman gathers this information via an intake questionnaire, meeting with parents/guardians, meeting with child or adolescent, and if applicable, discussion with current therapist or other providers.

what happens after the initial consultation for my child?

After completing the evaluation, Dr. Seelman develops an assessment that frames the problems in terms of their biological, psychological and social dimensions and discusses the formulation with the child or adolescent and family.  Dr. Seelman then works collaboratively with the child or adolescent and family members to devise a realistic treatment plan with specific goals that will help track improvement.